End of the cold war Flashcards
What reforms did Mikhail Gorbachev introduce from 1985 onwards?
Gorbachev introduced glasnost (openness) to increase transparency and freedom of expression, and launched perestroika (restructuring) to reform the stagnant Soviet economy and political system.
What was the impact of Gorbachev’s reforms?
These reforms loosened the Communist Party’s strict control and unintentionally encouraged political dissent and demands for change.
What significant treaty did Gorbachev sign in 1987?
Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the United States, eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons.
What was the significance of the summits held with U.S. Presidents?
The summits with Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush reduced nuclear tensions and fostered cooperation.
What happened in Eastern Europe in 1989?
Popular uprisings and reform movements overthrew communist governments in several countries, including Poland, Hungary, and East Germany.
What symbolized the end of Soviet control in Eastern Europe?
The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, leading to German reunification.
What role did Poland’s Solidarity movement play?
Movements like Poland’s Solidarity played a key role in inspiring change across Eastern Europe.
What marked the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989?
The USSR ended its decade-long military intervention in Afghanistan, marking a shift in Soviet foreign policy away from costly military engagements.
What led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991?
Nationalist movements surged within Soviet republics, culminating in Gorbachev’s resignation on December 25, 1991, and the formal dissolution into 15 independent republics.
What was the significance of the end of the Cold War?
It marked the collapse of Soviet communism, the reunification of Germany, and the emergence of the United States as the sole global superpower.
What was a key outcome of the peaceful resolution of the Cold War?
The peaceful resolution avoided direct military conflict and nuclear war, ushering in a new era of international relations.
