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8 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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From what date did Mikhail Gorbachev serve as leader of the Soviet union? |
1985 to 1991. |
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How was the result of Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership differ from what he had intended for communism? |
He served until the Soviet union collapsed in 1991. He saw the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Russia. However it was never his intention to undermine communism. Rather, he hoped to be communisms saviour. |
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At first, how did Gorbachev see the SU's relationship with America? |
Gorbachev had very little foreign policy experience prior to becoming the leader of Russia. At first, he viewed the relationship America in rather simplistic terms. From example, following his first meeting with President Reagan in 1985, he commented that "Reagan is not just the class enemy; he is extremely primitive. He looks like a caveman and is mentally retarded" |
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How was Gorbachev's relationship with the West tested over Chernobyl? |
In April 1986, the nuclear reactor in the Chemobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine went critical and exploded. Initially, Gorbachev authorised a cover story that denied there had been a release of dangerous radiation. The Western media were unconvinced by the Soviet cover story and Western governments put pressure on Gorbachev to tell the truth about the scale of the disaster. Chernobyl became an international symbol of the crisis in Soviet communism. |
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What were the problems that Gorbachev recognised that communism in Russia face? #1 Economy |
• The Soviet economy was not nearly as efficient as the American economy. While Americans in the 1980s enjoyed an excellent standard of living, everyday life in Russia was dominated by shortages. For example, it was not uncommon for housewives in Moscow to queue for up to five hours simply to get a packet of sausages. |
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What were the problems that Gorbachev recognised that communism in Russia faced? #2 Faith |
• Many of the Soviet people had lost faith in the Communist Party. |
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What were the two radical elements that Gorbachev had in plan for revising communism? |
• perestroika (restructuring) - economic reforms designed to make the Soviet economy more efficient • glasnost (openness) - censorship of the press was to be relaxed. |
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What did Gorbachev assume that his radical programme of reform would result in? |
Gorbachev assumed that perestroika and glasnost would strengthen the power of the Soviet Communist Party. Indeed, although Gorbachev talked about reform, he was very slow to allow democratic elections in Russia. |
