ME_8.04 v23
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8.04 The Iron Curtain Comes Down
Name: Mason Evans
Date: 11/20/2023
For this assignment, use the lesson to identify four causes of the fall of the Soviet Union that you
believe most directly contributed to its end. Then, you will compare these four causes to determine
which you believe was the most significant overall.
First, you need to explain each of the four causes that you identified—make sure to review the entire
lesson, which covers many different possible causes. Then you will directly compare them in two
rounds to identify which of the causes you find the most significant overall.
Causes:
1.
Hungarian Uprising
a.
In 1956 the people of Hungary formed a rebellion that lasted mere weeks.
Thousands of Hungarians were killed and hundreds of Soviets also died. The
uprising was unsuccessful but allowed the world to see the discontent with the Soviet
Union and its communist ways.
2.
Mikhail Gorbachev
a.
In 1985 a new General Secretary was appointed into the Communist party of the
Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev was an ambitious politician who began setting
many plans in motion to reform the Soviet Union. He instituted policies such as
glasnost which promoted a transparent government, perestroika which would attempt
to restructure the Soviet Union mainly through its economy and hopefully promote
democracy and capitalism. Gorbachev also communicated with the US and signed a
treaty to limit nuclear and biological weapons in both the US and Soviet Union.
3.
Solidarity
a.
In 1980 a movement known as Solidarity occurred in Poland. It was a trade union
starting in shipyards and began a strike. This was the first independent trade union in
a Soviet Communist country. This developed into a fully active political party and
would promote reform in Communist nations.
4.
Fall of the Berlin Wall
a.
Austria and Hungary removed their border fence and opened travel for East
Germans into West Germany. This caused Die Wende, or the reunification of
Germany which also removed travel restrictions between the two. When the
government opened the Berlin Wall the East Berliners decided to demolish it with
sledgehammers on November 9th, 1989. This became a symbol of the beginning of
the end for the Soviet Union and a treaty would unify the countries in 1990.
Round 1:
Cause 1 vs. Cause 2: Hungarian Uprising
-
Both the Hungarian Uprising and Mikhail Gorbachev were massive influences on the fall of
the Soviet Union and Communism. Mikhail Gorbachev was a great later influence on
reforming the Communist ways of the Soviet Union and being in the position to make
change. However, the Hungarian Uprising occurred almost 30 years prior to Gorbachev,
meaning the ideas that brought down the Soviet Union were happening before Gorbachev.
The uprising was also a global awakening to the discontent with Communism.
Round 2:
Cause 3 vs. Cause 4: Solidarity
-
Solidarity and the fall of the Berlin wall were great events and became symbols of opposing
Communism. Although the Berlin wall was a much greater symbol, it occurred during the fall
of Communism while the Solidarity movement was an inspirational group that would actively
oppose Communist views and have a larger role in helping break down the Soviet Union.
Round 1 winner vs. Round 2 winner: Hungarian Uprising
-
The Hungarian Uprising was an early movement that would promote the opposition of
Communist parties and show the world how the people were rebelling. The Solidarity
movement would go on to create a political party years later to promote the same ideals the
Hungarian Uprising would bring. Because of the early nature and global impact of the
Hungarian Uprising, I feel it is logical to say that this event was the most influential and
significant cause that would eventually lead to the fall of the Soviet Union.
Overall cause that was the most significant: Hungarian Uprising
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