Mikhail Gorbachev
•After Brezhnev there were two short term leaders in Russia:
•Yuri Andropov 1982-84 (died)
•Konstantin Chernenko 1984-1985 (temporary replacement)
•Gorbachev took over in 1985
•Brings in a bunch of changes
•Allow people to have Freedom of speech
•Began “developed socialism” where he wanted to rid the USSR of corruption
•Gorbachev was forced to change his ways after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
•Felt that things were old and decrypted
•Parallel to Lenin and Kronstadt mutiny•Americans always made fun of his birth mark
•Big propaganda in the '80s
•Yuri Andropov 1982-84 (died)
•Konstantin Chernenko 1984-1985 (temporary replacement)
•Gorbachev took over in 1985
•Brings in a bunch of changes
•Allow people to have Freedom of speech
•Began “developed socialism” where he wanted to rid the USSR of corruption
•Gorbachev was forced to change his ways after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
•Felt that things were old and decrypted
•Parallel to Lenin and Kronstadt mutiny•Americans always made fun of his birth mark
•Big propaganda in the '80s
Gorbachev's Mistakes to Reform
•Anti-alcohol campaign - cost state in revenue
•Investment in machinery and tool industry with little return
•Glasnost backfired in that people began hoarding common goods
•Deficit grew annually
•He continued the war in Afghanistan too long
•His high ranking officials were based on loyalty rather than reform mindedness
•Investment in machinery and tool industry with little return
•Glasnost backfired in that people began hoarding common goods
•Deficit grew annually
•He continued the war in Afghanistan too long
•His high ranking officials were based on loyalty rather than reform mindedness
Summary
Mikhail Gorbachev was a new kind of leader for the Soviets. He allowed people freedom of speech among many other things and outwardly spoke out against Stalin. He did however make a few mistakes, taxing Vodka was one of the larger ones.