Cold War Decline

Strategic Defense Initiative

1983: Also known as Star Wars, it was a proposed missile defense system intended to protect the United States from attack by ballistic missiles.As part of the "second cold war" it was originally proposed by Reagan who was a strong opponent to MAD. It was their response to the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union but was eventually abandoned. But it deteriorated relations with the USSR due to their actions to create an advantage.

Glasnost

1986- It was the openness to reform and criticism and it was particularly associated with reforms of the judicial system, ensuring that the press and the public could attend court hearings and that the sentence was read out in public in order to increase transparency of the Soviet system. Democratization leads to political debate

Perestroika

1986- restructuring of the government and the economy. It was a reduction of government spending and abandoning the arms race. It is sometimes argued to be a large cause of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the revolutions of 1989 in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War.

August Coup

1991, it was an attempt by members of the Soviet Union's government to take control of the country from Soviet President and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. It was started by communists who were opposed to Gorbachev's new policies. The coup collapsed two days after it started but it destabilized the Soviet Union and is suspected to be one of the reasons for the dissolution of the USSR.

1989: Why such a significant date?

Because a wave of revolutions swept the Eastern Bloc, starting in Poland that with the beginning of a move towards private businesses and companies, ending with the opening of the Berlin Wall in November, and the overthrow of the communist dictatorship in Romania in December, and ending in December 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Malta (1989)

Between Bush and Gorbachev taking place a few weeks after the fall of the Berlin wall. They met in order to discuss raising the Iron curtain and the rapid changes in Europe but nothing official was accomplished. However, at the Malta summit, they declared an end to the Cold War and whether or not it was is debated but it is also generally said that this was the end.

Moscow (1987)

Between Gorbachev and Reagan to finalize and ratify the INF treaty and continued discussions on Central America, Southern Africa, the Middle East and the pending withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan along with the constant talk of human rights.

Lech Wales

Co founder of the solidarity movement and former Polish president from 1990 to 1995. He originally helped organize the protests against the government over the rising food prices. He was arrested multiple times but in the end, won in the elections created from the solidarity movement in 1990 and served until 1995.

Carter Doctrine

Created by Jimmy Carter in 1980. It stated that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf in response to the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan in order to deter the Soviet Union. Reagan eventually expanded on this policy as well.

Iran-Contra Scandal

During the Reagan presidency, administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran which was currently in an arms embargo by the United States. By doing this, they had hoped to negotiate the release of hostages. It was discovered when a plane was taking guns was gunned down in Nicaragua. It was debated whether or not Reagan instigated the transfer of money for the weapons. Reagan resigned as president and the United State's credibility was damaged because it showed other countries that taking hostages was an effective way to get what they want.

Iran Hostage Crisis

Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981. In an attempt to free the hostages, Reagan's administration attempted to negotiate an arms sale, despite the arms embargo on Iran. When it was discovered after a plane was shot down carrying arms, it turned into a scandal which ended with Reagan renouncing his position and the United States losing credibility due to the impression taking hostages is an effective way to get what they want.

Brandenburg Gate

Following Germany's surrender and the end of the war, the governments of East Berlin and West Berlin restored it in a joint effort. The holes were patched, but were visible for many years following the war. It is now seen as a symbol of unity and peace due to its presence and job in restoring peace between the two Germanys.

Soviet-Afghan war

From 1979 to 1989 between mujaheddin groups (supported by US and Saudi Arabia) and the Soviet Union/ Democratic Republic of Afghanistan which made it a Cold War proxy war. The government's Stalin-like nature of vigorously suppressing opposition, executing thousands of political prisoners and ordering massacres against unarmed civilians, led to the rise of anti-government armed groups, and by April 1979 large parts of the country were in open rebellion. Caused Carter to put an embargo on the USSR for their part in the war. This marked the decline in detente between the US and the USSR. In addition, it weakened the power of the Red Army because they no longer seemed invincible.

Reykjavik (1986)

Held in Reykjavík, Iceland on October 11 and 12, 1986, between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev. In 1986, Gorbachev had proposed banning all ballistic missiles, while Reagan wanted to continue research on the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which involved the militarization of outer space and to focus on human rights. The talks stalled and despite getting unexpectedly close to the potential elimination of all nuclear weapons, the meeting adjourned with no agreement. It was seen as a step forward though because on site inspection was approved by Gorbachev.

Washington (1987)

Meeting between Gorbachev and Reagan discussing regional conflicts in Afghanistan, Central America, and Southern Africa, arms control issues for chemical weapons as well as conventional weapons, the status of START negotiations, and human rights. Created the INF treaty.

The Singing Revolution

Period of events between 1987 and 1991 when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania restored independence. After WWII, the USSR absorbed all of those nations. Hitherto aired secrets that upset Baltic states and that, combined with the war in Afghanistan and the nuclear fallout in Chernobyl, grievances were aired in a publicly explosive and politically decisive manner. This all encouraged them to gain their independence.

Brezhnev Doctrine

Policy promoted by Brezhnev that stated that the Soviet Union had a right to use military force in order to maintain communist ideals in nearby countries. It justified the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. On Dec. 7, 1988, Gorbachev announced that the doctrine was dead as part of a way to end the Cold War.

Solidarity movement

Polish trade union founded in 1980 and it was part of a worker's movement which utilized civil resistance to advance the causes of workers' rights and social change. The government tried to suppress the movement but lost in the end and was forced to negotiate with solidarity. The United States provided financial support for the movement because it challenged ideals of communism. Solidarity-led opposition led to semi-free elections in 1989 and later, a whole solidarity government was in place.

George H.W. Bush

President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. In 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he met with Gorbachev at Malta to discuss raising the Iron curtain and the rapid changes in Europe but nothing official was accomplished. It facilitated cooperative conversation and another summit was held in July 1991, where the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) was signed by Bush and Gorbachev in Moscow.

Moscow Treaty

Signed August 1970 with USSR, Poland, and the Federal Republic of Germany. The treaty recognized the border between East Germany and West Germany and accepted the post- WWII borders in the east with Poland. Signed during the period of Detente as a means to ease tensions between Germanys.

The Basic Treaty

Signed in 1972 by East Germany and West Germany. It accepted the existence of two Germanys. West Germany now recognized East Germany and agreed to increase trade links between the two. This was done during the period of detente in order to ease tension in Europe and was successful in doing so.

Summits: Geneva (1985)

Talks about international arms race held in Geneva Switzerland in 1985 between Reagan and Gorbachev. Opened up further discussions between the two countries for future issues.

Margaret Thatcher

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. She was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to have been appointed.Thatcher introduced a series of political and economic initiatives intended to reverse high unemployment and Britain's struggles in the wake of the Winter of Discontent and an ongoing recession. Thatcher's popularity during her first years in office waned amid recession and increasing unemployment, until victory in the 1982 Falklands War and the recovering economy brought a resurgence of support, resulting in her decisive re-election in 1983. But resigned/ retired when someone challenged her leadership in 1990.

Reagan Doctrine

The United State's foreign policy in the 1980's. It was Reagan's plan to end the Cold War by overwhelming the Soviet Union by providing funding to anti-communist groups in order to take down the USSR and to "roll back" Soviet-backed communist governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Desert Storm

The first major crisis for the United States after the end of the Cold War in 1990. The leader of Iraq ordered troops across the border of Kuwait in order to seize the oil and therefore be in control of 1/5 of the world's oil. To this, Bush decided to defend Saudi Arabia in Desert Shield. After the United States sent an ultimatum to which there was no response, shield turned to storm and the US bombed Iraq. After this, the ground war started in Iraq.

Boris Yeltsin

The first president after the dissolution of the USSR and inherently the first president of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1999. In foreign policy, he was known as being cooperative and adhered to arms race agreements. However, he was criticized when he won his second election because it was presumed to be corrupt.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The last leader before the Soviet Union dissolved. He won the Nobel Peace Prize and was loved by the west but hated by the east. 12/7/88- Gorbachev gave a speech to UN saying that the Brezhnev doctrine is dead which Poland challenged. He ended the Afghanistan war 1988 because the USSR was broke, Perestroika (1986), Glasnost (1986). Dec 25, 1991: Gorbachev resigns as president, USSR ceases to exist

Ayatollah Khomeini

The leader of the 1979 Iranian revolution after which he became Iran's supreme leader until his death in 1989. He was known for his support of the hostage takers during the Iran hostage crisis and referring to the United States as the "great Satan" and the USSR as the "lesser Satan". He was a respected leader.

Velvet Revolution

The nonviolent transition of power in Czechoslovakia from the single party rule and the dismantling of the planned economy. At a demonstration, president Ceausescu at was attacked. Army refuses to take action and help him. He flees and is executed 12/25/89 The people get a formal letter with an apology about Prague Spring.

Iranian Revolution (1979)

The overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. It started with demonstrations against the Shah and developed into a campaign of civil resistance. Iran voted nationally to become an Islamic Republic on April 2, 1979. Worsened relations with the United States.

Sino-Soviet Split

The period of time of 1955-1966 when the USSR split from the PRC due to their different interpretations of communism and their separate national interests in the Cold War. This triggered triangular diplomacy in which the USSR and PRC were each trying to use the United States against the other. It allowed for rapprochement with the PRC which allowed for more peaceful relations and a period of detente with the USSR because they needed the US's help due to their poor economy.

German Reunification

The process of East Germany and West Germany becoming one United Germany along with the city of Berlin becoming one. Germany fixed relations with Poland with, in 1990, Germany and Poland, signed the German-Polish Border Treaty, finalizing Germany's boundaries as permanent along the Oder-Neisse line.

Mujahedeen

The side supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia in the Soviet- Afghan war in 1979. They were the group that originally rebelled against the Afghan government. Although supported by other nations, the mujahedeen's primary source of funding was private donors and religious charities throughout the Muslim world. They garnered more support as the war became larger and more sophisticated.

Détente

This period started around 1968 and finally ended in 1980 with Reagan taking the presidency. Detente itself means "a relaxation of tension" and during this time, the USSR and the US attempted to create more stable and cooperative relations in addition to an improvement in relations between China and the US. However, after this period, there was a period known as the "second cold war" which came about due to deteriorating relations with the USSR and Reagan's ascent to presidency.

SALT I/ SALT II

Two arms agreements between the US and USSR to limit nuclear arms. SALT I (1972): Covered three areas. The first was the ABM treaty which said ABMs were allowed at only two sites, each site containing no more than 100 missiles. The second was the Interim Treaty which placed limits on the number of ICBMs and SLBMs. The third was the Basic Principles agreement which gave rules for the conduct of nuclear war and development of weapons which was followed by the agreement on prevention of nuclear war in 1973. Was followed by a spirit of cooperation SALT II (1979): Limited the number of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles for each side and put a ban on the testing or deployment of new types of ICBMs, heavy mobile ICBMs, and rapid reload systems. This was criticized by the US for giving advantages to the USSR in building up their arms