3. What were Gorbachev's two main reforms?

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### Mikhail Gorbachev Calls for Change

In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union. Young, energetic, and politically skilled, Gorbachev wanted to end Cold War tensions and make life easier for his people. Pure Communism was not working and relations with the rest of the world were sour, especially with the United States. Gorbachev called for two reforms: perestroika and glasnost.

Gorbachev called for perestroika because the Communist economy was not providing enough for the people. He believed that instead of an economy run by the state, there should be some free market capitalism. He allowed for more private business ownership and local managers ran the factories instead of the government. This way, the communist economy can increase economic growth. Despite his reforms, the Russian people continued to suffer economically. Gorbachev also called for glasnost. With glasnost, the people would have a chance to provide feedback about their problems. People were encouraged for the first time to speak about their problems. Censorship of TV and newspapers ended. Churches reopened. Travel restrictions were relaxed. Political protestors were released from jail. He also ended the war in Afghanistan in 1989.

Gorbachev saw the old Communist system run by hardliners like Stalin and others to be inefficient and non-beneficial. Gorbachev did not want to end communism in Russia or make it collapse. He wanted to make it more equal and fairer for his people. He was not a hardliner. His reforms led to a series of events that would end the Cold War and turn the Soviet Union to a democracy.

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#### Mikhail Gorbachev
![Mikhail Gorbachev](https://example.com/gorbachev.jpg)

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#### Questions

**3. What were Gorbachev's two main reforms?**  
*Your answer*

**4. Why did Gorbachev carry out these reforms?**  
*Your answer*
Transcribed Image Text:### Mikhail Gorbachev Calls for Change In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union. Young, energetic, and politically skilled, Gorbachev wanted to end Cold War tensions and make life easier for his people. Pure Communism was not working and relations with the rest of the world were sour, especially with the United States. Gorbachev called for two reforms: perestroika and glasnost. Gorbachev called for perestroika because the Communist economy was not providing enough for the people. He believed that instead of an economy run by the state, there should be some free market capitalism. He allowed for more private business ownership and local managers ran the factories instead of the government. This way, the communist economy can increase economic growth. Despite his reforms, the Russian people continued to suffer economically. Gorbachev also called for glasnost. With glasnost, the people would have a chance to provide feedback about their problems. People were encouraged for the first time to speak about their problems. Censorship of TV and newspapers ended. Churches reopened. Travel restrictions were relaxed. Political protestors were released from jail. He also ended the war in Afghanistan in 1989. Gorbachev saw the old Communist system run by hardliners like Stalin and others to be inefficient and non-beneficial. Gorbachev did not want to end communism in Russia or make it collapse. He wanted to make it more equal and fairer for his people. He was not a hardliner. His reforms led to a series of events that would end the Cold War and turn the Soviet Union to a democracy. --- #### Mikhail Gorbachev ![Mikhail Gorbachev](https://example.com/gorbachev.jpg) --- #### Questions **3. What were Gorbachev's two main reforms?** *Your answer* **4. Why did Gorbachev carry out these reforms?** *Your answer*
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