Gorbachev

Question 1

Briefly describe the fall of the Soviet Union

Answer 1

1985 - Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader

1986 - Reagan and Gorbachev resolve to remove all nuclear missiles in Europe

[1989]

January - Removes troops from Afghanistan

June - Poland becomes independent

September - Hungary becomes independent

November - Berlin wall removed

December - Communist governments fall in Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria

[1990]

March - Lithuania becomes independent

May - Boris becomes president of Russia

October - Germany re-united

1991 - Fall of the Soviet Union

Question 2

What was Glasnost?

Answer 2

• Social and political reforms
• Freedom of press
• News of corruption could be transmitted
• Introduce openness
• Reveal brutalness of Stalin

Question 3

What was Perestroika?

Answer 3

• Restructuring
• Political, economic and social reforms
• Private ownership of industry and agricultural land
• Reduce state control over imports and exports
• Allow trade between non-eastern bloc countries
• Allowing foreign investments
• Increase in production and trade in consumer goods

Question 4

What were Gorbachev’s other reforms?

Answer 4

• Reduce defense spending: nuclear arms race was an enormous drain, Red Army began to shrink
• Improve international relations: withdrew from Afghanistan and talked about international trust and cooperation

Question 5

What were his actions in Eastern Europe?

Answer 5

• Promoted openness
• Wouldn’t stand in the way of democracy
• Wouldn’t use troops