The End of The Cold War - Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe

Question 1

What problems were the Soviet Union facing?

Answer 1

• Investment into Soviet economy was low. Standards of living in the East were extremley poor.
• Soviet Union suffered from poor leadership as there had been a run of leaders with poor health and did not leave useful plans for the future.

Question 2

What series of policies did Gorbachev introduce?

Answer 2

In 1985, introduced :
- Perestroika
- Policy of glasnost
- The Brezhnev Doctrine would be dropped
- Soviet Union would reduce spending on arms and defence and withdraw from Afghanistan.

Question 3

What is Perestroika?

Answer 3

Used in the Gorbachev era to describe his programme for reorganising and reconstructing the Soviet state, including practices that made capitalism successful.

Question 4

What is the Policy of Glasnost?

Answer 4

Used to describe Gorbachev’s new, more open, attitude to government and foreign relations.

Question 5

What was the American response to Gorbachev adopting new policies?

Answer 5

Reagen saw there was a real oppurtunity to end the Cold War and to adopt a more open approach to the Soviet Union.

Question 6

When did the Berlin Wall fall? Why was it significant?

Answer 6

The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 which was an extremley significant event because the Berlin Wall stood for the division of Europe and its destruction became the symbol of the end of Soviet control and the Cold War.

Question 7

When did the Warsaw Pact end? Why?

Answer 7

The Pact formally dissolved in July 1991 because the events in 1989 put communist governments under pressure which led to military co-operation between member states end in early 1990.

Question 8

What was the significance of the end of the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 8

• Warsaw Pact established two divided and armed camps in the Cold War.
• The Pact was also a symbol of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe as it enabled the Soviet Union to keep an eye on its communist allies.

Question 9

Explain how Gorbachev fell from power.

Answer 9

• Losing control over Soviet satellites played a major part in his downfall.
• In August 1991, communist hardliners staged a coup against Gorbachev which failed but it severely damaged his authority.
• Gorbachev could not continue under these circumstances and announced his resignation which was followed up with the dissoloution of the Soviet Union in December.
• Signalled the end of the Cold War.