Vocabulary Term Knowledge Connections Perestroika Glasnost Definition Picture

Essential Question What changes did Gorbachev bring to the Soviet Union?

What problems were the Soviets facing? By the 1980 s, some Soviet leaders began to think about changing the Soviet Union The nation was suffering from many problems that communism could not fix: v A weakening economy v Shortages of consumer goods v Poor working conditions v A slow and corrupt government

Who led this time of change? One of those reformers became the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985… MIKHAIL GORBACHEV (1985 -1991) He would be the last leader of the Soviet Union

How did Gorbachev help their problems? Gorbachev believed that the Soviet Union could not afford to continue the arms race with the United States He agreed to talk with US President Reagan 1987 – INF TREATY created Called for the destruction of nuclear weapons

What did this lead to? With military spending reduced… …Gorbachev could put more money into his new programs…

What was perestroika? Began in 1986 PERESTROIKA § Restructuring the economy § Restructuring the government By 1990, non-Communist parties were allowed to organize

What was glasnost? In the past, people who criticized the government were: Punished Kicked out of the country Sent to forced labor camps “Gorbachev has made the Soviet Union safe for dissent” A policy of openness – citizens could say or write what they thought without facing punishment GLASNOST

What was demokratizatsiya? Began in 1987 DEMOKRATIZATSIYA Moving toward democracy – more than one Communist candidate could run for office People who wanted to bring changes to the Soviet Union could now have more of a say in the government

Essential Question What changes did Gorbachev bring to the Soviet Union?

Perestroika Glasnost Gorbachev’s Changes demokratizatsiya Other