Afghanistan

During the 1800s, why did GB want to gain control over Afghanistan?

• To protect the northern borders of it’s Indian empire

• Why did Russia want control over this region? – They wanted access to the Indian Ocean for a

warm-water port so they could trade all year long

• Afghanistan is located to the North-east of Iran, and the North-west of Pakistan. It has no ocean borders, and is a mountainous country.

Why did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan in 1979?

• There was a rebellion & Soviet Union needed to step in

• To conquer the country and add it to their Soviet/Communist Empire

• The Afghans had their own government in Afghanistan, with a Communist Party in place that favored the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union wanted their own people in place, so they sponsored a coup with the military and installed their own puppet government.

Mujahedin

• Who: Afghan holy warriors

• What: a group of Afghans in opposition to the Soviet control of Afghanistan

• Where: Afghanistan

• When: 1979-1980

• Why: The Mujahedin rebels fought fiercely against the Soviet government

• They felt that Communist policies conflicted w. the teachings of Islam

• The Soviet government with its superior military was not able to put down the rebellion because…

• The Afghans used guerilla tactics • AND the US provided money

• With U.S. aid the Mujahedin won against The Soviet Union.

• The Soviet Union ended up withdrawing its troops.

After the conflict, the U.S. leaves Afghanistan; Why could this become a problem?

Afghanistan is vulnerable which allows the Taliban to take control.

Effects of Afghanistan on Soviet Union

Like America’s Vietnam War, the struggle in Afghanistan provoked a drop in morale for Soviets at home.

In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in Soviet Union.

Gorbachev tries to reform the economy and avoid Cold War confrontation.

Do you think the U.S. likes this?

Gorbachev

• He calls for Glasnost, or openness, and ends censorship.

• He also pushed for perestroika, or restructuring, of the government

and economy.

• He reduces the size of the government and backed limited private enterprise.

Effects of Reforms

• Gorbachev’s reforms brought economic turmoil.• Shortages grew worse and prices soared.• His policies fed unrest across Soviet empire • Eastern European countries (Poland & Bulgaria)

broke away from Soviet orbit beginning in 1989.• Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) gain

independence.

http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121112201815/althistory/images/d/da/Map_of_the_Soviet_Union_%28Russian_America%29.png

The Soviet Union Crumbles

• Eastern European countries had demanded freedom

• In 1991 the remaining Soviet republics separated to form independent nations.

Communism Declines Around the World

• East Germans demand change and • President Ronald Reagan makes a speech and

says “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

• The Berlin Wall comes down in November 9, 1989.

Communism Declines Around the World

• Czechoslovakia splits due to ethnic divides.• China’s Deng Xiaoping comes to power and

reforms China producing a boom in economy.• Vietnam has diplomatic relations with U.S.• BUT North Korea stays totalitarian• Cuban economy declines• U.S. becomes the sole superpower.