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The Fall of the Soviet Union

The Fall of the Soviet Union. 1970s to 1991 Cold War. The Third World and the Nonaligned Movement. Leonid Brezhnev and Détente . Post Khrushchev – why was he retired? High-ranking officials were worried that he was trying to undercut their authority USSR sees Arms race as unsustainable

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The Fall of the Soviet Union

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  1. The Fall of the Soviet Union 1970s to 1991 Cold War

  2. The Third World and the Nonaligned Movement

  3. Leonid Brezhnev and Détente • Post Khrushchev – why was he retired? • High-ranking officials were worried that he was trying to undercut their authority • USSR sees Arms race as unsustainable • DETENTE – the relaxation of Cold War tensions during the 1970s • Brought in to ease relations between the superpowers and restore Soviet dignity

  4. The Prague Spring - 1968 • Alexander Dubeck and Czechoslovakia want a little of what Poland and Hungary want • Students again… • People are tired of working for the state • Want to be independent bridge between superpowers • Soviets invade after “too much independence” • US watches…again

  5. Brezhnev Doctrine • 26 Sept 1968 • “When forces…try to turn the development of some socialist country towards capitalism, it becomes…a common problem and concern of all socialist countries.”

  6. US Finally Wins Space • Soviet tragedies set back program • US develops Saturn V rocket and learns secrets of linking crafts in space • 16 July 1969 – Apollo 11

  7. And then the 1970s… • Vietnam failure • Nixon and Watergate • Carter’s presidency • (1973) Oil crisis – OPEC decided to cut back on fuel production and that hurt US as fuel prices rose sharply • Soviets in Afghanistan • Iron Hostage Crisis • student revolutionaries took control of the US embassy in Tehran • Reagan released $8 billion in assets and the hostages were freed after 444 days • Three Mile Island and Love Canal • Nuclear meltdown

  8. The Communists Strike Back • In the 1970s, communist movements spread into Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Central Asia • US stock falls

  9. “Help us Ronald Reagan, you’re our only hope” • 1980 election – Reagan runs to oppose spread of communism • Raises defense spending • Star War • Liberals see him as dangerous…what is he doing?

  10. Afghanistan and Reagan • Afghan War spending combined with new US arms race, cause Soviet economic disaster • Social programs cut • Soviets can’t buy bread and guns at the same time…

  11. Mikhail Gorbachev: The Last Hope • Perestrokia • Economic restructuring • Capitalism? • Glasnost • Social openness • Freedoms of press and speech

  12. 1989 • In the wake of Gorbachev renouncing Brezhnev… • Solidarity leads Poland (Lech Walesa) • Backed by Pope John Paul II (assassination attempt b/c of threat) • Berlin Wall falls 9 Nov 1989

  13. Other States Fall… • Hungary • Bulgaria • Czechoslovakia (Velvet Revolution and Vaclav Havel) • Romania (Ceausescu) • Freedom!!

  14. Christmas 1991 • Aug 1991 – hardliners seize power and Gorbachev • Boris Yeltsin (President of the Russian Republic) “leads people to freedom” • 25 December 1991 USSR bans communism

  15. The Return of the Jedi

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