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Fall of Berlin Wall
With the Cold War beginning to take a toll on Eastern Europe, the Eastern Berlin Communist Party decided to allow people to cross back and forth between the walls.Marked a turning point in the Cold War, as it shows how the communist party could not keep up their policies and were beginning to break down against capitalists and westerners. -
Berlin Wall Footage
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Telephone Call from Helmut Kohl(PSD)
http://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/items/show/530 Helmut Kohl and George H. W. Bush, "Telephone Call from Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany to President George H. W. Bush." Making the History of 1989, # 530. -
Telephone Call from Helmut Kohl Analysis(PSD)
In this telephone call, Chancellor Kohl of West Germany is conversing about the possibility of unity of Germany with President Bush. It shows how western influence was already being rooted in the unification of Germany. Kohl and Bush are on good terms. When discussing about Gorbachev, the Soviet Leader at the time, they believe that he is worried about his people and is willing to negotiate new laws in unified Germany. -
German Unification Treaty Analysis(PSD)
When Germany united, it ultimately turned to a system more suited towards the western ideals. Article 4 of the treaty describes democratic/liberal ideals, such as "self determination" and a voting system that closely resembles democracy(each person having a right to vote, with increased population having more votes). Article 5 allows for the possibility of amendments to the treaty and laws, even "basic laws" Article 7 states that the FRG's economic system will be spread across united Germany. -
German Unification Treaty (PSD)
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German Unification(Unity Day)
Germany was divided into East(Controlled by Soviets, representing communism) and West(Controlled by Allied Forces, representing capitalism). Less than a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, both sides agreed to unify Germany once again and elected Helmut Kohl as first chancellor. -
Breaking of the Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact that began in 1955 is broken, and the alliance that held the communist countries in the communist block in Europe is gone. -
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
The treaty is signed between the USA and the Soviet Union, to limit nuclear and offensive arms against opposing countries. It cut the number of nuclear arms by half and bombs by a third. -
Communist coup d'état attempt
Communist Hardliners attempt to stop Gorbachev by capturing him and attempting to control the government. The Coup failed after three days which lead Gorbachev's political adversary, Boris Yeltsin, to rise to power -
Yeltsin's visit to U.S.
The Russian President visits the U.S. for the first time after the disbandment of the Soviet Union. He met up with President Bush at Camp David(country retreat area) to discuss cooperation on arm sales and Russian-U.S. relations, concluding that they do not regard each other as potential adversaries.
