Events that led up to the end of the Cold War

1. The Fall of
Communism in
Eastern Europe

2. KOREAN WAR 1950 - 1953

3. STALIN DIES IN 1953

4. Changes After the Death of
Stalin
Nikita
KhushchevCalls for “peaceful competition” with capitalist states

5. The Cold War World!The Cold War World! Eastern
European
Nations began to
push for more
freedoms!
Eastern
European
Nations began to
push for more
freedoms!
Modification of Nation-
State Rivalry:
1. NATO and Warsaw Pact:
Alliance systems of
democratic West and
communist East.
Modification of Nation-
State Rivalry:
1. NATO and Warsaw Pact:
Alliance systems of
democratic West and
communist East.

6. Discuss with group members the main ideas and highlights of
the “Point Alpha” homework video!
Discuss with group members the main ideas and highlights of
the “Point Alpha” homework video!
Point Alpha: Geisa, GermanyPoint Alpha: Geisa, Germany
Film ClipFilm Clip

7. The Death Strip!The Death Strip!
The Iron Curtain
and the Fulda Gap!
The Iron Curtain
and the Fulda Gap!
Wolfgang Christmann:
Former West German border guard
Wolfgang Christmann:
Former West German border guard

8. I. Hungary – October 1956
• ____________ formed a new government which promised free elections and
demanded Soviet troops leave Hungary.
• Hungarian army joined with protesters to overthrow the Soviet-controlled gov’t.
Imre Nagy

9. 9
USSR Crushes
Rebellions
• Soviet _______ rolled into Hungary
and killed 30,000 Hungarians.
• Soviets replaced the Hungarian
government with Soviet leaders.
• Imre Nagy was ______________.
• US and UN did nothing to help.
tanks
executed

10. II. Cold War Tension
A. 1960 – The ____________________
• Khrushchev cancels summit meeting with Kennedy
when a US air force plane is captured in the USSR
U-2 Incident
C. 1962 - __________________________________
“We’re eyeball to eyeball and I think the other fellow just
blinked.”
• President Kennedy warns the Soviets to remove
missiles from Cuba.
• After a tense week, the Soviets pulled missiles out.
B. 1961 - ____________________ erected to prevent the
flow of East Germans into West Berlin.
Cuban Missile Crisis
Berlin Wall

11. East German border guards constructing the Berlin Wall in
August, 1961
East German border guards constructing the Berlin Wall in
August, 1961

12. East German border guard Conrad Schumann jumping
over the Berlin Wall on August 15, 1961
East German border guard Conrad Schumann jumping
over the Berlin Wall on August 15, 1961

13. D. 1964 – Khrushchev voted out, _________________ in!Leonid Brezhnev
E. The United States, under President Johnson, increases its presence in South
Vietnam, accusing the Soviets of supporting the communist North.

14. • In 1968, Prague Spring - Czech communist leader, Alexander Dubcek introduced
reforms into the country – Socialism with a human face
• Including freedom of speech and press; freedom to travel aboard.
• Promised a gradual movement toward democracy
• Soviets invaded, crushed the reforms and replaced Dubcek.
III. Prague Spring - Czechoslovakia – 1968

15. President Nixon helps lessen Cold War tensions
- First President to visit Soviet Union and Communist China
- Nixon and Brezhnev have a series of meetings called the
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
Détente, Tension and Economic Strain

16. 1. June 1979 – President Carter and Brezhnev
sign the SALT II agreement
2. The Soviets invaded _____________________ that year
– the U.S. refused to ratify SALT II and boycotted the
1980 Olympics in Moscow.
Afghanistan
Due to the oil crisis of 1973, the U.S. and U.K. suffered a series of
recessions and low economic growth.

17. Communist Economy
A. Command Economy – Means of production are controlled by the __________________
Very inefficient system, focus on heavy industry NOT _________________________
B. Successful in producing weapons and space technology
C. Failure of collectivized agriculture led to shortages, poverty, and corruption
D. Soviet products were inferior, Workers more concerned about quantity (quotas) than qu
Workers had little incentive to work hard. (No raises, promotions, rewards)
. Command Economy – Means of production are controlled by the __________________
Very inefficient system, focus on heavy industry NOT __________________________
. Successful in producing weapons and space technology
. Failure of collectivized agriculture led to shortages, poverty, and corruption
. Soviet products were inferior, Workers more concerned about quantity (quotas) than qu
Workers had little incentive to work hard. (No raises, promotions, rewards)
government
consumer goods
Led to economic stagnation: A lack of economic growth starting in
1970s.

18. The Gorbachev Years (1985-1991)
After the death of Brezhnev in 1982, followed by the deaths of the next two General
Secretaries, Mikhail Gorbachev would become the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
First goal – Strengthen Economy:

19. •Began rapid technological modernization
•Tried to make Soviet Bureaucracy more efficient and responsive
•Created incentives to increase worker productivity
The Gorbachev Revolution

20. 1.________________
(Openness) –
Gorbachev gave
freedom of
expression and
information, freedom
of the press, right to
criticize the
government
Glasnost
Major Reforms

21. 2. _________________ (Restructuring) – Reforms to democratize Soviet political system by
allowing multi-candidate elections, secret ballots, and limited free market capitalism, more
supply and demand, consumer goods.
3. Arms Talks – agreed with United States to destroy all intermediate range Nuclear Missiles –
Major thaw in Cold War tension
4. Withdrew Soviet troops from ________________ after 9 years of war and occupation.
Perestroika
Afghanistan

22. Freedom of Eastern Europe: The Crumbling of the Soviet Bloc
What impact will Gorbachev’s reforms have on the Eastern
European nations? Why?
What impact will Gorbachev’s reforms have on the Eastern
European nations? Why?

23. 2. __________________ - 1989 allowed free elections – gov’t renounces communist partyHungary
1. Poland – Government allows more freedom and free elections: 1989 – Trade Union
________________ under Lech Walesa wins majority.Solidarity

24. President Ronald Reagan
“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek
prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek
liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
- June 12, 1987
“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek
prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek
liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
- June 12, 1987
Film ClipFilm Clip

25. Group #1: Leipzig Peaceful Revolution –October 9, 1989Group #1: Leipzig Peaceful Revolution –October 9, 1989

26. Over 70,000 people peacefully marched in Leipzig to protest the
oppressive East German government.
Over 70,000 people peacefully marched in Leipzig to protest the
oppressive East German government.

27. Mr. Sill and Irmtraud Hollitzer in Leipzig, Germany – July 2016Mr. Sill and Irmtraud Hollitzer in Leipzig, Germany – July 2016
“In the end everything stayed peaceful; it didn’t come to an intervention
of police or military…because the chief of police saw that there were
simply too many coming, many more people than expected.”
- Irmtraud Hollitzer
“In the end everything stayed peaceful; it didn’t come to an intervention
of police or military…because the chief of police saw that there were
simply too many coming, many more people than expected.”
- Irmtraud Hollitzer

28. Group #2: Fall of the Berlin Wall – November 9, 1989Group #2: Fall of the Berlin Wall – November 9, 1989
Yes, he said, the government had adopted a new regulation permitting East Germans
to leave the country at border crossing points. No, he didn't know if passports would be
required. But the change, he said, would take effect "immediately. Without delay."
Yes, he said, the government had adopted a new regulation permitting East Germans
to leave the country at border crossing points. No, he didn't know if passports would be
required. But the change, he said, would take effect "immediately. Without delay."
East German spokesman Guenter Schabowski in 1989. His
stunning and erroneous statement about a new East German
travel law hastened the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
East German spokesman Guenter Schabowski in 1989. His
stunning and erroneous statement about a new East German
travel law hastened the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

29. 3. East Germany – 1989 – East German Communist Politburo resigns.
Travel restrictions are lifted and _________________________________.
Free Elections lead to unification of Germany in 1990
Berlin Wall comes down!

32. Group #3: Two-Plus-Four Treaty– October 3, 1990Group #3: Two-Plus-Four Treaty– October 3, 1990
Two German nations plus Four world powers agreed on a
plan to reunify Germany in a peaceful and humane manner.
Two German nations plus Four world powers agreed on a
plan to reunify Germany in a peaceful and humane manner.

33. Helmet Kohl – West
German Chancellor and
architect of German
reunification
Helmet Kohl – West
German Chancellor and
architect of German
reunification

35. Write a thesis statement that analyzes the events that led to
German reunification.
Write a thesis statement that analyzes the events that led to
German reunification.

36. ”It is as if many
have again
ignored the fact
that an attack on
the freedom of
individuals
threatens the
freedom of all.”
- Vaclav Havel

37. 4. Czechoslovakia – Politburos resign and free elections lead to collapse of Communism.
_______________________________ - Peaceful democratic takeover led by Vaclav
Havel who becomes new president.
5. Bulgaria – Free Elections lead to Communist leader, Todor Zhivkov, to be ousted
Velvet Revolution

38. 6. Romania – Violent revolution over Totalitarian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu
Protests gained support of the army and secret police who sided with the people.
After a quick trial, Ceausescu was tried and executed on Christmas Day, 1989.
How did Gorbachev’s new reforms affect
the Eastern European nations?
How did Gorbachev’s new reforms affect
the Eastern European nations?

39. Numerous ethnic groups – languages, customs, religions.
Only half of 285 million were Russian
Difficult to unite into one nation without fear or force
Nationalism was stronger than communism – people
wanted to rule themselves
NATIONALISM AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY

40. WORKER MORALE
Lack of motivation to produce quality goods
Workers were not given enough to buy basic goods
Many workers became alcoholics – crime rate increased
Mortality rate, divorce rate, inflation, corruption increased
Standard of living declined
Workers were now allowed to criticize the government
FOOD SHORTAGES
Economic reforms were not enough –
1990 rationing
Food was scarce and prices were too
high
Long lines for simple goods
Riots broke out
Mass poverty existed
Began import of grain from US and
Canada

41. Glasnost
Glasnost means Openness.
• It allowed free flow of ideas, no
censorship
• Religious freedom
• Public criticism of gov’t
• Contested elections (secret
ballots)
• Release of political prisoners
• Books freely printed
“Socialism with a
Human Face”

42. PERESTROIKA
Allowed the following:
• Some private property
• Some small business – profits
• Some Free trade
• Local managers more control
and authority over farms and
factories
Film
Decentralization of
economic control

43. McDonalds in
Moscow

44. •Arms Race was too costly
•Conflicts were costly (Afghanistan 1979)
•Total employment – no goods
•National healthcare – poor coverage
•Pressure from Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan
“Evil Empire” – Star Wars plan
COST OF THE WAR GLOBAL PRESSURE

45. ATTEMPTED COUP
- High level officials (communist hard-liners) wanted Gorbachev to resign in 1991
- He refused – the group staged a coup in Moscow by placing Gorbachev under
house arrest and sent tanks into Moscow to seize control.
- Boris Yeltsin called to the people to resist the coup and gained the support of the
military
- The Coup was foiled and the USSR soon split into 15 republics – the CIS
Attempted Coup

46. How did Gorbachev’s policies eventually lead to the
downfall of his own leadership and the Soviet Union

47. End of the
Soviet
Union
Gorbachev was
forced to resign.
He was the leader
of a country that
no longer existed.
After 74 years, the
Soviet Union had
collapsed. The
Cold War was
over.
Gorbachev was
forced to resign.
He was the leader
of a country that
no longer existed.
After 74 years, the
Soviet Union had
collapsed. The
Cold War was
over.

48. End of the Soviet
Union

49. Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS)

50. Not an Easy
Transition

51. End of Communism?