End of the Cold War: The Fall of the Soviet Union and the Impact of the Cold War
"It would be naive to think that the problems plaguing mankind today can be solved with means and methods, which were applied or seemed to work in the past.”
Mikhail Gorbachev
The Final Chapter
The final act closed with the 1991 dissolution of the USSR. By 1989 Gorbachev's domestic reforms had run into serious trouble, and the economy went into a tailspin. The centrifugal forces in the "outer empire" stimulated and accelerated those in the "inner empire", as the Soviet republics sought sovereignty and then independence. As the center disintegrated and Gorbachev opened up the political process with glasnost (openness), the old communist "barons" in the republics saw the handwriting on the wall and became nationalists; they "first of all attacked the USSR government . . . and subsequently destroyed the USSR." Each of the USSR's republics, as they declared independence or sovereignty, also adopted statements by the republic leaderships on service in the armed forces, including the creation of their own military forces.
Gorbachev's struggle with the old imperial elite in the communist party, the armed forces, and the military-industrial complex culminated in the August 1991 coup. When the coup failed, it finished off the USSR -- and Gorbachev himself. Russia was one of the main initiators of the break-up of the Soviet Union. Because the former Soviet republics receiving independence was something that Russia wanted itself. On Christmas Day 1991, at 7:35 p.m., the Soviet flag flying over the Kremlin was lowered and replaced by the new Russian banner. The USSR officially ceased to exist on 31 December. The Cold War was over.
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The Disintegration of an Empire
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Review Activity 1: The Fall of the Soviet Union
Instructions:
Instructions:
- Read the following sources: Chapter 17 "History - 20th Century World: The Cold War (purple text)", pages 410 to 423 of the text "Modern World History (blue text)", "The Soviet Economy in Crisis.pdf", "The End of the Cold War 1979-1991.pdf", "Gorbachev and the Fall of the Soviet Empire.pdf", "The Cold War's Legacy.pdf" and "After the Cold War.pdf".
- Also read the following sources (from the previous topic): "'Solidarity' in Poland 1980-1990.pdf", "Poland (1980-9).pdf", "Solidarity.pdf", "The End of Communism.pdf", "The Collapse of the Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe.pdf" and "The Collapse of Communist Europe.pdf".
- Complete the following diagram by identifying the the causes for the fall of the Soviet union (see below).
The Aftermath
Now that the Soviet Union, with its centralized political and economic system, has ceased to exist, the fifteen newly formed independent countries, which emerged in its aftermath are faced with an overwhelming task. They must develop their economies, reorganize their political systems, and, in many cases, settle bitter territorial disputes. A number of wars have developed on the peripheries of the former Soviet Union. Additionally, the entire region is suffering a period of severe economic hardship. However, despite the many hardships facing the region, bold steps are being taken toward democratization, reorganization, and rebuilding in most of the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Review Activity 2: The Impact of the Cold War
Instructions:
Instructions:
- Read the following sources: Chapter 17 "History - 20th Century World: The Cold War (purple text)", pages 410 to 423 of the text "Modern World History (blue text)", "The Soviet Economy in Crisis.pdf", "The End of the Cold War 1979-1991.pdf", "Gorbachev and the Fall of the Soviet Empire.pdf", "The Cold War's Legacy.pdf" and "After the Cold War.pdf".
- Also read the following sources (from the previous topic): "'Solidarity' in Poland 1980-1990.pdf", "Poland (1980-9).pdf", "Solidarity.pdf", "The End of Communism.pdf", "The Collapse of the Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe.pdf" and "The Collapse of Communist Europe.pdf".
- Complete the following diagram by identifying the the impact of the Cold War (see below).
Further Reading
- The Collapse of the USSR (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/europe/2001/collapse_of_ussr/timelines/default.stm)
- Reform, Coup and Collapse: The End of the Soviet State (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/coldwar/soviet_end_01.shtml)
Exam Questions
Paper 2: Topic 5 - The Cold War
May Exams
November Exams
Paper 2: Topic 5 - The Cold War
May Exams
- To what extent did economic problems in the Communist bloc bring about the end of the Cold War? (May 2005 & 2007)
- When and why did the Cold War end? (May 2008)
- Why did the Cold War begin and end in Europe? (TZ2 May 2009)
- “The Cold War came to an end primarily because of Gorbachev’s changes in Soviet policies.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (TZ1 May 2010)
- “The Cold War came to an end due to the hard-line approach of Ronald Reagan’s policies in the early 1980s.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? (TZ2 May 2010)
- In what ways, and with what significance, did either Kennedy or Reagan influence the development of the Cold War? (TZ1 May 2012)
- Analyse the impact of either Gorbachev or Reagan on the course of the Cold War in the 1980s. (TZ2 May 2012)
November Exams
- Analyse the factors which led to the ending of the Cold War. (Nov 2005)
- To what extent was the collapse of communist regimes the result of domestic problems rather than external pressures? (Nov 2007)
- Why did the Cold War end? (Nov 2008)
- To what extent was the arms race the principal reason for the end of the Cold War? (Nov 2009)
- To what extent did (a) ideological and (b) economic factors contribute to the ending of the Cold War? (Nov 2011)