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Death of Leonid Brezhnev
After the death of Brezhnev, his next two sucessors each dies after only a year in office. The Soviet Union is forced to find new leadership. -
Mikhail Gorbachev Elected Soviet Leader
Gorbachev becomes the youngest leader of the Soviet Union since Stalin. His reforms make the Soviet Union a more open society. -
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Realizing the Soviet Union can no longer afford a costly arms race with the United States, Gorbachev signs the INF Treaty. -
Lithuania Declares Independence
In response to the declaration of independence, Gorbachev orders a violent crackdown that results in the death of unarmed civilians. -
The August Coup Begins
Hardliners detain Gorbachev and demand he resign. -
Period: to
The August Coup
Although the coup does not succeed, it greatly destabilised the Soviet Union. -
The End of the Soviet Union
Gorbachev resigns and the Soviet Union ceases to exist.
