The Cold War: Gorbachev 1985/91 Flashcards
1
Q
Who is Mikhail Gorbachev
A
1985 leader of USSR
2
Q
What resulted in his ‘New Thinking’ reforms
A
- USSR started increasing spending rapidly on arms due to USA’s increase (e.g USA STAR WARS programme)
- depleting Soviet economy (country on verge of bankruptcy)
- protests in communist countries for better QOL and freedom (e.g ‘Solidarity Group’ 1980-81)
3
Q
What was Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’ reforms
A
- Perestroika (reconstruction)
- Glasnost (openness)
- End of Brezhnev Doctrine
- Reduced spending on Arms
4
Q
What is Perestroika (reconstruction)
A
- Gorbachev policy to reform Soviet economy
- encourage trade with western countries
- allowed Western businesses to operate in USSR
5
Q
What is Glasnost (openness)
A
- Gorbachev allowing freedom of speech
- he believed it a human right for his citizens
- allowed criticism of gov
6
Q
Why did Gorbachev end the Brezhnev Doctrine
A
- USSR spending too much on other communist countries
- did not want political involvement of other countries affairs
7
Q
Give an example of Gorbachev decreasing spending on Arms
A
- he removed Soviet troops from Afghanistan
8
Q
What did Gorbachev’s leadership result in
A
- better US-USSR relationships
- fall of communism and The Warsaw Pact
9
Q
Explain how Gorbachev improved US-soviet relationships
A
- Washington Summit (1987): Gorbachev + Reagan
agreed on INF treaty which abolished land-based missiles with ranges between 500-5500km - Moscow Summit (1988): Gorbachev + Reagan
discussed further agreements for their INF treaty
set up the later reduction of Warsaw troops
set up for USSR’s exit from Afghanistan - Malta Summit (1989): Gorbachev + Bush
agreed to end the cold war
10
Q
What caused the collapse of communism
A
- people unhappy with communist leadership (low QOL)
- nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
