Break up of the Soviet Union

1. Breakup of the Soviet UnionBreakup of the Soviet Union

2. What led to the breakup of the SovietWhat led to the breakup of the Soviet
Union?Union?
 The man who cameThe man who came
to power in the Sovietto power in the Soviet
Union in 1985 wasUnion in 1985 was
Mikhail Gorbachev.Mikhail Gorbachev.
 His policies set theHis policies set the
stage for the collapsestage for the collapse
the Soviet Union.the Soviet Union.

3. Gorbachev’s PoliciesGorbachev’s Policies
 Perestroika:Perestroika: “Restructuring” This was“Restructuring” This was
Gorbachev’s plan to restructure and decentralizeGorbachev’s plan to restructure and decentralize
the economy.the economy.
 Glasnost:Glasnost: “Openness” This refers to“Openness” This refers to
Gorbachev’s policy that aimed to destroy theGorbachev’s policy that aimed to destroy the
secrecy and suspicion of Soviet life. It allowedsecrecy and suspicion of Soviet life. It allowed
greater freedoms and open criticism of thegreater freedoms and open criticism of the
Soviet government.Soviet government.
 Gorbachev Doctrine: A policy of non-interferenceGorbachev Doctrine: A policy of non-interference
in Eastern Europe.in Eastern Europe.

4. Revolutions in Eastern EuropeRevolutions in Eastern Europe
 PolandPoland
 CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
 RomaniaRomania
 East GermanyEast Germany
 YugoslaviaYugoslavia

5. PolandPoland
 In the 1970’s and 1980’s, thereIn the 1970’s and 1980’s, there
was food riots and worker unrestwas food riots and worker unrest
due to the poor economicdue to the poor economic
conditions.conditions.
 An organization called SolidarityAn organization called Solidarity
was formed. It was a trade unionwas formed. It was a trade union
that pressured the government forthat pressured the government for
changes that would improve livingchanges that would improve living
standards. Solidarity and itsstandards. Solidarity and its
leader Lech Walesa wasleader Lech Walesa was
supported by millions of peoplesupported by millions of people
across Poland. Followingacross Poland. Following
Gorbachev’s policies, theGorbachev’s policies, the
government eventually legalizedgovernment eventually legalized
Solidarity and allowed freeSolidarity and allowed free
elections in 1989.elections in 1989.
 It was the first Eastern EuropeanIt was the first Eastern European
Satellite State to break free fromSatellite State to break free from
the Soviet Union.the Soviet Union.

6. PolandPoland
Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution
Poor economic conditionsPoor economic conditions
Worker unrest and food riotsWorker unrest and food riots
Formation of the trade unionFormation of the trade union
SolidaritySolidarity
Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution
SolidaritySolidarity became a legalbecame a legal
organization and theorganization and the
government allowed freegovernment allowed free
elections.elections.
The new governmentThe new government
created a marketcreated a market
economy.economy.

7. CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
 Late 1989, the Velvet Revolution took place. ItLate 1989, the Velvet Revolution took place. It
was a nonviolent protest movement that endedwas a nonviolent protest movement that ended
Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.
 Vaclav Havel became the president ofVaclav Havel became the president of
Czechoslovakia.Czechoslovakia.
 Czechoslovakia was split into the CzechCzechoslovakia was split into the Czech
Republic and Slovakia in 1993 due to differentRepublic and Slovakia in 1993 due to different
ideas on economic reform.ideas on economic reform.

8. CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution
Mass demonstrationsMass demonstrations
throughoutthroughout
Czechoslovakia called forCzechoslovakia called for
change to democracy.change to democracy.
Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution
The Communist governmentThe Communist government
in Czechoslovakiain Czechoslovakia
collapsed and Havelcollapsed and Havel
became the newbecame the new
president. A few yearspresident. A few years
later, Czechoslovakialater, Czechoslovakia
was split into twowas split into two
separate nations, theseparate nations, the
Czech Republic andCzech Republic and
Slovakia.Slovakia.

9. RomaniaRomania
 Nicolae Ceasescu wasNicolae Ceasescu was
the Communist leader ofthe Communist leader of
Romania since 1965.Romania since 1965.
 In 1989, the secret policeIn 1989, the secret police
murdered thousands ofmurdered thousands of
people and as a result, apeople and as a result, a
violent revolutionviolent revolution
overthrew Ceasescu andoverthrew Ceasescu and
his Communist regime.his Communist regime.
 Ceasescu was executedCeasescu was executed
and a new governmentand a new government
was formed.was formed.

10. RomaniaRomania
Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution
The secret police inThe secret police in
Romania murderedRomania murdered
thousands of men,thousands of men,
women, and children.women, and children.
Violent revolution tookViolent revolution took
place as a result ofplace as a result of
these murders.these murders.
Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution
The Communist leaderThe Communist leader
of Romania wasof Romania was
overthrown andoverthrown and
executed. A newexecuted. A new
government wasgovernment was
formed. Romaniaformed. Romania
had a difficult timehad a difficult time
making the transitionmaking the transition
to democracy.to democracy.

11. East GermanyEast Germany
 In the summer of 1989,In the summer of 1989,
Hungary allowed EastHungary allowed East
Germans to escape to WestGermans to escape to West
Germany through Austria.Germany through Austria.
 This caused East Germans toThis caused East Germans to
demonstrate for reform anddemonstrate for reform and
demand permission todemand permission to
emigrate to West Germany.emigrate to West Germany.
 On November 9, 1989, theOn November 9, 1989, the
Communist government ofCommunist government of
East Germany surrendered toEast Germany surrendered to
popular pressure by openingpopular pressure by opening
its border with the West.its border with the West.
 People on both sides beganPeople on both sides began
tearing down the wall.tearing down the wall.

12. East GermanyEast Germany
Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution
Hungary allowed EastHungary allowed East
Germans to escape toGermans to escape to
West Germany. ThisWest Germany. This
caused masscaused mass
demonstrations to takedemonstrations to take
place throughout Eastplace throughout East
Germany demandingGermany demanding
permission to emigrate topermission to emigrate to
West Germany.West Germany.
Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution
The Communist governmentThe Communist government
collapsed and opened itscollapsed and opened its
borders with the West.borders with the West.
People from both sidesPeople from both sides
began tearing down thebegan tearing down the
Berlin Wall. ReunificationBerlin Wall. Reunification
of East and Westof East and West
Germany took place onGermany took place on
October 3, 1990.October 3, 1990.

13. Berlin WallBerlin Wall

14. YugoslaviaYugoslavia
 Although Yugoslavia hadAlthough Yugoslavia had
a communist government,a communist government,
it had never been ait had never been a
Soviet satellite state.Soviet satellite state.
 By 1989, Yugoslavia alsoBy 1989, Yugoslavia also
became caught up in thebecame caught up in the
reform movementsreform movements
sweeping across Easternsweeping across Eastern
Europe.Europe.
 By 1990, new partiesBy 1990, new parties
emerged andemerged and
Communism inCommunism in
Yugoslavia collapsed.Yugoslavia collapsed.

15. YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution
After the CommunistAfter the Communist
dictator Tito died in 1980,dictator Tito died in 1980,
representatives from allrepresentatives from all
six republics and twosix republics and two
provinces withinprovinces within
Yugoslavia comprised aYugoslavia comprised a
collective federalcollective federal
government undergovernment under
Communist rule. ByCommunist rule. By
1990, the Communist1990, the Communist
party collapsed.party collapsed.
Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution
After the Communist PartyAfter the Communist Party
collapsed, the sixcollapsed, the six
republics and tworepublics and two
provinces that made upprovinces that made up
Yugoslavia developed aYugoslavia developed a
strong sense ofstrong sense of
nationalism andnationalism and
demanded separatedemanded separate
nations to be formed.nations to be formed.
Civil war has been aCivil war has been a
problem throughout theproblem throughout the
former Yugoslavia sinceformer Yugoslavia since
the 1990.the 1990.

16. One reason the Soviet Union formed theOne reason the Soviet Union formed the
Warsaw Pact was to:Warsaw Pact was to:
1. Ease the transition to democracy1. Ease the transition to democracy
2. Help institute capitalism in Eastern Europe2. Help institute capitalism in Eastern Europe
3. Limit the threat of invasion from Western Europe3. Limit the threat of invasion from Western Europe
4. Challenge the economic successes of the4. Challenge the economic successes of the
Common MarketCommon Market

17. Communist governments were established inCommunist governments were established in
most nations of Eastern Europe shortly aftermost nations of Eastern Europe shortly after
World War II because:World War II because:
1. The region had a long tradition of strong1. The region had a long tradition of strong
communist partiescommunist parties
2. Communist governments were able to2. Communist governments were able to
significantly increase agricultural productivitysignificantly increase agricultural productivity
3. The Soviet Union used military and diplomatic3. The Soviet Union used military and diplomatic
pressures to install their governmentspressures to install their governments
4. Members of the Communist party won free4. Members of the Communist party won free
elections in these nationselections in these nations