Europe and Europe and RussiaRussia

Part 5Part 5

The Fall of Communism The Fall of Communism and Relations With the and Relations With the

U. S.U. S.

The Fall of CommunismThe Fall of Communism

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had spent vast sums of money to keep up with the U.S.A. However, by the 1980s, they were bankrupting their country. In 1983,

President Reagan, a staunch anti-communist, proposed a missile defense system called the “Strategic Defense Initiative” – nicknamed “Star Wars”.

President Reagan addressing the American people in March 1983.

This system, would have cost us billions of dollars to create. However, if successful, would have acted like an

“umbrella” over the U. S. and our allies, shielding us from incoming

missiles. Some historians have argued that Reagan’s determination to build such a system may have caused the Soviet Union and specifically, Mikhail

Gorbachev to be more open to negotiations limiting weapons.

MikhailMikhailGorbachevGorbachev

Upon becoming the Upon becoming the Soviet leader in Soviet leader in March of 1985, March of 1985, Gorbachev promoted Gorbachev promoted his ideas of his ideas of GLASNOSTGLASNOST which which meant “openness”, meant “openness”, and and PERESTROIKAPERESTROIKA which meant which meant “economic reform”.“economic reform”.

Ronald Reagan & Mikhail GorbachevRonald Reagan & Mikhail Gorbachev

President Reagan and his famous President Reagan and his famous “Tear Down This Wall” speech, June “Tear Down This Wall” speech, June

19871987

By the late 1980s, many people in the Soviet Union and the nations of Eastern Europe were demanding change. When

the new Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, rose to power in 1985, he allowed more

freedom and openness that had not existed for decades. Some nations decided to test these new freedoms, and began to push for

reforms in their homelands. It was AMAZING!!! After over 4 decades of

heated tension, the Cold War was “thawing”.

19891989Was the Key Was the Key Year When Year When

Communism Communism Began to Began to Collapse.Collapse.

1989 Was a Momentous Year!!!1989 Was a Momentous Year!!!

Most historians don’t believe that Gorbachev thought the changes would take place so soon.

Starting in the spring of that year, many eastern European nations started to change their governments, all relatively bloodless, except for in Romania.

Hungary even allowed East German refugees to go through their border and into Austria.

In November, the East German government eased border restrictions, and people began pouring over to the West where they were greeted excitedly.

The two Germanys were officially reunited on October 3, 1990.

REMEMBER: Communism and socialism have always failed wherever they have been tried.

People will eventually revolt under tyrannical rule.

On November 9, 1989, border rules On November 9, 1989, border rules eased.eased.

The Berlin Wall fell, and freedom The Berlin Wall fell, and freedom spread.spread.

Russian IssuesRussian Issues

Mikhail Gorbachev’s leadership brought some unintended

consequences to the former Soviet Union. Many Russians were excited

for the new freedoms, but many in the military and other high government positions were horrified by some of

the changes that he allowed.

Mikhail

Gorbachev

Under his leadership from 1985 until 1991,

Communism collapsed in

Eastern Europe, and the Soviet

Union fell apart.

His economic His economic reforms didn’t work reforms didn’t work out as planned. 1 out as planned. 1 out 5 jobs had been out 5 jobs had been tied to their giant tied to their giant military.military.

Now millions of Now millions of people were out of people were out of work, and there work, and there were also basic were also basic food shortages.food shortages.

After all of the After all of the reforms and reforms and changes that took changes that took place in Eastern place in Eastern European countries European countries during 1989 and during 1989 and 1990, many of the 1990, many of the republics in the republics in the Soviet Union now Soviet Union now wanted to be free of wanted to be free of Russian control.Russian control.

In 1991, they began trying to break away In 1991, they began trying to break away from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In August 1991, Gorbachev survived a In August 1991, Gorbachev survived a military military COUPCOUP, when a group of die-hard , when a group of die-hard Communists tried to strengthen control of Communists tried to strengthen control of the government.the government.

Between August 21Between August 21stst and September 22 and September 22ndnd, , 14 of the 15 republics declared their 14 of the 15 republics declared their independence from the Soviet Union that independence from the Soviet Union that had been formed in 1922. had been formed in 1922.

Tanks in Red Square, August 1991Tanks in Red Square, August 1991

People protesting the August People protesting the August 1991 coup attempt1991 coup attempt

On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev announced his resignation as Soviet leader,

and on the following day, December 26, the Soviet Union officially dissolved. On December 27, Boris Yeltsin became the

new leader of the Russian republic. Eleven of the former republics created an

organization called the Commonwealth of Independent States, which in the words of some leaders allowed a “civilized divorce” for the Soviet Union. They work together on things like economics and defense.

The The Hammer Hammer

and Sickle and Sickle flag gave flag gave

way to the way to the old Russian old Russian

flag.flag.

A very heavy drinker, Boris Yeltsin was the Russian president from 1991-1999. He

died in 2007.

Freedom was great for many people, but a Freedom was great for many people, but a lot of corruption occurred in the years lot of corruption occurred in the years following the break up of the Soviet Union. following the break up of the Soviet Union. Crime has also become a huge problem.Crime has also become a huge problem.

Some Russians are prosperous, while Some Russians are prosperous, while others live in terrible poverty, causing some others live in terrible poverty, causing some people to even wish for the old days of people to even wish for the old days of Communist rule!Communist rule!

There also remains a deep suspicion of the There also remains a deep suspicion of the West.West.

Some Russian Some Russian leaders like leaders like Vladimir Putin are Vladimir Putin are not happy that the not happy that the U. S. has gotten U. S. has gotten involved with involved with Eastern European Eastern European nations in building nations in building a missile defense a missile defense system, and that system, and that former Communist former Communist countries have countries have joined NATO.joined NATO.

NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Blue = Member

Light Blue = Accepted Member

Green = Promised Invitation

Light Green = Intensified Dialogue

Red = Membership Not a Goal

Gray = Undeclared

Intent

Russia is a Russia is a major source major source of energy to of energy to

European European countries. countries.

Will they use Will they use this as this as

leverage to leverage to get what get what

they want?they want?

A New Cold War?A New Cold War? Some people fear that a new Cold War might Some people fear that a new Cold War might

develop, which would be disastrous considering develop, which would be disastrous considering the many costs of the last one.the many costs of the last one.

Many Eastern European countries and former Many Eastern European countries and former Soviet Republics still have a fear of Russia.Soviet Republics still have a fear of Russia.

Russia has also tried flexing its muscles in the Russia has also tried flexing its muscles in the Arctic region of the world, trying to lay claim to Arctic region of the world, trying to lay claim to the resources found there.the resources found there.

Countries such as the U. S. and Canada Countries such as the U. S. and Canada definitely have something to say about that.definitely have something to say about that.

In 2008, the Russian military attacked In 2008, the Russian military attacked Georgia over the territory known as South Georgia over the territory known as South

Ossetia.Ossetia.

The U. S. definitely does not want to go back The U. S. definitely does not want to go back to having bad relations with Russia.to having bad relations with Russia.

However, they have sometimes tried to However, they have sometimes tried to undermine our foreign policy objectives, undermine our foreign policy objectives, including those in Iraq and Iran.including those in Iraq and Iran.

They are rich in resources we could trade for.They are rich in resources we could trade for. Plus, as China continues to grow and become Plus, as China continues to grow and become

a rival in the Pacific, maintaining good a rival in the Pacific, maintaining good relations with a large country like Russia is a relations with a large country like Russia is a priority.priority.

Despite the communist collapse, the U. S. is watching Russia. Despite the communist collapse, the U. S. is watching Russia. Another worry, is what happened to all of the Soviet nuclear Another worry, is what happened to all of the Soviet nuclear

scientists after the Cold War, and all those warheads?scientists after the Cold War, and all those warheads?

What Might the Future Hold?What Might the Future Hold?

Many of the Eastern European countries Many of the Eastern European countries maintain a great affection for the U. S.maintain a great affection for the U. S.

They remember what it was like to be They remember what it was like to be under the control of the Communists.under the control of the Communists.

We are still aligned with many of the We are still aligned with many of the Western European countries, but we Western European countries, but we sometimes find ourselves at odds with sometimes find ourselves at odds with each other.each other.

Some resent our power and influence.Some resent our power and influence.

People under age 65 have little to no People under age 65 have little to no recollection of World War II or its recollection of World War II or its aftermath.aftermath.

Most people under the age of 30 also have Most people under the age of 30 also have little to no recollection of the Cold War.little to no recollection of the Cold War.

Protected by the U. S. military, Western Protected by the U. S. military, Western European nations were able to spend European nations were able to spend much of their money elsewhere, building a much of their money elsewhere, building a comfortable lifestyle for themselves.comfortable lifestyle for themselves.

As the threat of terrorism (especially As the threat of terrorism (especially Islamic terrorism) spreads, it will be Islamic terrorism) spreads, it will be interesting to see how they respond.interesting to see how they respond.