Mikhail Gorbachev and the collapse of Communism

Explain how Mikhail Gorbachev opened up the Soviet Union and paved the way for the end of Communism. Also define the words "Glasnost" and "Peristrokia".
The new openness allowed Soviet citizens to complain publicly about economic problems.
Angry consumers protested that they had to stand in long lines to buy food, soap, and
other basics. Gorbachev blamed these problems on the Soviet Union’s inefficient system of central planning. Under central planning, party officials told farm and factory
managers how much to produce. They also told them what wages to pay, and what prices to charge. Because individuals could not increase their pay by producing more,they had little motive to improve efficiency.
Peristroka means economic restructuring.

Collapse of Communism

Why did Communism collapse in Eastern Europe and the USSR?
The fall of Communism was a major turning point in history. For Instance, the Cold War, which had been going on for a long time, ended. Diplomats, finally had an opportunity to enter the Soviet Union without military aid. The Berlin Wall came crashing down, Eastern and Western Germany could form more economic and social ties
Why did people tear down the Berlin Wall?

The Berlin Wall first went up in August 1961. The Communists were trying to stem the flow of refugees into West Germany. East and West Germans were surprised when they were not allowed to cross the border. Many of them gathered in large groups, facing tear gas and bullets to try and cross the border, but to no avail. For 28 years, East and West Germany were completely blocked off from each other.
In November, 1989, breakin the wall down began. At first, the goal was to make a road designated for private trips between the two sections of Germany. Next, they decided to make several border crossings so more people could travel across. Soon, they were cutting holes for pedestrians. Some people came at the wall with rock hammers to gather souvenirs of the wall.

What happened to the Soviet Union and how did the collapse of the Soviet Union change the world?
they were mad and surprised.

nelson mandela and apartheid

Apartheid is a the segregation of the government to colored people. If you were of color you could not vote, or be allowed in certain areas.The establishment of Black National States was another manifestation of apartheid. In 1991, after years of internal dissent and violence and the boycott of South Africa, including the imposition of international trade sanctions by the United Nations (UN) and other organizations, President F. W. de Klerk repealed the key elements of apartheid legislation and by 1994 apartheid had ceased to exist.
He Fought for Unity and Liberation. Today, His Country Is Healing the Wounds of Racism and Apartheid.

When Nelson Mandela walked out of prison on Feb. 11, 1990, South Africa's future walked with him. If Mandela had raised a clenched fist and said, "We must purge this land with blood," an uprising would have surely ensued, and South Africa would have disappeared into the sea of anarchy that has engulfed so many other African nations.

African Independence

Africa changed a lot over 20 years cause they lost a lot of their colonies. They are all now independent coountries. Patrice Lumumba was ther first prime minister of africa. He ruled a divided country. The local leader Moise Tshombe. he wanted to declare independence for his country. then Mombutu ruked africa. He used force rule, one party rule, and gifts to his supporters.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest we ever got to having a nuclear war. The United States were more then ready for this, and the Soviet Union was ready with there nuclear weapons if anyone tried to take over their land. Luckily thanks to John F.Kennedy the war never got to start.
the United States missiles were no comparison to the Soviet Union's. This whole thing started when John F. Kennedy saw some pictures of the Soviet Union making some missiles. Right away Kennedy made a group called the EX-COMM and they were a special group to form some of the greatest missiles. Within 7 days this happened.

NATO and The Warsaw Pact

The NATO or North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an organization that includes Europe and North America. The main reason why the NATO organization was formed was because the countries involved wanted defensive alliances. This meant if one of the countries got attacked and they were part of the the NATO organization they would all have each others backs.

The Warsaw Pact was like the NATO formation but this one consisted of the Soviet Union and its satellite countries. This was created for the same reason the NATO formation was created for. The defensive alliance. The Warsaw Pact was formed in response of NATO. But the pact got dissolved at the late 90's.

Film lesson: "The Right Stuff"

The U.S and the USSR in the film "The Right Stuff" are competting for space. In the movie it tells you that Russia is winning the race. They put a satelite in space called "sputnik." This satelite was very scary to the amercian citiznes. they thought that the Russians were beating them and were scared that the Russians were going to bomb the Amercians. the most famous scene i will remember from that movie is when the Americans finaly broke the sound barrier and they made history.