CONTENT STATEMENT
The break-up of the Soviet Union ended the Cold War and created challenges for its former allies, the former Soviet republics, Europe, the United States, and the non-aligned world.
CONTENT ELABORATION
The ending of the Cold War was marked by the collapse of the Soviet Union. A new relationship between the United States and Russia and the other former Soviet republics developed and offered new challenges for the United States. The United States moved away from its containment policy and moved towards bilateral agreements in areas such as:
- space;
- energy;
- technology; and
- nuclear weapons.
The demise of the Soviet Union also created new challenges for its former allies, the former Soviet republics, Europe, and the non-aligned world as well as the United States. Among the challenges:
creation of separate and independent governments;
control of the nuclear arsenals installed by the former Soviet Union;
rise of ethnic tensions; and
transition to free-market economies.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Describe the outcome of the relationship with the United States and the former Soviet Republics and the impact it has on the post-Cold War world.