“As close to the present as I can get…”

1. “As close to the present as I can get…”

2. -Western Europe during the Cold War • The democracies of western Europe relied on unity for their security against a possible Soviet attack… • NATO became the military deterrent but real political union has been difficult to achieve.

3. -Recovery and prosperity • Home construction led the way- in order to replace the homes destroyed in WWII, governments funded massive programs… • In Germany, 10,000,000 new dwellings between 1948-1958… • In Britain, several hundred thousand homes a year for 10 years… • This building boom helped spur overall economic expansion

4. Recovery and prosperity • By the mid-1950’s, most countries had achieved industrial and agricultural levels exceeding the 1940’s… • The expanding economies made jobs available for almost everyone and incomes soared upwards… • By the 1960’s, West Europe had moved through postwar restoration to prosperity.

5. -West Europe’s domestic agenda…Socialism • after the war, a vast expansion of public welfare programs became typical for most governments with reforms intended to give all citizens housing, education and healthcare regardless of income • The “welfare state” was pioneered in Scandinavia but soon emerged in almost every European country • After two wars, in which central management of state economies became the norm, governments had experience in organizing people and resources.

6. -The “Common Market” • The success of the original ECSC led to the six-nation agreement that all tariffs among them should be dropped… • Economic progress was impressive and other nations asked for membership... • In 1973, Britain, Ireland and Denmark • In 1981, Greece… • In 1986, Spain and Portugal

7. The European Union, 1991 The Maasstricht Treaty • The EU grew out of the common market and today is second to the U.S. as a very important force in the world economy • The common monetary unit, the Euro, competes favorably with the U.S. dollar

8. In 2004, ten new members joined the EU • In 2007 Romania, Bulgaria were accepted • And currently, Turkey’s request for admission is under consideration.

9. Hungary, 1956

10. Czechoslovakia, 1968

11. Afghanistan, 1979

15. -Mikhail Gorbachev- the last Soviet dictator • Gorbachev came to power as the Afghanistan invasion was failing and a backlash against the unpopular war was building.

16. President Reagan used the Afghan War as a reason to renew the build-up of American military capabilities • Gorbachev’s attempts to match the U.S. strained the economy to the breaking point

17. Gorbachev said: • “…everything is rotten, through and through.” • He called for “new thinking…” • His policies of Perestroika and Glasnost led to the collapse of the USSR.

18. Glasnost meant “openness:” Permit uninhibited discussions of the nation’s problems. End censorship of the media Accept criticism of Communist leaders Offer minorities and subject peoples semi-autonomy • Perestroika meant “re-structuring” • Re-structure or reorganize the state economy • Permit citizens to participate in the decision-making process of business. • Allow a free market to determine the price and quantity of consumer goods

19. Gorbachev’s policies were embraced by Eastern Europeans who demanded their own economic independence and political freedom.

20. -Poland took the lead in 1989 • Lech Welesa and the Solidarity Labor Union • Hungary followed, then Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Albania • East Germany was more dramatic…

21. The Berlin Wall- symbol of the Cold War… • In November, anti-government crowds crammed the streets • On November 9, 1989 “the Wall” was breached, young people from both sides danced on it. Sledgehammers appeared –as crowds hacked at the wall, East German soldiers stood by.

25. -The last gasps of the Soviet Union… • The biggest blow to the “Union” came when Russia declared its independence • Boris Yeltsin was elected the first Russian President • Fragmentation came quickly

26. -the 14 former Soviet Republics… • Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia • Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia • Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan and Kirghizia

28. December 24, 1991, the USSR was officially dissolved, Mikhail Gorbachev “retired.” • The Cold War was over.

29. Collapse of the Soviet Union … • Military competition with the Free World revealed the Soviet Union to be a weak, poorly-administered country • The economy was in shambles due to mismanagement, waste and lack of incentives • In summary, Soviet Communism failed miserably compared to the West

30. Boris Yeltsin’s “shock therapy” • In 1992, Yeltsin’s switch from a state-run to a private-ownership economy was a disaster- inflation, unemployment, crime and corruption was rampant. • Yeltsin resigned on New Year’s Eve in 1999

31. Vladimir Putin determined to regain authority of the central government… • Took control of oil and gas industries • Increased government censorship of the media • Replaced elected governors with his own appointees- “to fight corruption…” • As of today, he holds the appointed position as “Prime Minister.”

32. The End

33. The End

35. The End

38. -Western Europe during the Cold War • The democracies of western Europe relied on unity for their security against a possible Soviet attack… • NATO became the military deterrent but real political union has been difficult to achieve. • Steps toward economic progress has been significant.

39. -West Europe’s domestic agenda…Socialism • after the war, a vast expansion of public welfare programs became typical with reforms intended to give all citizens housing, education and healthcare regardless of income • The “welfare state” was pioneered in Scandinavia but soon emerged in almost every European country • After two wars, in which central management of state economies became the norm, governments had experience in organizing people and resources.

40. -The European Coal and Steel Community • The ECSC was the result of France and West Germany to insure peace and cooperation… • In 1951, six nations, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg (Benelux) agreed to eliminate tariffs on coal, iron and steel.