Gorbachev Flashcards
Gorbachev
He was the eighth leader of the Soviet Union, having been General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. He was the country’s head of state from 1988 until 1991.
The importance of Gorbachev
Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (“restructuring”) and his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims contributed to the end of the Cold War.
The role of the Communist Party in governing the state was removed from the constitution.
He fixed relations between America with his new policy of glasnost perestroika.
Loosened his grip on the satellite states.
Glastnost perastroika
Within five years, Gorbachev’s revolutionary program swept communist governments throughout Eastern Europe from power and brought an end to the Cold War