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U.S. Boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics
The United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest against Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. This boycott led to the boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles by the Soviet Union and other communist countries. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Denfense Initiative, also known as "Star Wars," was proposed by Ronald Reagan to use ground-based and space-based systems to protect the United States from missile attack. SDI focused more on strategic defense, rather than offense. -
"Caribbean Basin Initiative"
The Caribbean Basin Initiative was a temporary U.S. program initiated by the 1983 Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. The CBI aimed to provide tariff and trade benefits to many Central American and Caribbean countries. -
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
During his time as General Secretary, he tried to improve relations and trade with the West by reducing Cold War tensions. He resigned on August 24, 1991 after the August Coup. -
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iron-Contra Affair was a political scandal in the United States after senior administration officias during the Reagan administration secretly facilitated the sale of arms and weapons to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo. U.S. officials hoped the arms sale would secure the release of several hostages. -
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) ratified
The INF is an agreement between the United States and Soviet Union which eliminated nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with intermediate ranges, defined as between 500-5500 km. -
Berlin War Collapses
On this day, the spokesman for East Berlin's Communist Party announced that starting at midnight that day, citizens of the GDR were free to cross the country's borders. East and West Berliners all flocked to the wall, using hammers and picks to knock the wall down. -
1st McDonalds Opens in Moscow
The appearance of McDonalds, a symbol of capitalism, was a sign of a change in times in the Soviet Union. This brought change to the Soviet Union, as less than two years later the Soviet Union ceased to exist as a nation. -
Germany is Reunified
Less than one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, East and West Germany reunite after 45 years. Two months after reunification, elections took place and Helmut Kohl became the first chancellor of the new and reunified Germany. -
Warsaw Pact is Dissolved
After 36 years, the Warsaw Pact came to an end. This action was a sign that the Soviet Union was losing its grip on its former allies and the Cold War was falling apart. -
Boris Yelstin elected President of Russia
Boris Yelstin was in office from July 10, 1991, to December 31, 1999. Yelstin sought to completely dismantle socialism and restore capitalism. -
Fall of the Soviet Union
The dissolution acknowledged the freedom of the twleve republics of the Soviet Union. Most former Soviet republics retained close ties with Russia to enhance economic and security cooperation.
