The End of the Cold War

Richard Nixon and Policy of Detente

Feb 22, 1972

After Tet offensive, Nixon began to pusure Detente with the Soviet Union and China. He hoped that he could isolate the North Vietnamese from the arger communist powers. This led to a nuclear arms reduction.

Solidarity Movement in Poland (Lech Walesa)

Jul 5, 1980

Lech Walsea starts a national trade union know as solidarity. It was supported by he Roman Catholic Church.

Reykjavik Summit. Iceland

Oct 11, 1980

This is where Reagan and Gorbacheu met. The only purpose they're both signed off on nuclear missle treaty.

Ronald Reagan addresses the National Association of Evangelicals

Mar 8, 1983

In Orlando, FL today Ronald Reagon spoke to the National Association of Evangelicals saying "They preach the supremacy of the state, declare its omnipotence over individual man and predict its eventual domination of all peoples on the Earth. They are the focus of evil in the modern world...."

Strategic Defense Initiative

Mar 23, 1983

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The proposal was to use ground-based and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles.

Gorbachev, Perestroika, Glasnost

May 5, 1985

Perestroika was the political movement which means "restructuring." Glasnost was a policy reform which means "openess."

Tear Down this Wall

Jun 12, 1987

Ronald Reagan challenged Russia to tear down the Berlin wall to try and stop tension from the cold war. His speech took place on the 750th anniverary of Berlin

Reagan and Gorbachev sign INF treaty

Dec 8, 1987

The full name of the treaty described exactly what the treaty is about, it is the,"The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles."

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Nov 9, 1989

The East Berlin citizens were told they we allowed to now go into West Berlin. People were confused but then relized that they were being allowed to knock down the wall and walk into West Berlin for the first time 30 years. The spokesman said when asked when we can enter said" Well, as far as I can see, ... straightaway, immediately."

The Fall of The Soviet Union

Dec 25, 1991

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, declaring his office extinct, and handed over the Soviet nuclear missile launching codes to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time and replaced with the Russian tricolor.

The Summit of Geneva, Switzerland

Jul 18, 1995

The biggest four countries met in Geneva, Switzerland in order to discuss peace. The overall goal was to relieve tensions among nations. Reagan said "nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."