USSR FROM THE USSR BACK TO RUSSIA PAGES

USSR

FROM THE USSR BACK TO RUSSIA PAGES 493 -4 AND 496 -7

USSR LEADERS • Damages from WWII were great in the USSR • Stalin ruled the country with an iron fist • After Stalin, Khrushchev loosened some of the economic controls but not political • Soviet military put down early revolutions in its satellite states (1950 s-70 s) • Calls for independence increased later (1980 s)

BREAK-UP OF THE USSR • Leonid Brezhnev negotiated limited peace with the US • Mikhail Gorbachev became premier in the USSR • Gorbachev instituted Glasnost (openness of discussion) and Perestroika (restructuring the economy) • Free countries left the Soviet Union • After a coup, Boris Yeltsin took the presidency of Russia

RUSSIA TODAY • Vladimir Putin has been the leader in Russia since 1999 • Russia has a constitution that has changed often but is ruled by an oligarchy • 12 th largest economy and 6 th highest purchasing power in the world • #1 energy producer in the world but has fragile less diverse economy • 3 rd biggest army with the most nuclear weapons in the

PASSPORT • Country visited: USSR • Who – Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Putin • What – superpower, independence, Glasnost and Perestroika, break-up • When – 1991 break-up, 1999 Putin • Why – move toward modern, open society or closed authoritarian rule

RUSSIA IN CUBA PAGES 484 -5 AND 486 -7

NUCLEAR THREAT • The US had missiles stationed around Europe within range of the USSR • Revolution in Cuba put Fidel Castro in power • The US tried to help rebels overthrow Castro (Bay of Pigs) • The Soviets put missiles within 90 miles of the US

TENSE MOMENTS • US quarantined the island of Cuba • Soviets sent warships across the Atlantic • Nuclear was close (13 scary days) • Leaders negotiated a deal (US removed missiles in Turkey and USSR removed missiles from Cuba)

PASSPORT • Country visited: Cuba • Who – Castro (Cuba); Kennedy (US); Khrushchev (USSR) • What – communist take-over, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, Quarantine • When – 1959 (Castro); 1961 (Bay of Pigs); 1962 (Missile Crisis); 2014 (embargo eased); 2016 (Castro died)

RUSSIA IN AFGHANISTAN PAGES 497 -8

HISTORY • Ancient stop along the Silk Road trade route • Buffer state between Russia and British colonies in Asia • Soviets invade during the civil war became Communist vs. Mujahideen • Extremist Taliban takes control of most of the country and welcomes Al-Qaeda

PRESENT • US war on terror remove Taliban from power • New government only has control over part of the country • Warlords fight with one another for local rule • Still a safe harbor for terrorist organizations

PASSPORT • Country visited: Afghanistan • Who – USSR, Mujahideen, Taliban, Al-Qaeda • What – Civil War, terror camps, US War on Terror • When – 1978 Afghan Civil War; 1996 Taliban take over; 2001 US invasion • Why – spread of communism, Islamic extremism, age of terrorism

RUSSIA IN CRIMEA PAGES 497 -8

PUTIN POWER PLAY • Ukraine got independence from Russia when the USSR devolved • Northern part of the country and elected government apply to join NATO • Southern part of the country are Russian speakers and with Russian culture • Russian military personnel move into Crimea • People of Crimea vote to leave Ukraine and are annexed by Russia

PASSPORT • Country visited: Ukraine/Crimea • Who – Ukraine government, Crimea citizens, NATO, Putin • What – military threat, NATO application, annexation vote • When – 2014 • Why – pro-Russian separatists, Putin flexing muscle in