Mikhail Gorbachev and the Collapse of Communism

In 1985, the assumption of power in the Soviet Union by a reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev, paved the way for political and economic reforms in east central Europe.Gorbachev’s supporters praised his youth, energy, and political skills. Soon he was voted as the the political secretary. Gorbachev abandoned the "Brezhnev Doctrine". Which was the Soviet Union's policy of intervening with military force, if necessary, to preserve communist rule in the region. Instead, he encouraged the local communist leaders to seek new ways of gaining popular support for their rule. In Hungary, the communist government made reforms in 1989 that led to the banning of a multiparty system and competitive elections. In Poland, the communists went in a round table talks with discussions of Solidarity.Solidarity formed the first non communist government within the Soviet bloc since 1948.In 1985, he announced a policy called "glasnost".It meant openness. He encouraged Soviet citizens to discuss ways to improve on their society. In the same year, Gorbachev introduced the idea of perestroika or economic restructuring. In 1986, he made changes to revive the Soviet economy.This allowed changes to come pouring in. Churches were opening. Book that were banned were brought back into the country.Many of the citizens were finally able to complain about all the economic problems. People were able to state their mind and give ideas of how things should be done.The revolutions of 1989 marked the death knell of communism in Europe. As a result, not only was Germany reunified in 1990, but soon, revolution spread to the Soviet Union itself.

The Collapse of Communism

213434 Americans thought that them being involved in the arms race was mostly what helped bring down the curtain on communism. But it was much more then that. In the 1980s, many people started to reject communism. That was the problem, no one believed in it anymore. communism was like a vision to change society that needed followers which it didn't have anymore. Everybody who went to communist party went there for career choices, not to spread to spread communism So in the end, there was nothing to back up communism.
12323Germany was split into four sectors-the Soviet, American, French, and English after WWII. Germany had fallen apart. The Soviets ran their part of Germany as a communist section.The wall was built in 1961 to prevent the Soveits' people in the east from escaping into the West which was better. There were about 5000 escapes. Ronald Reagan had came over to the Brandenburg gate to give a speech to the Soveit Leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the West Berliners. East Berliners heard the speech through their radioes. He wanted the wall down since their was tension between the US and USSR with the Space Race and Nuclear Weapons that had happened in the past. He wanted to be on better terms with the Soveits and realized the struggle of the people. He wanted Germany reunified. Finally in like Nov they started to take the wall down. Families that were separated were reunited after not seeing each other for years.