the collapse of the soviet union lesson starter which events damaged the ‘thawing of relations’...
TRANSCRIPT
The Collapse of the Soviet Union
Lesson starterWhich events damaged the ‘thawing of relations’ between the Superpowers in the 1970s and 1980s?
(5 marks)
Today we will understand the reasons behind the Collapse
of the Soviet Union
Financial Problems
• No official figures regarding Soviet Economy – no one kept track of finances
• Quality of goods produced was poor – Lada cars, TV explosions in 1982
• No figures on government salaries, defence budgets
• Had to drop out of Arms Race due to financial problems
1980s Lada
Economic problems
• A report in 1983 told Gorbachev all he needed to know – the Soviet Economy would collapse of he did not act
• New policies• Glasnost – openness• Perestroika – renewal• He wanted Soviet
people to speak more openly
• He wanted to rebuild the Soviet state
• However there were many who wanted it completely gone
Glasnost/Perestroika
• Glasnost made most Eastern Europeans criticise the communist system
• Hungary/Czech especially
• These countries still wanted freedom
• Would Gorbachev send in the tanks?
Czechoslovakia
Poland 1980-9• Polish unhappy – 80%
Catholic• Strikes, protests etc –
new Trade Union Solidarity
• Secret alliance made between Reagan and John Paul II
• Money provided from West
• 1989 deal struck for free elections – Solidarity took power
• First ever non Communist government in a USSR satellite state
Solidarity and Poland
Why was this allowed?• Gorbachev knew the USSR needed a
new way of dealing with the East• He let them sort out their own
problems• Abandoned Brezhnev doctrine
Gorbachev
1989 Berlin Wall destroyed
• When Hungary took down the barbed wire along their Austrian border, 1000s fled to the West
• Berlin had to follow suit
• After this, many Soviet Communist governments collapsed – Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania
• Regan retired 1989• Bush meets
Gorbachev Dec 1989 – ‘The Cold War is Over’
• Germany reunited as one country
Collapse of Communism
• Many hard line Communists tried to rebel against Gorbachev – led by Yeltsin
• Gorbachev resigned – no longer a Soviet Union to lead
