Chapter 24

• What state was the USSR's economy in by 1991?

  Economic decline- production dropped by 4% in 1990, by 15% in 1991

  USSR spending was 250% more than revenue raised- many republics weren't passing on their contributions to the union

  Gorbachev was unable to gain financial support from the west and so increased prices
• Why did Gorbachev want to remove troops from Afghanistan?

  -The end of the Brezhnev doctrine

  -Strength of the mujahadeen due to US support

  -massive casualties and public opposition- became evident due to glasnost
• When did Gorbachev withdraw troops from Afghanistan?

  1988-1989
• why did the Contra's agree a ceasefire with the Sandinista regime? What issues happened because of this?

  After the USA stopped funding the contras in the late 80s, the contras agreed to a ceasefire with the Sandinistas (though they refused to disarm)
• When was it agreed elections would be held in Nicaragua?

  February 1990
• Who did the US support in the Nicaraguan elections? why?

  Violeta Chamorro

  She was pro-American and the USA continued to oppose the left leaning Sandinistas

  
• How did the USA influence elections in Nicaragua?

  The US influenced 14 Sandinista opposition parties to campaign around Chamorro

  She was given over $1 million in financial support from the USA

  Her victory led to an influx of US assurance of over $300 million in 2 years
• What other factors influenced Chamorro's victory in Nicaragua? (Not USA)

  Venezuela contributed to the campaign

  By 1990 the Nicaraguan public were exhausted from 11 years of civil war and Chamorro was able to end the war by removing the Contra's and leaving gate Sandinistas without opposition.
• What were the long-term negative impacts in Nicaragua?

  The Nicaraguan economy was wrecked by civil war. US politicians withdrew aid in 1992, arguing that Sandinistas covertly controlled the economy.

  Chamorro's legacy, then, was to end a war bur leave a ravaged economy that would takes decades to recover.
• How did the Cold War tensions end in Ethiopia?

  USSR was no longer in a position to support the left wing regime for financial reasons1987- Ethiopia became a Marxist countryCivil warUSA supported the government even though it had a Marxist background and anti-democracy stance because the importance of an anti-communist foreign policy ended
• When did Ethiopia become a marxist country?

  1987
• who was the leader of Ethiopia?

  Mengistu

  
• What aid had Ethiopia been receiving since 1977?

  -military and humanitarian support incasing 300 medical personnel from Cuba alone in the 1980s
• What conflict was Mengistu faced with in government?

  his regime was engaged in a civil war against Eritrean nationalists, but felt that they wooed be able to prevail as long as they continues to receive Soviet support
• why did Mengistu's regime become destabilised?

  Unsettled by the changes in Eastern Europe, and with opposition forces approaching the capital city, Mengistu fled the country in1991to Zimbabwe
• When was the new government formed in Ethiopia, what was it called?


  May 1991the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
• What was significant about the American attitude toward the new Ethiopian government?

  The USA provided them with assistance despite their Marxists roots and opposition to democracy

  this was a signal that anti-communism was no longer the primary motivation regarding US forgiven policy
• When did Gorbachev announce he was going to reduce support the MPLA? why?

  December 1986he hoped this would improve relations with the USA and saw ir as a way to reduce government spendinghowever, still revived $1 billion in arms whilst the USA continued to support UNITA
• USSR encourages offensive against UNITA


  September 1987-USSR effort to have one last push to end the civil war-10,000 troops were sent by Cuba to fight South African forces without the "permission" of the USSR
• Peace agreement reached in Angola

  1988-South Africa (supporting UNTIA) agreed to negotiations-this meant South Africa became more secure and no longer needed to fight the MPLA regime-resolved a source of conflict between the USA and USSR
• How did the Cold War tensions end in Cuba?

  USSR could no longer fund Castro's regime

  Castro could no longer afford to engage in a revolutionary struggle

  relations with the USA remained tense and hostile
• How did Cuba economically reform?

  Exported sugar to China, Europe and Canada

  Focused on tourism and was able to maintain it social programmes at home

  Withdrew troops and aid from Africa
• Who was the US supported President of El Salvador? when was he elected?

  Duarte 1984
• What problems did Duarte face?

  -He tried to limit the power of the armed forces, but they continued their brutal suppression of the population

  -The FMLN, a coalition of leftist guerrilla groups, battled against the army and the civil war persisted
• Who became the new president in the 1988 elections?

  Alfredo Cristiani
• How did the civil war develop under Cristiani?

  the FMLN launched a new offensive against the government and it became clear that a truce was needed
• When were peace accords signed in El Salvador? what helped this?

  1992it was after the USA relaxed its anti-communist stance, and ceased training and supporting the Salvadoran army
• when did the UN oversee free elections in el salvador?

  1994
• What did West German Chancellor Kohl want for Germany?

  wanted a unified Germany with full membership in NATO
• What was Gorbachev's view on the reunification of Germany?

  he was reluctant for NATO and its associated military resources to expand into East Germany
• what were soviet concerns regarding the reunification of Germany?

  concerned that the reunification of Germany would lead to a loss of part of their sphere of influence and a key buffer state
• What did Gorbachev decide to do in relation to the reunification of Germany?

  -agreed to remove troops form East Germany and did not oppose German sovereignty or make any conditions for it

  -prepared to compromise for financial aid
• Who did Gorbachev involve in his decisions over Germany?


  -no key personalities or institutions (e.g., the politburo)

  -this further undermined the USSR
• First GDR free elections

  March 1990led to negotiations with the FRG about their future
• When did the FRG and GDR agree to economic, monetary and social union


  May 1990the GDR transferred its economic sovereignty to the FRG and received significant subsidies from the FRG
• GDR passed a law of accession

  August 1990meant GDR would become apart of the FRG
• Germany reunified and becomes a member of NATO


  October 1990
• Why was there discontent within the USSR despite Gorbachev's economic reforms?

  Goods were scare. Older people were unhappy with the rate of change

  People wanted free trade and access to better goods
• crisis in Azerbaijan


  1988-Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh demand separation from Azerbaijan and incorporation into Armenia
• Gorbachevs response to the crisis in Azerbaijan

  -Gorbachev revealed his insensitivity to the movement when he sided with Azerbaijan. he was aware that soviet support fro nationalist movements would lead to further territorial or political demands this could undermine the USSR