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Gorbachev introduces Glasnost
Glasnost is a policy that as introduced in 1985, meaning openness. The changes it brought included political and social changes in the Soviet Union. -
Gorbachev introduces Perestroika
Perestroika was the idea of reconstructing the economy of the Soviet Union. The goal was to not totally get rid of communism, but to revive the system to make it more efficient and productive. -
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed
This treaty was signed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union required the destruction of all land based missiles. This was viewed as a sign of peace between the two countries. -
Jozsef Antall elected prime minister of Hungary
This election laid the foundations of the parliamentary operations in the Hungarian government. -
Berlin Wall Falls
East Germany closed its borders in response to the fall of communism and the East Germans revolted. The new leader felt he could regain control if he let it fall, so he did. -
Vaclav Havel elected president of Czechoslovakia
Vaclav Havel was president of Czechoslovakia before its fall, and he was also president of the Czech Republic after the split of the country. He served for 14 years. -
1st general elections in Romania
General elections were held in Romania in 1990. They were the first elections held after the overthrow of the Communist regime six months earlier, and also the first public presidential elections. -
Lech Walesa elected president of Poland
After Poland's break from communism, he was the first president freely elected. -
Germany reunification takes place
East Germany and west Germany were reunified in 1990. This was about one year after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
