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The Soviet Union started the war with Afghanistan by invading them; they invaded so that they could spread communism and obtain materials and resources that they did not have yet. The Soviet Union used up many military resources including tanks and bombs, and this put stress on their economy and society.
CITATION
Szczepanski, Kallie. "The Soviet Union's Almost Accidental War in Afghanistan."ThoughtCo. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. <https://www.thoughtco.com/the-soviet-invasion-of-afghanistan-195102>.
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"Star Wars" Defense Plan~Reagan (March 1983)

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"Star Wars" Defense Plan~Reagan (March 1983)

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Ronald Reagan told the government that they could develop a device that would intercept nuclear missiles, which caused the Soviet Union to try to develop new technology as well. This contributed to the decline of the Soviet Union because it caused them to spend millions of dollars of money on technology while we only spent a limited amount; they were closer to going bankrupt.
CITATION
Network, The Learning. "March 23, 1983 | Reagan Proposes 'Star Wars' Missile Defense System." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. <https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/march-23-1983-reagan-proposes-star-wars-missile-defense-system/comment-page-1/?_r=0>.

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Gorbachev's Policy ~ Glasnost (March 1985)

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Gorbachev's Policy ~ Glasnost (March 1985)

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Glasnost aided in keeping the communist governments from gaining power through it's policy of openness. It's purpose was to bring simplicity to the social society that was severely controlled by the government, and it did this by allowing the press and multiple religious groups to express their different beliefs.
CITATION
History.com Staff. "Perestroika and  Glasnost." History.com. A&E    Television Networks, 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/perestroika-and-glasnost>.
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Gorbachev's Policy ~ Perestroika (March 1985)

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Gorbachev's Policy ~ Perestroika (March 1985)

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The policy of Perestroika was based on reconstructing the government, and started by reconstructing the top members of the communist party. It fixed economic issues such as focusing the economies dependence on market forces, but turned the community against Gorbachev.
CITATION
History.com Staff. "Perestroika and  Glasnost." History.com. A&E    Television Networks, 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/perestroika-and-glasnost>.
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Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987)

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Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987)

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This was a treaty between Gorbachev and Reagan in which they agreed to lower the number of nuclear weapons used. Gorbachev opened up the economy, so it would not fall, but also gave room to the republics to become independent lessening the Soviet Union's power and eventually declining.
CITATION
"The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union." Cold War Radar. Omeka, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. <https://secretsofcoldwarradar.omeka.net/exhibits/show/background-material--the-cold-/the-cold-war-comes-to-an-end/the-fall-of-the-berlin-wall-an>.
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The economy of the Soviet Union was run by bureaucrats that withheld market prices, which caused there to be no market competition, and there was no motivation to create new technology; most of the money made in the society went to the military, as they were fighting the cold war. The way the economy was run by Gorbachev created a failing economy, allowing the money that they could be using to save the Soviet Union to go elsewhere.
CITATION
"Inefficient Soviet Economy Halted Cold War." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Nov. 1992. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. <http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/22/opinion/l-inefficient-soviet-economy-halted-cold-war-088792.html>.

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Mikhail Gorbachev was the general secretary for the Soviet Union that made general reforms and made a deal with Reagan to disarm nuclear supplies. Since Gorbachev started reforms and changed the society of the Soviet Union, his deals and reforms led to the fall of communism and the end of the Cold War.
CITATION
"BBC History - Mikhail Gorbachev." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/mikhail_gorbachev>.

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This treaty created an alliance between Eastern European countries to fight against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but in 1991 this treaty failed. The failure of the Warsaw Pact had an impact on the Soviet Union because it took apart an alliance of the past communist nations, and lead to the decline of power.
CITATION
Curtis, Glenn. The Warsaw Pact. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. <http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/WarPact.html>.
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As West and East Germans were destroying the Berlin Wall, the fall represented the end of the Soviet Union controlling Germany, and Germany coming together again. As the Wall fell, so did many other communist parties such as Yugoslavia.
CITATION
"The End of the Cold War." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/59e.asp>.
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Nationalist movements spread throughout Eastern Europe into the Soviet Union's fifteen republics including Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia and influenced them to break apart based on ethnicity. This caused many of them to become independent and leave the Soviet Union causing them to decline in power until it eventually died.
CITATION
"Articles Master of Arts in Military History." 5 Reasons for the Collapse of the Soviet Union | Graduate Degrees Norwich. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. <http://graduate.norwich.edu/resources-mmh/articles-mmh/exploring-5-reasons-for-the-collapse-of-the-soviet-union/>.
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