The document summarizes the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It describes key events like Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost that weakened the Soviet economy and political system. It also discusses the rise of nationalism in Eastern Europe that opposed Soviet control. Major symbols of the collapse included the tearing down of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union into independent republics from 1989 to 1991, ending communist rule.

1. Collapse of
Communism in the
Soviet Union and
Eastern Europe (1989)

2. Détente: Cooperation between
Superpowers
- During the Cold War President Nixon and Brezhnez
conducted SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)
conferences and signed a treaty limiting the number of
missiles each country can have.

3. USSR and Afghanistan
Cooperation/Détente Ends
• 1979-1988
• USSR backed the Afghan government; the US
backed the Mujahedeen rebels
• US boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow
• 14,000 Soviet dead; 1+million Afghans
–Over 5 million Afghans fled (more than 1/3
of the population)
–10-15 million land mines still in Afghanistan
–Soviets withdrawal defeated

4. - Soviet economic collapse
- Nationalism in Warsaw Pact countries
- Tearing down of Berlin Wall
- Breakup of the Soviet Union
Collapse of Communism in the
Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

5. Nationalism in Warsaw Pact Countries
1. Gorbachev’s pullout from Afghanistan and his policy of
Non-Intervention gave rise and momentum to Warsaw Pact
nationalism movements.
2. Soviet/Warsaw Pact countries resented Soviet control and
wanted to direct their own governments.

6. Tearing Down the Berlin Wall
1. East Germany elected a more moderate Communist
government, but many not satisfied; allowed people to leave
East Germany
2. November 9, 1989 – the Brandenburg Gate opened and
people began tearing down the wall
3. Tearing down Berlin Wall symbolized and helped lead to
fall of Communism in Eastern Europe; East Germany &
Czechoslovakia
4. Gorbachev and President Reagan given credit for being
most responsible for the end of the Cold War

7. Ronald Reagan:
U.S. President 1980-88
“Tear down this wall”

8. Brandenburg Gate
Fall of the wall news broadcast

9. Soviet Economic Collapse
1. Over-spending on arms race weakened government & economy
2.Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev tried to reform the USSR economy in two plans
a. perestroika – restructuring of the Soviet political and economic system
- Weakened Russian economy in short-term
b.glasnost – “Openness” freed public access to information after decades of
heavy government censorship
3. Gorbachev encouraged reform in other 15 Soviet Socialist Republics: new
countries
4. Hard-line communists attempted a coup against Gorbachev – failed
5. U.S.S.R. crumbles; Gorbachev = the last leader of the USSR
6.Boris Yeltsin, with support of many who wanted continued reforms, becomes
President of Russia
Mikhail Gorbachev
U.S.S.R.
Boris Yeltsin
Russia

10. Break Up of Soviet Union
1. Soviet Republics, one-by-one, broke away from Moscow
and declared independence.
2. 1989-90: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R)
was dead.

11. Yugoslavia: Powder Keg Once Again
Josip Broz (Tito) 1892-1980
- Ruled Yugoslavia 1953-80
- Established independent
communist state.
- Yugoslavia divides after his death
-Ethnic & Religious tensions/war arise
- War in late 1990s: Ethnic cleansing