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1980's Topics 7th Period1980's Topics 8th Period Glasnost and Perestroika, Gorbachev by Abby Wilmer media type="custom" key="12955958"

See Works Cited for Images at the bottom of this page Task One--DESCRIBE YOUR TOPIC ---Due Monday, March 12th

The policies introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev were used to achieve immediate reform once he became leader. Glasnost, meaning openness, and perestroika, meaning restructuring, were placed into action in 1985 and were supposed to fix all parts of the Soviet Union’s flaws, socially and economically. Melissa Jordine, a history professor at California State University, Fresno, wrote “By the 1980s, the Soviet Empire was struggling to keep pace with the financial and material burdens of the international arms race and the economic growth enjoyed by the West as the result of an increasingly global marketplace” (Jordine 1). During the economic struggle and political unsteadiness, Gorbachev began with making the people happy and gave them freedoms. Mitchel Gerber, a professor of political science and philosophy at Missouri State University, wrote “Glasnost…encouraged public awareness, debate, and discussion and an informed and intelligent body” (Gerber 1). Once the policy was in place, the future was secure because glasnost’s openness prevented political decline within the nation. Additionally, in an article by Thomas Butson, an author of books about world leaders, perestroika “pursued extensive political and economic change…initiated [by] competitive elections for a new Congress of People’s Deputies, which had the responsibility of electing the more powerful Supreme Soviet…created the office of a national president… [and] increased the role for leaders from the republics that made up the Soviet Union” (Butson 2). Perestroika made many political changes too, but economically it lessened the government’s role in the market and moved towards a free one while moving slowly in order to maintain employment and prevent inflation. Overall, Gorbahev’s policies achieved more outspoken citizens, governmental changes, and a new market.

The reforms by Gorbachev were significant and the results remain today. His ideas and actions were a mix of communism and democracy, which made him not very popular in the Soviet Union. In Gerber’s article, he wrote “The Soviet government [had problems that] could be remedied only through extensive political reforms and democratization” (Gerber 1). Once the U.S. noticed the Soviet Union using less communistic tactics and more democratic ones, the fear of communism settled which shows the importance of Gorbachev’s views. Although the policies were working changes occurred like “unrest growing, trade imbalances looming, production lagging, infrastructure deteriorating… the Soviet Union fell” (Jordine 2). During the changes, many republics within the union declared independence and “Gorbachev, for the most part, let these nations go their own way, even agreeing to the reunification of Germany” (Butson 3). The policies were an important role on the independence of many countries today and Gorbachev has left a large mark on history because of his role as creator of the policies.

See Works Cited at the bottom of this page. Task Two--EVALUATE YOUR TOPICS INFLUENCE--Due March 15th

The policies of Glasnost and Perestroika had a large extent and caused additional changes within the republics that made the Soviet Union, the communist Party, and Gorbachev. One stimulated change was the opening up and connecting of Europe. In an article by Mark Herman,writer for the Salem Press, he wrote "Glasnost (openness) and peresroika (restructuring) initiated a series of changes in the Soviet Union and throughout Eastern Europe...the Berlin Wall set in motion an unstoppable demand for the reunification of Germany" (Herman 2). The tearing down of the Berlin Wall was a big result of Gorbachev's policies, but Germany was not the only country that learned from the Soviet Union. Mitchel Gerber, a professor of political science and philosophy at Missouri State University, wrote in an article about the policies, "perestroika accentuates [Gorbachev's] dilemma and paved the way for his own political demise and for the collapse of Communism in his own country and throughout Eastern Europe... China, drew lessons from the Soviet's experience, choosing to pursue its own version of perestroika while delaying glasnost" (Gerber 5). The world, mostly Europe, was affected by the changes within the Soviet Union, yet the first changes occurred in the union of republics. Martha Ellen Webb, writer of the Salem Press, wrote in her article "Perestroika had resulted in frustration, erosion of support for Gorbachev, party defection, and work stoppages" (Webb 2). The decreasing Communist party, little support for their leader, and issues with work, the once threatening Communist Soviet Union was not as big as a threat and even seemed as our ally with their goals of democratization and openness with foreign affair under Gorbachev.

There is a wide influence that remains today in result of the policies created by Gorbachev. One way society was influenced was by their new opinions and mindsets with freedoms, rights, and relations. In Gerber's article, he wrote "glasnost gradually expanded in scope, intensity, and purpose to include a transformation of social relations, the recognition and respect of basic human rights and freedoms and 'rethinking' in Soviet foreign policy" (Gerber 4). Once the changes in the Soviet Union were happening, Ronald Reagan insisted in the Berlin Wall to be torn down to help Germany and open Europe, but to do this he felt the need of Gorbachev's agreement. Herman also wrote that "Had the Berlin Wall not been breached so soon after his speech, Reagan's demand for it to be torn down might have been forgotten...'Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall' became one of the most famous to be uttered during the 1980s" (Herman 3). The legacy of Gorbachev was a powerful figure and friend to the United States, mostly because the democratization he enforced in the Soviet Union and allowing the republics to form independent countries. According to Webb's article, "[the Commonwealth of Independent States] continued in existence into the twenty-first century, even though its members increasingly faced very different political and economic trajectories. It persisted because the promise of closer trade and economic ties and because of its utility as a forum where the member states could address security issues, control cross-border criminal activity, promote degrees of democratization, and seek humanitarian cooperation" (Webb4). The changes have left a lasting impact in the twenty-first century as a great economic tie all thanks to Gorbachev's policies from the 1980s.

See Works Cited at the bottom of this page. Task Three--JUDGE THE IMPACT OF THE INDIVIDUAL & ASSOCIATION--Due Mar. 26th

The changes in the Soviet Union were produced by Mikhail Gorbachev, the ruler of the Soviet Union, and the policies he created while in power, glasnost and perestroika. Mikhail Gorbachev had beliefs about keeping relations with other countries. Frederick Chary, American historian and emeritus professor of history at Indiana University Northwest, College of Arts and Sciences, wrote "Gorbachev began a real policy of cooperation with the West..even Reagan came to appreciate his efforts" (Chary 3). This idea of being open with foreign affairs is the same as the force that produced his policies. In Melissa Jordine's, a history professor at California State University, Fresno, article she wrote " Gorbachev hoped to liberalize Soviet economic and social policy while keeping the Communist Party as a guiding force in Soviet affairs" (Jordine 1). Another force the produced the changes were the republics that formed the Soviet Union. When the policies were in place some republics were annexed. Joseph Nogee, an author of books about foreign countries and their politics, wrote "Resentment of the Baltic peoples toward Soviet rule without a knowledge of the circumstances of their annexation and the deprivation of national and human rights..." (Nogee 1). The resentment cause the republics to form their own states which was one of the forces that produced the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev was a great man according to the Great Man Theory because his policies had a large impact on daily life even though it was short run, a long lasting in influence from its accomplishment, and a legacy that remains to this day. The changes in daily life occurred immediately after the policies were in place yet only lasted a short time because the policies died off. Also, Jordine wrote in her article "The new policies were a chance to take a more active role in the government and society and to openly voice grievances that in previous decades would have been limited" (Jordine 1). After the collapse in the Soviet Union, the policies were not in place so the changes did not last therefore I marked the impact on daily lie as short run, but the accomplishment did. The accomplishment of the policies were the formation of new countries from Soviet republics. Nogee also said " Formal certification of Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian sovereignty came in mid-September, when the three states were admitted to the United Nations" (Nogee 5). Since the countries are still in existence today, it shows the accomplishment is long-term and it adds to the long influence towards life for citizens in the new countries. The legacy of was described in Chary's article when he wrote "Gorbachev's policies were genuine and effective" (Chary 3). Altogether, the policies and Gorbachev have had a wide-spread impact, long-lasting (and positive) legacy, great accomplishment, and brief yet important changes in daily life so I would place it as a Great Man.

See Works Cited at the bottom of this page. Great Man Continuum
 * Great Man Criteria || ** 5=long-run ** || ** 4=wide-spread ** || ** 3=moderate ** || ** 2=short run ** || ** 1=little effect ** || ** 0=not at all ** ||
 * ** SIGNIFICANCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ** || X ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** ENDURANCE OF LEGACY ** || X ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** EXTENT OF INFLUENCE ** || X ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * ** IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE ** ||  ||   ||   || X ||   ||   ||

Great X-Event Making --Eventful --Social Men -Hero ---Hero ---Determinism

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 25px;">Works Cited:

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Butson, Thomas G., //Gorbachev: A Biography,// 1985; Morrison, Donald, ed. //Mikhail S. Gorbachev: An Intimate Biography//. New York: Time, 1988; Smith, Hedrick. //The New Russians//. New York: Random House, 1990. < <span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.918); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/314703?terms=glasnost+perestroika >.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">// Caucasus and Former Soviet Republics of Central Asia //. Photograph. // Salem Press //. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://history.salempress.com/doi/full/10.3331/GE20c_2631046422?prevSearch=glasnost%2Band%2Bperestroika&searchHistoryKey=&queryHash=5e08cc6bef1b9b8e2ba1ac51cb69d226>.

Chary, Frederick B. "Soviet Union and North America." //The Eighties in America//. Ed. Milton Berman. 3 vols. Salem Press, 2008. //Salem History//Web. 26 Mar. 2012. < http://history.salempress.com/doi/full/10.3331/1980_645?prevSearch=soviet%2Bunion&searchHistoryKey=&queryHash=14a3b26b387874b6f8bb89f3870503b7>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Commonwealth of Independent States //. Photograph. // Google Images //. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=657&bih=389&tbm=isch&tbnid=3i0eCPLSChY54M:&imgrefurl //>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Gerber, Mitchel. "Gorbachev Initiates a Policy of Glasnost." //Great Events from History: The Twentieth Century, 1971-2000//. Ed. Robert F. Gorman. 6 vols. Salem Press, 2008. //Salem History// Web. 11 Mar. 2012. < <span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.918); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://history.salempress.com/doi/full/10.3331/GE20c_2631039722?prevSearch=glasnost%2Band%2Bperestroika&searchHistoryKey=&queryHash=68d03b3d45e061ec789963a55cb3d999 >.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">// Gorbachev //. Photograph. // World At War [ABC-CLIO] //. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://worldatwar.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/758459?terms=glasnost+perestroika>.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Herman, Mark C. "Berlin Wall." //The Eighties in America//. Ed. Milton Berman. 3 vols. Salem Press, 2008. //Salem History//Web. <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">13 Mar. 2012. <<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"> [] >.

<span style="color: #121917; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: baseline;">Jordine, Melissa. "Perestroika: Cold War." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society//. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. < <span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.918); color: #1155cc; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">@http://worldatwar.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/758459?terms=glasnost+perestroika >.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">// Mikhail Gorbachev //. Photograph. // World History: The Modern Era //. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/314703?terms=glasnost+perestroika>.

Nogee, Joseph L. "Lithuania Declares Independence from the Soviet Union." //Great Events from History: The Twentieth Century, 1971-2000//. Ed. Robert F. Gorman. 6 vols. Salem Press, 2008. //Salem History//Web. 26 Mar. 2012. < http://history.salempress.com/action/updateFavoriteCitation?action=add&doi=10.3331%2FGE20c_2631045622>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">// Union of Soviet Socialist Republics //. Photograph. // Google Images //. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. <http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&tbnid=scJ11qD98FyVtM:&imgrefurl//>.//

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Webb, Martha Ellen. "Dissolution of the Soviet Union." //Great Events from History: The Twentieth Century, 1971-2000//. Ed. Robert F. Gorman. 6 vols. Salem Press, 2008. //Salem History// Web. 13 Mar. 2012. <<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"> [] >.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">**Holistic Rubric for all 3 Tasks**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px;">**A quality topic post for the 1980s assignment will**


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Arrange Media to enhance and extend the significance of the topic to the 1980s decade.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Support the main idea in each paragraph with evidence from 3 different sources.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Select only signed sources from the LC databases.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Establish the credibility of the author the first time a source is referenced.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Credit sources with internal citations, ( Author's Last Name).
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">List all 7 sources alphabetically in the Works Cited. Format in MLA style. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Remove Web addresses
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Complete Great Man Continuum and Table.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Justify the placement of your topic on the continuum using the evidence from the 7 sources to support your analysis of the 4 criteria.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">Answer the prompts for all 3 tasks and the research question thoughtfully and thoroughly. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16px;">well done