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Richard Nixon and Policy of Detente
Détente a period of improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union that began tentatively in 1971 and took decisive form when President Richard M. Nixon visited the secretary-general of the Soviet Communist party, Leonid I. Brezhnev, in Moscow, May 22 1972. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The invasion was of Afghanistan in late December 1979 by troops from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union intervened in support of the Afghan communist government in its conflict with anticommunist Muslim guerrillas during the Afghan War (1978–92) and remained in Afghanistan until mid-February 1989. -
Solidarity Movement in Poland
Solidarity, Polish independent trade union federation formed in Sept., 1980. Led by Lech Wałęsa, it grew rapidly in size and political power and soon posed a threat to Poland's Communist government by its sponsorship of labor strikes and other forms of public protest. -
Ronald Reagan Addresses the National Association of Evangelicals
Reagan's “Evil Empire” Speech, was not mainly about the cold war, the Soviet Union, or international affairs, however. It was about moral values, particularly how they underlay American democracy and how political disagreements were often, at bottom, moral conflicts. Reagan delivered the speech at a time when his defense and foreign policies divided the American people. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
It ambitious project that would construct a space-based anti-missile system.The SDI was intended to defend the United States from attack from Soviet ICBMs by intercepting the missiles at various phases of their flight. -
Summit in Geneva
The conference was about international diplomatic relations and the arms race. Six agreements were reached, ranging from cultural and scientific exchanges to environmental issues. -
Reykjavik Summit, Iceland
"While both sides seek reduction in the number of nuclear missiles and warheads threatening the world, the Soviet Union insisted that we sign an agreement that would deny to me and to future presidents for 10 years the right to develop, test and deploy a defense against nuclear missiles for the people of the free world," Reagan said. "This we could not and would not do." -
Reagan Speech at Brandenberg Gate, West Berlin
"Tear down this wall!" was the challenge issued by United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy the Berlin Wall, in a speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall. -
Reagan and Gorbachev Sign INF Treaty
The treaty eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges, defined as between 300-3,400 miles. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
An announcement was made by East German government official Günter Schabowski stated, "Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between East Germany into West Germany." -
Gorbachev
He introduced a dual program of “perestroika” (“restructuring”) and “glasnost” (“openness”) introduced profound changes in economic practice, internal affairs and international relations. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
11 Soviet republics announced that they would no longer be part of the Soviet Union. They declared they would establish a Commonwealth of Independent States.
