This student booklet and teacher's guide examine the causes and the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The first two sections of the student booklet briefly summarize the Cold War and describe the unfulfilled promises of Mikhail Gorachev's "perestroika," the rising discontent among the people, and the birth of nationalism within the republics. The next section details the key events leading to the breakup of the Soviet Union. The last section discusses how the United States is responding to the challenges posed by the breakup of an old enemy and the beginning of a new era in foreign relations. Chapters include: (1) "U.S.-Soviet Relations: 1917-1989"; (2) "Upheaval in the Soviet Union: 1990-1991"; (3) "The End of an Empire: March-December 1991"; and (4) "U.S. Foreign Policy: Mapping Out a Post-Cold War Agenda." Six bibliographic references and a section for further reading conclude the text. The teacher's guide contains lesson plans to be used in conjunction with the student booklet, and includes objectives, a list of key terms, a motivator activity, student activities and handouts, and test materials with an answer key. (EH)