Gorbachev allows for free speech
Perestroika
Gorbachev's effort to restructure the soviet economy by introducing some limited free-market elements like private property
Women's rights
A major push for women's suffrage and other rights after women's contributions to WWI and WWII
After WWII, Europe lay in ruins. The U.S. hoped strong democratic economies would not easily fall to communism. Western European countries gladly accepted the money, while Soviet satellite states did not.
Decolonization
It was Wilson's insistence that nations be granted the right of national self-determination that led to calls for independence throughout the world. (14 points)
Cold war
Results of U.S. influence
Creation of world monetary and trade systems, like the International monetary fund which offered loans to help nations rebuild, and the creation of NATO for the defence of western european nations
The idea of social welfare spread throughout europe.
Algerian decolonization
National liberation front fought with france until Algeria was independent.
Proxy wars
Although the US and USSR never directly fought, the cold war did turn hot in a couple of proxy wars across the globe.
Division of germany
At the end of the war, germany was divided into occupation zones. The west wanted economic recovery for Germany to keep europe stable, but the soviets wanted to keep germany weak, and wanted to extract reparations.
Demanded Hungary have free and fair elections in Hungary. The soviets freaked out and sent hundreds of troops, and tanks to crush the revolution
Agreement between 6 countries to integrate their coal and steel operations. Was quickly profitable for member nations and the idea was that if nations were tied together economically, they wouldn't go to war with one another.
Economic miracle
Officially ended the cold war, capitalist democracies were established in eastern europe, and germany was reunited.
After Japan was defeated, their former colony Korea was divided into north and south. In 1950, the north invaded the south, and the USSR US each backed opposing sides.
Polish elections of 1989
Poland had alway resited communism. A labor party called solidarity protested any attempt to restrict their freedoms. In that year the soviets legalized their party, thinking they would loose anyway. Solidarity won and started dissolving the bonds between poland and the soviet union.
2nd wave of feminism
European union
Indian decolonization
India used non-violent civil disobedience to negotiate with the exhausted british for independence.
Common market (later the european union)
They decided to expand the european coal and steel community to include other industries. Eventually integrated their economies into one larger european economy with its own currency.
Chechen muslims had profound anti-russian sentiments that stretch back centuries. When the USSR collapsed, they declared independence. They ruled themselves for 3 years until Russia decided to reassert its influence through a series of conflicts that ended in 2017.
Unified dominance. Ex: the soviet union's dominance over eastern europe.
Berlin wall
Prevented east berliners from fleeing to the economically prosperous west.
