THE COLD WAR COMES TO AN END Modern World History
Feb 22, 2016
THE COLD WAR COMES TO AN END
Modern World History
Destalinization Stalin dies in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev
named Premier Denounces the
jailing/execution of Soviet citizens
Monuments to Stalin torn down
Stalingrad renamed Volgograd
Not Tough Enough Hungary &
Czechoslovakia attempt Revolutions Khrushchev &
Brezhnev put down revolutions violently
Tanks & Infantry restore pro-Soviet governments
Detente Détente: foreign policy that
sought to ease relations with the Communist world by increasing diplomatic, commercial, and cultural contact with Cold War enemies
Nixon to China (Feb. 1972) Nixon: “we want the Chinese
with us when we sit down and negotiate with the Russians.”
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks SALT (May 1972) Signed by Nixon & Brezhnev
Helsinki Accords limit ICBMs Signed in Aug. 1975 33 UN nations sign
The Evil Empire Crumbles Mikhail Gorbachev (1985)
Young (54) Promoted Glasnost
Openness, the free-flow of ideas and information
Churches reopened, censorship relaxed, prisoners released, etc
Promoted Perestroika Economic restructuring Goal: improve efficiency Goal: productivity
Promoted Democratic Reforms Result: election of new
legislature
The Evil Empire Crumbles Ethnic Tensions Boil
Over Baltic Nations
authority March 1990 Gorbi institutes economic
sanctions Troops kills 14 & wounds 100s
Jan. 1991 Yeltsin criticizes Gorbi’s use
of force
The Evil Empire Crumbles August Coup Fails (1991)
Hardliners – fearful of losing control Military detains Gorbi in the Black Sea Tanks roll into Moscow Yeltsin leads popular opposition Military unwilling to fire on citizens Gorbi returns & resigns Communist Parliament votes to end
control 15 Soviets declare independence
Dec. 1991