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MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV. LAST LEADER OF THE SOVIET UNION. TIMELINE. http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm. REFORMER. 1985 TO 1991 (First Soviet leader NOT born under the Tsar.). GLASNOST. Means “openness” Allowed: Freedom of speech Freedom of press

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MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

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  1. MIKHAIL GORBACHEV LAST LEADER OF THE SOVIET UNION

  2. TIMELINE • http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/events-timelines/03-cold-war-timeline.htm

  3. REFORMER • 1985 TO 1991 • (First Soviet leader NOT born under the Tsar.)

  4. GLASNOST • Means “openness” • Allowed: • Freedom of speech • Freedom of press • Freed dissidents • Allowed them to leave USSR • Permitted Jews to emigrate (leave USSR)

  5. DEMOKRATIZATSIYA • Democratization: adding democracy! • Free & unfettered elections! • Gorbachev elected first (& only!)executive president of USSR

  6. PERESTROIKA • Economic reform • Allowed some private enterprise • Small businesses • Competition • Credit • Profit (incentive pay)

  7. FOREIGN POLICY • Abandoned Brezhnev Doctrine • Gave E. European Satellites freedom • Warsaw Pact dissolved in 1991 • Signed INF Treaty w/U.S. • Elimination of intermediate range nuclear missiles

  8. SATELLITES BREAK FREE! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahMQ5IGsH4o&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

  9. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE • 1990 • For reducing the possibility of nuclear war • Signing INF Treaty • Withdrew military from Europe

  10. UNPOPULAR IN USSR • Reforms created instability • Ethnic tensions erupted • Result of Glasnost • (90 ethnic groups) • (80 languages) • Pressures for independence from republics

  11. GORBACHEV TRIES TO REFORM • Gorbachev cuts 500,000 from Soviet military in 1988, ending arms race. • He tries to put more money into perestroika – modernizing factories, wage increases to boost worker productivity

  12. MORE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS! • Siberian oil sales had kept economy going in ’70s and early ’80s – prices had falled by half by 1985. • Regional governments begin to withhold tax revenues. • Repeal of tax on alcohol – loss of more revenue. • Has to print more rubles – inflation!

  13. GORBACHEV SAYS: • “The old system fell apart before the new system began to work.” • Communism was doomed. • But not everyone thought so. Some Communist “hardliners” are still in Parliament (Duma) and in military.

  14. COUP! • August, 1991 • Gorbachev kidnapped • By Communist hardliners • Directed by members of Politburo

  15. COUP COLLAPSES • Boris Yeltsin, Mayor of Moscow, leads protest • Elected president of Russian FSSR (one republic of USSR) • Convinced armed forces NOT to back coup • Sends rescue forces to Crimea to rescue Gorbachev • Gorbachev returns to power • Arrested Gang of Eight • But greatly weakened politically

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