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True or False?
When Leonid Brezhnev died in 1982, Mikhail Gorbachev became the new leader of the Soviet Union.
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True or False?
When Leonid Brezhnev died in 1982, Mikhail Gorbachev became the new leader of the Soviet Union.
False.
There were two presidents who served before Mikhail Gorbachev. Brezhnev's successor, Andropov, died in 1984. Andropov's successor, Chernenko, died in 1985. After Chernenko's death, Gorbachev then became the leader.
When did Mikhail Gorbachev become the new leader of the Soviet Union?
Mikhail Gorbachev became the new leader of the Soviet Union in March 1985.
By 1985, the Soviet Union had serious and social issues.
By 1985, the Soviet Union had serious economic and social issues.
What happened to life expectancy in the Soviet Union in 1970?
In 1970, life expectancy in the Soviet Union began to fall. This shows that living and working conditions were declining.
Define Perestroika.
Perestroika is the Russian word for 'restructuring'. This covers Gorbachev's economic reforms.
Did Perestroika allow capitalist elements into the Soviet Union's economy?
Yes.
Perestroika allowed small, privately-owned businesses to be created and more foreign trade.
What did Perestroika aimed to do to the arms race?
Perestroika aimed to end the arms race by reducing military spending.
Define Glasnost.
Glasnost is the Russian word for 'openness'. This covers Gorbachev's social reforms.
True or False?
Glasnost meant that there was more censorship in the Soviet Union.
False.
Glasnost meant that there was less censorship. There was less Soviet control of the media.
The Soviet Union took responsibility for past repression. For example, the Soviet government admitted that the and the Prague Spring were peaceful attempts at reform.
The Soviet Union took responsibility for past repression. For example, the Soviet government admitted that the Hungarian Uprising and the Prague Spring were peaceful attempts at reform.
When did Gorbachev speak to the United Nations (UN)?
In 1988, Gorbachev spoke at the UN. Gorbachev's speech confirmed the Soviet Union's commitment to reforms and forming a better relationship with the USA.
What was the outcome of the Geneva Summit in November 1985?
The outcome of the Geneva Summit was no formal agreements but a stronger relationship between Gorbachev and Reagan.
What world event affect the Reykjavik Summit in October 1986?
The world event that affected the Reykjavik Summit in October 1986 was the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl.
At the Washington Summit in December 1987, the USA and the Soviet Union signed the treaty.
At the Washington Summit in December 1987, the USA and the Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) treaty.
Which summit meeting in December 1989 marked the end of the Cold War?
The Malta Summit in December 1989 marked the end of the Cold War.
What was the sequence of countries for the end of communism in Eastern Europe?
The sequence of countries for the end of communism in Eastern Europe were Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.
When did the Hungarian government release the 'democracy package' which introduced reforms to Hungary?
In 1988, the Hungarian government introduced a 'democracy package'.
The Hungarian government that the Soviet Union illegally executed Imre Nagy. As a result, Hungarians held a public funeral for Nagy where 100,000 people attended.
The Hungarian government admitted that the Soviet Union illegally executed Imre Nagy. As a result, Hungarians held a public funeral for Nagy where 100,000 people attended.
Did the Soviet Union react to the opening of the Hungarian-Austrian border in May 1988?
No.
The lack of response from the Soviet government encouraged more countries to pursue reform.
Define multi-party election in the context of Hungary in October 1989.
Marti-party elections are the ability of numerous political parties to run for government. In October 1989, the Hungarian government agreed to hold multi-party elections.
Define Solidarity in the context of Communist Poland.
Solidarity was an independent trade union in Poland created by Lech Wałęsa in 1980.
Define martial law in the context of Poland in the 1980s.
Martial law is the control of a city or a country by an army instead of by its usual leaders. Due to civil unrest, the Communist Party placed Poland under martial law.
Roughly what percentage of Polish workers were members of Solidarity in the 1980s?
Roughly 80% of Polish workers were members of Solidarity in the 1980s.
By , the government recognised the need to work with Solidarity. Both Solidarity and the Communist Party agreed to free elections.
By April 1989, the government recognised the need to work with Solidarity. Both Solidarity and the Communist Party agreed to free elections.
Define a landslide victory is the context of Poland in June 1989.
A landslide victory is an election result in which the victorious candidate or party wins by an overwhelming margin. In June 1989, Solidarity gained 99 out of the 100 seats of the Polish Senate.
What name was given to the overthrow of the Communist government in Czechoslovakia?
The overthrow of the Communist government was called the 'Velvet Revolution'.
What issue caused an increase in protests in Czechoslovakia in October 1989?
The issue that caused an increase in protests in Czechoslovakia in October 1989 was the open border between Hungary and Austria. It caused East Germany to close their border with Czechoslovakia in October 1989.
On Christmas Day 1989, Ceaușescu and his family were executed. Which country did Ceaușescu govern?
The country that Ceaușescu governed was Romania.
Which leader resigned live on air on 11th December 1989?
Mladenov, the leader of Bulgaria, resigned live on national television on 11th December 1989.
Between June 1991 and April 1992, Yugoslavia split into separate states.
Between June 1991 and April 1992, Yugoslavia split into seven separate states.
When did the Soviet Union ended the Warsaw Pact?
The Soviet Union ended the Warsaw Pact in July 1991.
How did the removal of the electrified fence between Hungary and Austria in May 1988 impact East Germany?
The removal of the electric fence between Hungary and Austria impacted East Germany because East Germans could escape to the West through the open border.
Was the German Democratic Republic (GDR) open to reform in the 1980s?
No.
The GDR refused to implement democratic reforms. This increased protests against the East German government.
The GDR asked for the support of the Soviet Union to repress the protests in October 1989. Gorbachev to intervene in East Germany.
The GDR asked for the support of the Soviet Union to repress the protests in October 1989. Gorbachev refused to intervene in East Germany.
True or False?
The GDR released a new travel policy that caused the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
True.
In attempt to end protests, the GDR created a plan to allow citizens to cross at all border crossings between East and West Berlin.
Was the GDR's travel policy between East and West Berlin intended to begin straightaway on 9th November 1989?
No.
When the GDR announced their travel policy to the media, it was incorrectly stated that it would start straight away. This caused thousands of East and West Berliners to crowd the borders.
Families were reunited after nearly years apart. The media reported scenes of emotional reunions to a worldwide audience.
Families were reunited after nearly 30 years apart. The media reported scenes of emotional reunions to a worldwide audience.
How important was the fall of the Berlin Wall to other satellite states in Eastern Europe?
Very important.
The collapse of the Berlin Wall encouraged more of the Eastern Bloc to break away from communist control. By December 1990, there was no longer a Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.
How does the collapse of the Berlin Wall link to the 'Iron Curtain'?
The Berlin Wall links to the 'Iron Curtain' because, when the Wall fell, the 'Iron Curtain' no longer existed in Europe. It became a symbol of the end of the Berlin Wall.
Define reunification in the context of Germany in the 1990s.
Reunification is to bring people or a country back together after a period of separation. In 1990, Germany was reunified into one country.
Were any Eastern European countries Communist by December 1990?
No.
Popular pressure within the satellite states forced reforms and elections. Each country turned against Communism.
Did the power of the Soviet Union increase or decrease in the 1990s?
Decrease.
The end of the Warsaw Pact and the end of the Eastern Bloc reduced the Soviet Union's power. The country no longer had the political, military and economic support of satellite states.
True or False?
The collapse of the Eastern Bloc placed Gorbachev in a dangerous position in the Soviet Union.
True.
Devout communists blamed Gorbachev for weakening the Soviet Union.
In August 1991, a group of Communist Party members called the ' ' attempted a coup against Gorbachev.
In August 1991, a group of Communist Party members called the 'Gang of Eight' attempted a coup against Gorbachev.
Did the coup against Gorbachev in 1991 succeed or fail?
Fail.
The coup lacked popular support. Prominent communists like Boris Yeltsin spoke out against the coup.
When did Gorbachev resign as the leader of the Soviet Union?
Gorbachev resigned as the leader of the Soviet Union on 25th December 1991.
What was the name of the president of the Soviet Republic of Russia in 1990?
The president of the Soviet Republic of Russia in 1990 was Boris Yeltsin.
True or False?
The resignation of Yeltsin also marked the end of the Soviet Union.
False.
The resignation of Gorbachev also marked the end of the Soviet Union.