KEY ENDING PLAYERS

Ashton Simmons; Period 6 The End of the

• The end of the Cold War was not simply by one person or country. • To end the Cold War, many key players and countries combined with President Reagan to help end the War. • These include: • John Paul II of • Margaret Thatcher of England • Lech Walesa of Poland • Deng Xiaoping of China • Mikhail Gorbachev of Russia Pope John Paul II (1920 – 2005)

• Background Information -- • Birthname: Karol Józef Wojtyla. • He was born in Wadowice, Poland. • He was the first non-Italian pope in 400 years. • Advocate for human rights. • Credited with the fall of communism in Poland. • Opposed to capital punishment. • Was said to be very harsh with people in opposition of him.

How did he contribute?

• In June 1979, Pope John Paul II made his first pilgrimage to Poland, a nine-day-visit that produced an awe-inspiring spiritual awakening in Poland and the birth of the Solidarity trade union. Tens of millions of Poles realized that "we are the society and the country is ours." The pope's historic pilgrimage set in motion "a revolution of the spirit" that resulted -- a mere decade later -- in the collapse of communism in eastern and central Europe. • Was Reagans partner throughout the quest to end communism: a secret and effective partnership Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013)

• Background Information – • Born in Grantham, England. • Also known as the Iron Lady because she was a tough character and very stubborn willed. • Britain's Conservative Party Leader and was later elected Prime Minister in 1979. • Close friends with Reagan and was inspired by Pope John Paul II. • Clashed ideas about the soaring US budget deficit – Reagan did not share her concern • Reagan struggled to convince Thatcher to agree to allow the 1986 US raid on Libya to be launched from British bases. Thatcher was also troubled by the 1983 American invasion of Grenada What did she contribute?

• Supported Reagan’s peacetime army building – accelerated the end of the war. • Played a major part by accelerating the end of the Cold War. Lech Walesa (1943 - …)

• Background Information – • Born in Popowo, Poland • Polish President • A Polish politician, trade-union organizer, philanthropist and human-rights activist • Worked in illegal underground movements in his younger life • Trade Union Leader (Solidarity) • President of Poland – won by a landslide • With the role he was playing in Poland’s peaceful revolution he won the Noble Peace Prize • Held protests and different rallies for lower food prices at his job at the Polish shipyard • Got him into trouble What did he contribute?

• Organized Roundtable talks with the party members after the 10th plenary session of the communist party ended • Paved way for reforms in other countries Deng Xiaoping (1904 – 1997)

• Background Information – • Born in Guang’an. • Chinese Communist Leader. • Encouraged the creation of market economy and capitalist-like enterprises. • Abandoned many communist doctrines and incorporated elements of the free-enterprise system into the economy. • How did he contribute? • Instituted new economic policies opening China to international trade and investment • Earned positive recognition from U.S.A Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 - …)

• Background Information – • Born in Privolnoye, Russia • 1961 – Delegate to the Communist Party Congress • First President of the • Awarded the Noble Peace Prize for contributing to the break-up of the USSR • What did he contribute? • Reagan was initially distrustful • Met with Reagan at four additional summits after their first meeting which gained Reagan’s trust • Crucial role in the fall of the Berlin Wall