The document discusses the end of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union. It describes Ronald Reagan's projection of American force abroad and support for anti-Soviet groups. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union and instituted reforms of "perestroika" and "glasnost", improving relations. However, the Soviet Union was experiencing economic difficulties and stagnation under aging leaders. Reagan's famous speech urged Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in Berlin, and the Berlin Wall later fell as the Soviet Union spun beyond control, leading to its dissolution in 1991 and the end of the Cold War.

1. The End of Cold WarThe End of Cold War

2. COLD WAR VISIONCOLD WAR VISION
““There is a bear in theThere is a bear in the
woods…”woods…”

3. COLD WARRIORCOLD WARRIOR
 Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan
 Russians on the move…
 The “Evil Empire”
• Huge peacetime military
buildup:
– New generation of nuclear
weapons:
• Western Europe, “Star Wars”

4. COLD WAR VISIONCOLD WAR VISION
““Peace through strength!”Peace through strength!”

5. AMERICA INTERVENES ABROADAMERICA INTERVENES ABROAD
FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACYFOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY
 Support for anti-
Soviet forces in
Afghanistan
 Weapons to
mujahedeen through
Pakistan
 Soviet “Vietnam” in
Afghanistan
• Terrorism and
Middle East
• Reagan’s assertive American projection of force…Reagan’s assertive American projection of force…

6. THE SOVIET UNIONTHE SOVIET UNION
 Soviet Union’s problems:
 Succession of aging leaders
who die
 Economic difficulties and a
society in deep stagnation…
 Mikhail Gorbachev
 “Perestroika” and “glasnost”
 Americans re-invent
themselves, Russians try to
reform…

7. MUCH IMPROVEDMUCH IMPROVED
RELATIONS!RELATIONS!
 Mikhail Gorbachev
 Arms reduction treaties and
negotiations
 Relaxation of tensions
 Multiple visits to each other’s
countries
 Soviet Union Home front
 Openness to public debate and
dissent in Soviet Union
 A loosening of control in
Eastern Europe
 …legacy of Hungary and
Czechoslovakia
 Poland as flashpoint
• Will the Soviet Union invade?Will the Soviet Union invade?

8. REAGAN’S 1987 SPEECHREAGAN’S 1987 SPEECH
““Mr. Gorbachev, tear downMr. Gorbachev, tear down
this wall!”this wall!”

9. Why are there graves next to Berlin
"This wall will fall. Beliefs become
reality."

10. THE COLD WAR ENDS…THE COLD WAR ENDS…
 Berlin Wall
pulled down by
local German
people
 The Soviet
Union spins
beyond
control…

11. THE SOVIET UNIONTHE SOVIET UNION
DISSOLVESDISSOLVES The Soviet Union in crisis…
 Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin
 The End: Fall of 1991
 Soviet Union, created in 1917, is in
serious disarray…
 Forces unleashed by Gorbachev
cannot be controlled!
Soviet UnionSoviet Union
becomes thebecomes the
“Commonwealth“Commonwealth
of Independentof Independent
END OF SOVIETEND OF SOVIET
UNION:UNION:
Major event in world
history!