12 - Gorbachev

Question 1

When did Gorbachev come into power?

Answer 1

1985

Question 2

What did Gorbachev want to do when he came into power?

Answer 2

• maintain position as a superpower
• recognise difficulties the country was facing
• modernise the party with his ‘new thinking’

Question 3

Glasnost

Answer 3

• more openness
• less corruption
• people should be allowed to criticise the government
• political prisoners released
• banned books republished

Question 4

Impact of glasnost

Answer 4

People became confident to criticise USSR = harder for Gorbachev to keep control

Question 5

Perestroika

Answer 5

• state and economy reformed to contain some capitalist ideas
• aspects of the free markets introduced to accelerate economic development

Question 6

Brezhnev Doctrine

Answer 6

• doctrine abandoned so satellite states no longer worried about invasion
• USSR would no longer intervene in the domestic affairs of other communist countries even if they conflicted with the USSR

Question 7

Arms Race

Answer 7

• reduced spending on arms
• withdrew from Afghanistan
• made significant steps to bring further limitations to nuclear weapons at summitts

Question 8

What were the four pieces of Gorbachev’s new thinking?

Answer 8

1 - Glasnost
2 - Perestroika
3 - Brezhnev Doctrine
4 - Arms Race

Question 9

Where was the INF Treaty signed?

Answer 9

Washington Summit (1987)

Question 10

What were the three Gorbachev - Reagan summits?

Answer 10

1 - Geneva (1985)
2 - Reykjavik (1986)
3 - Washington (1987)

Question 11

What were the terms of the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty?

Answer 11

• both countries would start to disarm
• abolish land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km
• both could check other was destroying nuclear weapons

Question 12

Result of INF Treaty on international relations

Answer 12

• Gorbymania (gained popularity in the West)
• able to encourage trade deals with the West to help revive USSR economy

Question 13

What was the Malta Summit and what is it viewed as doing?

Answer 13

• 1989
• Gorbachev and Bush promised to co-operate
• seen as end of the Cold War

Question 14

Consequences of Gorbachev’s new thinking (4 points)

Answer 14

1 - ‘Glasnost and Perestroika’
2 - End of Brezhnev Doctrine
3 - INF Treaty - 1987/Washington Summit
4 - Fall of Berlin Wall

Question 15

Impact of Glasnost and Perestroika on the Cold War and Eastern Europe

Answer 15

Cold War: Reagan sees Gorbachev as someone he can work with. Prepared to negotiate
Eastern Europe: Citizens prepared to criticise the government and expose corruption. Started to lose faith in communism. WEAKEN SOVIET CONTROL

Question 16

Impact of the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine on the Cold War and Eastern Europe

Answer 16

Cold War: IMPROVE RELATIONS Reagan reassured that Gorbachev is serious about not spreading communism
Eastern Europe: WEAKEN SOVIET CONTROL satellite states no longer fear invasion so prepared to challenge communism –> riots + protests

Question 17

Impact of the INF Treaty on the Cold War

Answer 17

IMPROVE RELATIONS reduces chances of war. Persuaded USA that USSR genuinely did not plan to invade them

Question 18

Impact of the Fall of the Berlin Wall on Soviet control in Europe

Answer 18

REDUCES TENSIONS IN EUROPE symbolic of ending division in Europe and contributes to the re-unification of Germany