The last quarter of the twentieth century saw the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War, the collapse of Communist rule in Eastern Europe, and economic unification of Western Europe. Eastern Europe nations transitioned to democracy. American popular culture had a global influence. | Splash Screen Chapter Menu Chapter Introduction Section 1: Decline of the Soviet Union Section 2: Eastern Europe Section 3: Europe and North America Section 4: Western Society and Culture Visual Summary Chapter Intro What did the Berlin Wall symbolize? Shortly after the East German government opened the Berlin Wall’s checkpoints in 1989, thousands of citizens mobbed the wall and began to tear it down. The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of the Cold War and served as the first step toward the reunification of Germany. In this chapter you will learn about political, economic, and social changes that have taken place in the contemporary Western world. • What were the immediate effects of the fall of the Berlin Wall? • How does the East-West split during the Cold War affect Germany today? Chapter Intro Chapter Intro Chapter Intro 1 Decline of the Soviet Union How strong was the Soviet Union after World War II? Chapter Intro 2 Eastern Europe What was the connection between Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union? Chapter Intro 3 Europe and North America How did political changes in North America and Europe affect their economies? Chapter Intro 4 Western Society and Culture How important is Western culture in the world? Chapter Preview-End Section 1-Main Idea The BIG Idea Self-Determination One of the largest empires in the world ended when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. Section 1-Key Terms Content Vocabulary détente dissidents perestroika Academic Vocabulary participation responsive Section 1-Key Terms People, Places, and Events Leonid Brezhnev Brezhnev Doctrine Afghanistan Ronald Reagan Mikhail Gorbachev Boris Yeltsin Ukraine Belarus Vladimir Putin A B Section 1-Polling Question Has a . president ever changed the course of our nation? A. Yes B. No Section 1 The Soviet Union Under Stress The Soviet Union could not survive a combination of domestic and foreign problems. Section 1 Leonid Brezhnev believed strongly in communism and was not interested in reform.
