gorbachev

• who was the new soviet leader in 1985 what problems did he face?

  Gorbachev

  -left with a huge debt

  -standard of living was very poor

  -lack of freedom of speech
• why was the soviet union weak 1985-6?

  -Brezhnev died in 1982

  -2 leaders after him died shortly after power

  -1986, nuclear explosion. (very embarrasing for them)
• describe Gorbachev's economic reform

  1) allowed business to make profit -people felt happier

  2) allowed opposition parties to run against communist government allowed media to be truthful - TVs now showed difference of East and West

  3) Withdrew troops from Afghanistan, Soviet/ communism look weak

  4) spend less money on nuclear weapons- soviets looked weak
• what were the consequences of Gorbachevs reforms overall?

  tension and regression reduced
• What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

  USSR would intervene to stop reforms in Eastern Bloc
• What was Gorbachev's policy of Perestroika?

  Reform economy to include capitalist ideas
• What was Glasnost?

  More openness and less corruption in government