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Richard Nixon and Policy of Detente
This treaty was created to help ease the geo-tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This took place around the middle of th Cold War. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan lasted nine years and was part of the Cold War. The United States supported the Sunni Mujahideen in this war. This war began with the main objectives of preventing a person from coming to power and to gain oil, land, and power. -
Solidarity Movement in Poland (Lech Walesa)
The Solidarity Movement was a trade union federation that was under the leadership of Lech Walesa. This union was the frist trade union that was not communist controlled within the country. The U.S. was a supporter of the union and eventually the group became a threat to the governent, causing the government to negotiate with them. -
Ronald Reagan addresses the National Association of Evangelicals
"Yes, change your world. One of our founding fathers, Thomas Paine, said, “We have it within our power to begin the world over again.” We can do it, doing together what no one church could do by itself."
Ronald Reagan gave a speech addressing the "evil empire" which refers to the Soviet Union. This speech was not braodcasted, but given to a crowd to help keep their faith in America. -
Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars")
This initiative was proposed by Ronald Reagan to protect the U.S. by ground based and space based systems. The SDI was not supported by all becasue some people believed that it would restart to arms race but the United States stuck with it and now has an advantage in missel defense systems. -
Summit in Geneva, Switzerland
“I am cautiously optimistic. I like Mr. Gorbachev. We can do business together”.
This was a meeting between the president of the U.S., Reagan, and the Soviet General Secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev. During this summit, the leaders talked about the arms race and international diplomatic relations. -
Reykjavik Summit, Iceland
The Reykjavik Summit was a metting held between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss nuclear weapons. This meeting ended with no real agreement between the two leaders, but the progress that was made at this meeting helped lead to the creation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and Soviet Union. -
Reagan speech at Brandenberg Gate, West Berlin
"Tear down this wall."
Reagan gave a speech near the Berlin wall for the 750th anniversary of Berlin. In this speech, Raegan challenged the Soviet union leader to get rid of the Berlin Wall and free the East Germans from their control. -
Reagan and Gorbachev sign INF treaty
The treaty eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges. This treaty was signed in Washington D.C. and put into act on January 1 1988 -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin wall was caused by the weakenig of the communist bloc. Communism was beginnning to fail in neighboring countries and eventually, the East German government official said that the East Germans were allowed to pass through the checkpoints. -
Gorbachev, Perestroika, Glasnost
Gorbachev was elected the first executive president of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev created a dual program of Perestroika and Glasnost, which introduced large changes in the economic practice, internal affairs and international relations. These programs inadvertently helped lead to the end of the cold war and the fall of the Soviet Union. -
Fall of Soviet Union
"My life's work has been accomplished. I did all that I could."
When the Soviet president resigned was when the fall of the Soviet Union took place. After the Union fell, it split into multiple independent republics. This event marked the end of the Cold War.
