These notes provide a detailed analysis of this topic and will certainly help you achieve your best marks possible.
This is coming from the top achiever in history for matric in an ieb school. (above 80%) Thus, I guaranty this is a reliable study option.
Introduction:
- The Cold War was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the
Soviet Union and their respective allies that developed after World War II.
- Mikhali Gorbachev became the leader of the USSR in 1985.
- He introduced reforms to solve the problems facing the country.
- Reforms had unintended results…
1. People of Eastern Europe used the opportunity to overthrow their
communist governments and end Soviet control.
2. The changes in the Soviet Union ended the Cold War.
3. The reforms started a process that he finally could not control.
- By the end of 1991 he was out of office and the USSR collapsed.
- Russia still existed.
- 1985 is a time when the US economy is almost dead.
- The situation is the USSR in 1985…
1. Gorbachev became leader in 1985 when the country was in crisis.
2. Its resources were drained by the on-going war in Afghanistan and by the
continued arms race of the Cold War.
3. Relations with the West were strained.
4. The Soviet economy was stagnant and on the brink of collapse.
5. Industrial and agricultural production had declined and people were
demoralized by shortages of essential goods, bad housing, poor public
healthcare, below average infrastructure and widespread alcoholism.
6. Russians felt the government could not solve their problems.
7. Those in power had privileges so they did not really care about the
ordinary citizens.
, Words To Remember:
- Reforms = Make changes in a political policy to try and improve it.
- Market Socialism = Economic system showing the comparison between socialist
planning and free enterprise, in which enterprises are publicly owned but production and
consumption are guided by market forces rather than the government.
- Political Pluralism = View that politics and decisions are made by the government by
other groups that influence it.
- Market Economy = An economic system where two forces, supply and demand, direct
the production of goods and services.
- Glasnost = Policy of openness where the government consults more openly with the
public about social and political issues and allows more freedom of press.
- Perestroika = Restructuring of the political and economic systems in the Soviet Union
meant to kick start the stagnant economy.
- Demokratizatsiya = Slogan used by Gorbachev calling for the infusion of democratic
elements into the Soviet Union’s single party government.
- Politburo = Principal policy making committee in the Former Soviet Union in 1917.
- Material Law = The temporary imposition of direct military control of normal civil
functions or suspension of civil law by a government in the event of a temp emergency.
Internal vs External Factors That Caused The Economy to Collapse:
- Internal Factors…
1. Inherited economic bankruptcy.
2. Gorbachev’s reforms (Glasnost, Perestroika and Democracy).
3. Chernobyl in 1986.
- External Factors…
1. Soviet - Afghanistan war & other expensive proxy wars.
2. Solidarity Poland & rebellion in Eastern Europe satellites.
3. Reagan (USA) & Star wars.
- Growth in nationalism led to cultures, states and satellites all wanting political change
and independence.
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