Fall of Communism and Fall of Communism and the Breakup of the the Breakup of the

Soviet UnionSoviet Union

What is Communism?What is Communism?

Communism is a political and Communism is a political and economic system in which the major economic system in which the major productive resources in a society-productive resources in a society-such as mines, factories, and farms-such as mines, factories, and farms-are owned by the public or the state, are owned by the public or the state, and wealth is divided among citizens and wealth is divided among citizens equally or according to individual equally or according to individual need. need.

What is the role of the What is the role of the Communist Party?Communist Party?

The Communist Party was the only political The Communist Party was the only political party allowed to exist and only members party allowed to exist and only members from this Party are allowed to run for public from this Party are allowed to run for public officeoffice

Membership in the Communist Party was Membership in the Communist Party was restricted. Only a small percentage of the restricted. Only a small percentage of the entire population belonged to the Party.entire population belonged to the Party.

The Politburo, or inner circle of the The Politburo, or inner circle of the Communist Party, consisted of 15 men who Communist Party, consisted of 15 men who were responsible for making policy.were responsible for making policy.

The General Secretary, or leader of the The General Secretary, or leader of the Communist party, was the most powerful Communist party, was the most powerful man in the Soviet Union.man in the Soviet Union.

Spread of CommunismSpread of Communism East Germany, Poland, East Germany, Poland,

Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria Romania, and Bulgaria had communist had communist government. These government. These countries were called countries were called Soviet Satellites States Soviet Satellites States because they were because they were countries that were under countries that were under the control of the USSR the control of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). Republics).

What was life like under What was life like under Communist rule?Communist rule?

Do Now Activity!Do Now Activity!

Do Now Activity!Do Now Activity!

Take out your homework and share Take out your homework and share with a partner why you think people with a partner why you think people would not want to live under would not want to live under communist rule. communist rule.

Each pair must come up with 1 Each pair must come up with 1 reason to share with the class.reason to share with the class.

Why would people want to break Why would people want to break away from Communist rule?away from Communist rule?

Political and Economic ProblemsPolitical and Economic Problems

No individual freedomsNo individual freedoms

No motivation to work hardNo motivation to work hard

What led to the fall of What led to the fall of communism and the breakup of communism and the breakup of

the Soviet Union?the Soviet Union? The man who came The man who came

to power in the to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 Soviet Union in 1985 was Mikhail was Mikhail Gorbachev.Gorbachev.

His policies set the His policies set the stage for the collapse stage for the collapse of communism in of communism in Eastern Europe and Eastern Europe and the breakup of the the breakup of the Soviet Union. Soviet Union.

Gorbachev’s PoliciesGorbachev’s Policies

PerestroikaPerestroika-- “Restructuring” This was “Restructuring” This was Gorbachev’s plan to restructure and Gorbachev’s plan to restructure and decentralize the economy.decentralize the economy.

GlasnostGlasnost- “Openness” This refers to - “Openness” This refers to Gorbachev’s policy that aimed to destroy Gorbachev’s policy that aimed to destroy the secrecy and suspicion of Soviet life. It the secrecy and suspicion of Soviet life. It allowed greater freedoms and open allowed greater freedoms and open criticism of the Soviet government. criticism of the Soviet government.

Gorbachev DoctrineGorbachev Doctrine-a policy of -a policy of noninterference in Eastern Europe.noninterference in Eastern Europe.

Do Now Activity!Do Now Activity!

Read the following quote and write down Read the following quote and write down what you think it means:what you think it means:

““The Road to Success is dotted with many The Road to Success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.”-Author tempting parking spaces.”-Author

UnknownUnknown

Revolutions in Eastern EuropeRevolutions in Eastern Europe

PolandPoland

CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

RomaniaRomania

East GermanyEast Germany

YugoslaviaYugoslavia

PolandPoland In the 1970’s and 1980’s, there In the 1970’s and 1980’s, there

was food riots and worker was food riots and worker unrest due to the poor unrest due to the poor economic conditions.economic conditions.

An organization called Solidarity An organization called Solidarity was formed. It was a trade was formed. It was a trade union that pressured the union that pressured the government for changes that government for changes that would improve living standards. would improve living standards. Solidarity and its leader Lech Solidarity and its leader Lech Walesa was supported by Walesa was supported by millions of people across millions of people across Poland. Following Gorbachev’s Poland. Following Gorbachev’s policies, the government policies, the government eventually legalized Solidarity eventually legalized Solidarity and allowed free elections in and allowed free elections in 1989. 1989.

It was the first Eastern It was the first Eastern European Satellite State to European Satellite State to break free from the Soviet break free from the Soviet Union. Union.

PolandPoland

Reasons for Reasons for RevolutionRevolution

Poor economic conditionsPoor economic conditions

Worker unrest and food Worker unrest and food riotsriots

Formation of the trade Formation of the trade union union SolidaritySolidarity

Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution

SolidaritySolidarity became a became a legal organization and legal organization and the government the government allowed free elections.allowed free elections.

The new government The new government created a market created a market economy.economy.

CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Late 1989, the Velvet Revolution took Late 1989, the Velvet Revolution took place. It was a nonviolent protest place. It was a nonviolent protest movement that ended Communist rule in movement that ended Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia.

Vaclav Havel became the president of Vaclav Havel became the president of Czechoslovakia.Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia was split into the Czech Czechoslovakia was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993 due to Republic and Slovakia in 1993 due to different ideas on economic reform. different ideas on economic reform.

CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia

Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution

Mass demonstrations Mass demonstrations throughout throughout Czechoslovakia called Czechoslovakia called for change to for change to democracy.democracy.

Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution

The Communist The Communist government in government in Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia collapsed and Havel collapsed and Havel became the new became the new president. A few years president. A few years later, Czechoslovakia later, Czechoslovakia was split into two was split into two separate nations, the separate nations, the Czech Republic and Czech Republic and Slovakia. Slovakia.

RomaniaRomania Nicolae Ceasescu was Nicolae Ceasescu was

the Communist leader of the Communist leader of Romania since 1965.Romania since 1965.

In 1989, the secret police In 1989, the secret police murdered thousands of murdered thousands of people and as a result, a people and as a result, a violent revolution violent revolution overthrew Ceasescu and overthrew Ceasescu and his Communist regime.his Communist regime.

Ceasescu was executed Ceasescu was executed and a new government and a new government was formed. was formed.

RomaniaRomania

Reasons for Reasons for RevolutionRevolution

The secret police in The secret police in Romania murdered Romania murdered thousands of men, thousands of men, women, and women, and children. Violent children. Violent revolution took revolution took place as a result of place as a result of these murders. these murders.

Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution

The Communist leader The Communist leader of Romania was of Romania was overthrown and overthrown and executed. A new executed. A new government was government was formed. Romania formed. Romania had a difficult time had a difficult time making the making the transition to transition to democracy. democracy.

East GermanyEast Germany In the summer of 1989, In the summer of 1989,

Hungary allowed East Hungary allowed East Germans to escape to West Germans to escape to West Germany through Austria. Germany through Austria.

This caused East Germans This caused East Germans to demonstrate for reform to demonstrate for reform and demand permission to and demand permission to emigrate to West Germany. emigrate to West Germany.

On November 9, 1989, the On November 9, 1989, the Communist government of Communist government of East Germany surrendered East Germany surrendered to popular pressure by to popular pressure by opening its border with the opening its border with the West. West.

People on both sides began People on both sides began tearing down the wall. tearing down the wall.

East GermanyEast Germany

Reasons for RevolutionReasons for Revolution

Hungary allowed East Hungary allowed East Germans to escape to Germans to escape to West Germany. This West Germany. This caused mass caused mass demonstrations to demonstrations to take place throughout take place throughout East Germany East Germany demanding permission demanding permission to emigrate to West to emigrate to West Germany. Germany.

Results of RevolutionResults of Revolution

The Communist The Communist government collapsed government collapsed and opened its and opened its borders with the West. borders with the West. People from both People from both sides began tearing sides began tearing down the Berlin Wall. down the Berlin Wall. Reunification of East Reunification of East and West Germany and West Germany took place on October took place on October 3, 1990. 3, 1990.

Berlin WallBerlin Wall

http://www.cnn.com/resources/video.almanac/1989/index3.http://www.cnn.com/resources/video.almanac/1989/index3.htmlhtml

YugoslaviaYugoslavia Although Yugoslavia Although Yugoslavia

had a communist had a communist government, it had government, it had never been a Soviet never been a Soviet satellite state. satellite state.

By 1989, Yugoslavia By 1989, Yugoslavia also became caught also became caught up in the reform up in the reform movements sweeping movements sweeping across Eastern across Eastern Europe. Europe.

By 1990, new parties By 1990, new parties emerged and emerged and Communism in Communism in Yugoslavia collapsed. Yugoslavia collapsed.

YugoslaviaYugoslavia

Reasons for RevolutionReasons for RevolutionAfter the Communist After the Communist

dictator Tito died in dictator Tito died in 1980, representatives 1980, representatives from all six republics from all six republics and two provinces and two provinces within Yugoslavia within Yugoslavia comprised a collective comprised a collective federal government federal government under Communist under Communist rule. By 1990, the rule. By 1990, the Communist party Communist party collapsed. collapsed.

Results of RevolutionResults of RevolutionAfter the Communist After the Communist

Party collapsed, the Party collapsed, the six republics and two six republics and two provinces that made provinces that made up Yugoslavia up Yugoslavia developed a strong developed a strong sense of nationalism sense of nationalism and demanded and demanded separate nations to be separate nations to be formed. Civil war has formed. Civil war has been a problem been a problem throughout the former throughout the former Yugoslavia since the Yugoslavia since the 1990. 1990.

Do Now!Do Now!

Which is generally a characteristic of a Which is generally a characteristic of a communist economy?communist economy?

1. Investment is encouraged by the promise 1. Investment is encouraged by the promise of large profits of large profits

2. The role of government in the economy is 2. The role of government in the economy is restricted by law restricted by law

3. Government agencies are involved in 3. Government agencies are involved in production planning production planning

4. Entrepreneurs sell shares in their 4. Entrepreneurs sell shares in their companies to the government companies to the government

Do Now!Do Now!

One reason the Soviet Union formed the One reason the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact was toWarsaw Pact was to

1. Ease the transition to democracy 1. Ease the transition to democracy

2. Help institute capitalism in Eastern 2. Help institute capitalism in Eastern Europe Europe

3. Limit the threat of invasion from Western 3. Limit the threat of invasion from Western Europe Europe

4. Challenge the economic successes of the 4. Challenge the economic successes of the Common Market Common Market

Do Now!Do Now!

Communist governments were established in Communist governments were established in most nations of Eastern Europe shortly after most nations of Eastern Europe shortly after World War II becauseWorld War II because

1. The region had a long tradition of strong 1. The region had a long tradition of strong communist parties communist parties

2. Communist governments were able to 2. Communist governments were able to significantly increase agricultural productivity significantly increase agricultural productivity

3. The Soviet Union used military and 3. The Soviet Union used military and diplomatic pressures to install their diplomatic pressures to install their governments governments

4. Members of the Communist party won free 4. Members of the Communist party won free elections in these nations elections in these nations