The Cold War began to thaw in the 1970s with détente between the US and Soviet Union, but tensions increased again in 1979 when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. In the 1980s, President Reagan escalated an arms race with the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 and his reforms of glasnost and perestroika dramatically ended the Cold War. Gorbachev agreed to eliminate nuclear missiles and withdrew support for communist governments in Eastern Europe. Germany reunified in 1990, signaling the end of the Cold War. Ethnic tensions grew and Soviet republics declared independence in 1991, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

1. Chapter 21 Section 1
Cold War to Post-Cold War

2. I. From Cold War to Post-Cold War
A. By the 1970s, U.S.-Soviet relations
had reached détente—a relaxation of
tension and improved relations.
1. By 1979, however, a new period of East-
West confrontation began when the
Soviets invaded Afghanistan.
a. They wanted to restore a pro-Soviet regime
there.
b. The U.S. viewed this as an act of expansion.

3. B. In 1980, President Ronald Reagan began a
military buildup and a new arms race with
the Soviet Union.
1. Reagan gave military aid to the Afghan rebels
to fight the Soviets.
C. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the
leader of the Soviet Union.
1. His willingness to rethink Soviet foreign policy
led to a dramatic end to the Cold War.
2. In 1987 Gorbachev made an agreement with
the United States—the Intermediate-range
Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty—to eliminate
intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

4. D. Gorbachev changed Soviet policy by
stopping military support to Communist
governments in E. Europe.
1. This led to the overthrow of Communist
regimes in these countries.
E. Germany was reunified in 1990—
signaling the end of the Cold War.
F. In 1991 the Soviet Union was
dissolved.

5. II. Upheaval in the Soviet Union
A. In 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was removed
from office. Alexei Kosygin and Leonid
Brezhnev replaced him.
1. During the 1970s, Brezhnev became the main
Soviet leader.
2. He wanted to keep E. Europe as Communist
states.
3. He issued the Brezhnev Doctrine which
asserted that the Soviet Union had the right to
intervene if communism was threatened in
another Communist state.

6. B. Under Brezhnev, the Soviet Union was
allowed more access to Western culture.
1. Dissidents—people who spoke out against the
regime, were still punished.
C. The Soviet Union’s economy continued to
emphasize heavy industry.
1. The Soviet economy was weakened by the
government’s bureaucracy that discouraged
efficiency and encouraged indifference.
a. Collective farmers had no incentive to work hard in
the collective work brigades.
2. By the 1970s, the Communist ruling class had
become corrupt.
3. By 1980, the Soviet economy was seriously
declining.

7. D. In 1985, the reformer Mikhail
Gorbachev was chosen to lead the
Soviet Union.
1. Gorbachev’s basis of reform was
perestroika, or restructuring, of the Soviet
economy and government.
2. Gorbachev created a new state
presidency.
3. Gorbachev began a new era of glastnost,
or openness, in public discussion of
Soviet problems.

8. E. As the Soviet government eased its
control, ethnic tensions emerged throughout
the Soviet republics.
1. During 1990 and 1991, several of these
republics called for independence from Soviet
control.
2. In 1991, conservative leaders arrested
Gorbachev and tried to seize power.
a. Boris Yeltsin and others defeated their attempt.
3. Soviet republics moved for independence, and
the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus
declared the Soviet Union dissolved.
a. Gorbachev resigned in December 1991.

9. F. Boris Yeltsin became president of the new
Russia.
1. He worked to introduce a free Market economy
in Russia.
2. Chechens tried to secede from Russia and form
their own independent republic.
a. Yeltsin used brutal force against the Chechens.
G. In 1999 Yeltsin resigned and in 2000
Vladimir Putin was elected president.
1. Putin’s economic reforms have led to budget
surpluses and a growing economy.