Mikhail Gorbachev and the end of Communism

Mikhail Gorbachev opened up the Soviet Union because he allowed new ideas be heard. He allowed the churches to be opened, people to be free from jail, and books that were banned were allowed to be read. The citizens were able to vote for the country's candidates. People are allowed to open their own private businesses. He brought back much freedom and allowed many voices to be heard. It allowed angry Soviet citizens to speak of their complaints or problems. He was very open and paved the way for the end of communism because in communism, the government basically controlled everything. Communism restricted freedom of press, speech, and religion. Mikhail's way of governing was different from all the other previous Soviet leaders. The way it was different was because nobody else listened to their people.

Collapse of Communism

The downfall on communism became a major point in history. After WWII, the Soviet Union and the US were involved in a Cold War. They both tried to increase their influence worldwide. The Soviet Union stretched out it's power over the majority of Eastern Europe. It all pretty much came clear that communism was not going to leave Russia. The Soviet Union also separated into 15 different Republics which insisted of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Lativa, Lithuania, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Creation of Israel

The day after their independence was declared, Israel was ambushed by the Arab states and Palestinians. After this brutal ambush came a major Middle Eastern war that existed between the Jews and the Palestinians. The Jews stood alone in their fight against the many for the Holy Land. Upon hearing the news of imperialism, others began to join forces against the Jews. There was Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Europe.After the 1948 war, Israel had increased to about 8,000 square miles of Palestine which decreased the Arab lands that had been in the 1947 U.N. partition by about 50 percent. Jerusalem was divided, with Arabs on the east side of the Green Line and the Jews on the west.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Apartheid was a rigid policy of segregation of the nonwhite population.Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first president of South Africa to be elected in full represented democrat elections.In this same year came Nelson Mandela, who was a leading figure in the African National Congress (ANC) in 1964, was released from prison on Feb. 11, 1990 after 27 years and was later elected president. In 1991 the remaining major discriminating laws that supported apartheid were terminated, including the Population Registration Act of 1950.