The Rise and Fall of Communism in Europe. Communism - a government where people shared work fairly and were paid equally. Goal: to get rid of social classes.

The Rise and Fall of Communism in Europe

Background on Communism

Communism - a government where peopleshared work fairly and were paid equally.

Goal: to get rid of social classes and makeeverything fair for everyone

Also referred to as “RevolutionaryProletarian Socialism” or “Marxism”.

Communism is enclosed in two Writings: 1). Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx)2).Principles of Communism

USSR• USSR stands for:

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

• The USSR was formed in December 1922.

• USSR is now Russia.

• The USSR collapsed in 1991.

1848- Karl Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto with Frederick Engels.

1917- The October Revolution- Bolsheviks rebelled against Tsar

Nicholas II and took power led by Lenin

1922- The Soviet Union was formed

1924- Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin died/Joseph Stalin became the new leader

1928 - 5 year plan started by Stalin in Soviet Union to rapidly industrialize

1936 - The Great Purge started in Soviet Union. Anyone opposed to Stalin was sent to labor camps.

1938 – 1948 Expansion of the USSR

October 1949- German Democratic Republic established in Eastern Germany

May 1955- Warsaw Pact defense treaty among eight communist states

to counter NATO (1949)

1960 - Berlin Wall was built

1972- Start of SALT -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks between U.S. and USSR.

1945 -1991Cold War between U.S. and Soviet Union - a state

of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other

measures short of open warfare

1991 and 1993- The Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)

COLD WAR FACTS

1989 – Multi party elections began in Poland and USSR

December 26, 1991- USSR was dissolved

November 1989 - Berlin Wall fell and Germany was reunified in October of 1990

Mikhail Gorbachev• Became leader in 1985

• Gorbachev was a different leader than previous Soviet leaders

• At heart, he was not a ruthless dictator

• He was reluctant to use force to control people

• When the populations of E. Europe realized this, they became bolder and stronger

The Economic Failure of Communism• Communism failed

to serve the needs of its people (ironic)

• Food shortages, low pay, poor or no consumer goods

• Given the chance, these people chose to end communism

The Role of Technology

• It was clear to the citizens of E. Europe that W. Europe was doing much better

• Their expectations began to rise; they began to demand better

= 80’s Twitter

• The meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear power facility in Ukraine embarrassed Gorbachev and further inspired him to bring change

• Suggested Soviet technological incompetence

Chernobyl Disaster: April 1986

Glasnost (1986): “Openness”• allowed open criticism of the state,

encouraging debate

• newspapers became less censored

• The academic world was allowed (in fact ordered) to correct Soviet history

• He denounced the narrowness of Stalin’s command economy, praised Lenin’s New Economic Policy

• He reaffirmed his commitment to one ideology (communism)

• He admitted Soviets were wrong in Hungary (’56) and Czechoslovakia (’68)

Boris Yeltsin

•1990-1991 power struggle between Gorbachev and Yeltsin

• Economic conditions for Russians were worse than ever, and people blamed Gorbachev

•Yeltsin promised democratic and economic reform – promised conversion to the free market

The End of the USSR

• While Gorby was relaxing at his dacha, 8 hardcore party officials attempt to seize power

• Yeltsin stopped them

• Gorbachev lost face and resigned

• Yeltsin simply took the reigns

• USSR ended on…. Dec 25, 1991

Why did Communism Fail in the USSR?

• Economic Stagnation – the system was no longer productive

• The Party's inability to adapt or reform – officials were stubbornly committed to something that wasn't working anymore

• Military Spending – nearly bankrupted the nation•USSR spent 20% of GNP on military, USA 6%

• Political Corruption – officials lined their

own pockets at the expense of the nation