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Interpretations of Gorbachev's Role in the End of the Cold War

History
Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

A worksheet exploring different historical interpretations of Gorbachev's impact on ending the Cold War. Students will compare contrasting views and evaluate their validity.

Topics covered:

#Evaluate which interpretation is more convincing based on evidence
#End of Cold War
#History
#Explain reasons for differing interpretations
#Standard
#Gorbachev
#Interpretations
#Compare different historian perspectives on Gorbachev's role in the Cold War's end

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Full preview • 8 questions

Interpretations of Gorbachev's Role in the End of the Cold War

Subject: HistoryGrade: Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
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Untitled Worksheet

Grade Year 9 / GCSE / Grade 8
A

Interpretations of Gorbachev's Role in Ending the Cold War

Historian A: John Lewis Gaddis – Political and Diplomatic Perspective

'Gorbachev was a masterful diplomat who used reforms such as glasnost and perestroika to strategically weaken the Soviet Union and facilitate its peaceful collapse. His willingness to negotiate with the West, especially in treaties like INF, shows he actively sought to end the Cold War on his terms, using diplomacy rather than military power.'

Historian B: Archie Brown – Social and Internal Perspective

'Gorbachev's reforms were primarily motivated by internal pressures within the Soviet Union, including economic stagnation and political unrest. His approach was driven by a desire to reform the Soviet system from within rather than a conscious effort to end the Cold War. The peaceful end was a consequence of these internal challenges rather than a strategic diplomatic plan.'

B

Questions

1.
Summarize each historian's view on Gorbachev's role in ending the Cold War.
[3 marks]
2.
Compare the reasons why each historian believes Gorbachev ended the Cold War.
[4 marks]
3.
Evaluate which historian's interpretation you find more convincing and explain why.
[6 marks]
4.
Explain how internal pressures within the Soviet Union influenced Gorbachev's reforms.
[3 marks]
5.
Outline the main differences between the two historians' perspectives.
[4 marks]
6.
Analyse which interpretation provides a stronger explanation of how the Cold War ended and justify your answer.
[6 marks]
7.
Describe how Gorbachev's reforms affected the relationship between the Soviet Union and the West.
[3 marks]
8.
Explain why some historians argue Gorbachev's reforms were primarily motivated by internal needs rather than a desire to end the Cold War.
[3 marks]

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Details

Created
1/1/2026
Updated
1/1/2026
Type
worksheet
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