President ronald reagan right thumb up

the end of the cold war

  • Richard Nixon & Policy of Detente

    The "Detente Years" took place from 1969-1971, where Nixon advised a period of relaxation, an easing of strained foreign relations. It was a period of time , when the USSR and USA signed a bunch of treaties agreeing on getting rid of this and that and worked together to make the world a better place (i,e SALT I&II, trying to find the cure for cancer, jointed space race). One could say, it was a start of a friendship, a time of bliss.
  • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

    On Christmas of 1979, USSR paratroopers landed in Kabal, the capital of Afghanistan. The country was already in the mist of a civil war because Hazifullah Amin, the primeminister, tried to push aside Muslim traditions, making the nation more westernized. This outraged the majority of citizens because there was strong Muslim belief present amongst the nation. The Afghanistan Muslims joined forces with the Mujahdeen to overthrow communist Amin, so that's why the USSR is in to help-tight commies.
  • Solidarity Movement in Poland (Lech Walesa)

    Founded on August 31, 1980, the Solidaity Polish trade union was established and under the leadership of Lech Walesa. It was the first non-Communist Party controlled trade union un a Warsaw Pact country. This sparked the fall of the USSR.
  • Ronald Reagan addresses the National Association of Evangelicals

    Ronald Reagan addresses the National Association of Evangelicals
    President Reagan delivered a speech to a meeting of the National Association of Evanglicals in Orlando, Florida. In his speech, "Evil Empire," he addressed how communism was the evil infecting the world. Quote: "[Communism is]the focus of evil in the modern world,"
  • Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars")

    Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars")
    Proposed by Reagan to use ground-based & space-based systems to protect the US from attack by nuclear ballistic missiles. SDI widely criticized as being unrealistic, unscientific, and for threatening to destabilize MAD-re-igniting the arms race. The mainstream media called SDI, star wars.
    Gorbachev: "But I think that I am even helping the president with SDI. After all, your people say that if Gorbachev attacks SDI and space weapons so much, it means the idea deserves more respect"
  • Summit in Geneva Switzerland

    Summit in Geneva Switzerland
    The Geneva Summit could apply to two Cold War-era meetings that took place in Geneva, Switzerland. The first one, was a meeting of the "Big Four": Eisenhower, Britain, USSR, and France's foreign ministers, but we are talking about the Cold War, as in the 80's range, so it's obvisously the other one. At the second meeting, the Geneva Summit was the first time Reagan and Gorbachev had met, marking the beginning of a thaw in relations between the US and USSR.
  • Reykjavik Summit, Ireland

    Yet, another meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev. The outcome was the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the US and USSR
  • Reagan speech at Bradenberg Gate, West Berlin

    Reagan speech at Bradenberg Gate, West Berlin
    Destroying the Berlin Wall was the challenge issued by Reagan to the USSR leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, to destroy the Berlin Wall, through his speech, given in front of the Bradenberg Gate. His reasoning was that tearing the wall down would increase freedon in the Eastern Bloc through transparency and restucturing. Quotes: "Tear down this wall!"
  • Reagan and Gorbachev sign INF treaty

    Reagan and Gorbachev sign INF treaty
    The INF, Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, treaty is an agreement made between the US and USSR, signed in Washington, DC by Reagan and Gorbachev. The treaty marked the elimination of the US and USSR's nuclear and conventional intermediate/short range missiles.
  • The Fall of the Berlin Wall

    The Fall of the Berlin Wall
    As sudden as its rise, the Berlin Wall announcement to drop it happened by just a mere simple statement. When the news was heard by the citizens on both sides, they were completely shocked and reacted very quickly. Chipping, sawing, bulldozing, whatever was the mean to break and see their love ones on the other side. Quote: East German government official Günter Schabowski stated, "Permanent relocations can be done through all border checkpoints between the GDR (East Germany) into the West"
  • Gorbachev, Perestroika, Glasnost

    To reform the distraught USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost were established (1980s). Perestroika refers to the reconstruction of the political and economic system and Glasnost means openness aka more social and political reforms for more rights and freedoms to the citizens. Gorbachev came to power as president on March 14, 1990, but 1991 the USSR was going down hill but hey! before hand he was secretary.
  • Fall of the Soviet Union

    The USSR formallu ceased to exist by declaration no. 142-H, acknowledging the independence of the 12 republics of the USSR and creating the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The previous day, Gorbachev resigned and Boris Yeltsin came to power.