The Collapse of the USSR

Post date: May 14, 2012 5:12:54 PM

The Collapse of the USSR

I will host a live class at 10:00 am MT on Wed, 5-23 on the topic of the collapse of the USSR. Soviet Union, 1985: Forty years of Communism and fighting the Cold War have taken their toll. When Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the Soviet Premier, Russians are experiencing the consumer goods shortages, a stagnant economy, and the lowest standard of living they have seen for years. Gorbachev knows he most do something, and he first opens up the Soviet Union by lifting travel bans and some restrictions on the press, then he institutes a series of reforms he calls "Perestroika." Over the next six years these reforms will cause the Eastern Bloc nations to split off from the USSR one-by-one and ultimately cause the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This class will cover some of the high points and important events of this era, the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union. Project Credit: Attendance in this live class will fulfill the requirements of your live class assignment for this unit. To get into this class please click the following link: Trehal's Office/Live Classroom. Hope to see you in class.

If you were unable to attend the live version of this class you may still get credit by watching the recording and answering the following question: Who is in the picture with Gorbachev in the slide I use as I discuss "Perestroika"? In order to get credit for the recording, please submit your answer to this question and the date that you watched the recording in your Unit Live Class Assignment. You may watch the recording by clicking on the following link: View the Blackboard Collaborate recording

This class applies to the following Courses: 

US Government B, Unit 3

US History Foundations to Present B, Unit 4

US History Reconstruction to Present B, Unit 4