The Collapse of Communism

Communism in the USSR was doomed from the onset. Communism was condemned due to lack of support from other nations, condemned due to corruption within its leadership, condemned due to the moral weakness of humanity, making what is perfect on paper, ineffective in the real world. The end of this system was very violent. It left one of the two most powerful nations in the world fearful of what was to come.

 Communism came to an end in Russia because the government went bankrupt. The arms race against the United States had cost so much, their current economy would not be able to recover from the loss. Since Communist governments own all property in their country rather than the citizens, the type of government in Russia had to be altered in order for the country to have any hope of recovery. Thus, the Cold War itself caused the end of Communism in Russia. 

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Apartheid was a government in South Africa.  The policy of the Europeans in South Africa to seperate the whites from the blacks. Nelson Mandela was the former president of South Africa. He fought for unity and liberation. He made a promise to himself that when he got out of prison he would liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both. While Mandela was in prison he dreamed of equality and freedom to all. Mandela envisioned South Africans of all races living in harmony. During Mandela's 27 years in prison, he became the symbolic body and blood of the anti-apartheid campaign. The South African government, which was reeling from world condemnation, economic sanctions and a fear that if Mandela died in jail, a black revolution would follow, finally released him in 1990. Mandela negotiated with the white government to end apartheid. Four years later he was elected president and served for five years.