Mikhail Gorbachev: Timeline

1931   Born

1985   Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and ''de facto De facto

De facto is a Latin [i] expression that means "in fact" or "in practice". ... 

'' leader of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

.

1985   Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

: In Geneva Geneva

Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland [i] , and is the most populous city of Romandy [i] ... 

, U.S. President President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state [i] of the United States [i]. ... 

 Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President [i] of the United States [i] ... 

 and Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 leader Mikhail Gorbachev meet for the first time.

1986   Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

: Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Reykjavík Reykjavík

Reykjavk is the capital [i] of Iceland [i], its largest city [i] and the world's most northern [i] nati ... 

, Iceland Iceland

Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland is a volcanic island nation [i] in the northern Atlantic Ocean [i] ... 

, in an effort to continue discussions about scaling back their intermediate missile arsenals in Europe Europe

Europe is one of the seven traditional continent [i]s of the Earth [i]. ... 

 (the talks break down in failure).

1987   During a visit to Berlin, Germany, U.S. President Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President [i] of the United States [i] ... 

 challenges Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall , an iconic symbol of the Cold War [i], was initially constructed starting on August 13 [i] ... 

.

1987   The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President [i] of the United States [i] ... 

 and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

1989   Mikhail Gorbachev visits China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

, the first Soviet leader to do so since the 1960s.

1989   Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

: In a meeting off the coast of Malta Malta

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a small and densely populated island nation [i] consis ... 

, US President George Bush George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st President of the United States of America [i] . ... 

 and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev release statements indicating that the Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

 between their nations may be coming to an end.

1990   Mikhail Gorbachev is elected as the first executive president of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

.

1990   U.S. President George H. W. Bush George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st President of the United States of America [i] . ... 

 and Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty Treaty

A treaty is a binding agreement under international law [i] entered into by actors in international law, ... 

 to end chemical weapon production and begin destroying their respective stocks.

1990   Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five Nobel Prize [i]s bequested by the Swedish [i] industrialist ... 

 for his efforts to lessen Cold War Cold War

The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical [i], ideological [i], and economic [i] ... 

 tensions and reform his nation.

1991   Collapse of the Soviet Union: Soviet Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 President Mikhail Gorbachev is put under house arrest House arrest

In justice [i] and law [i], house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities t ... 

 while vacationing in the Crimea Crimea

Crimea /kra?'mia/ or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an autonomous republic [i] of Ukraine [i] ... 

. The putsch is led by 8 high-ranking hard-liners led by Vice President Gennady Yanayev, and will collapse in less than 72 hours.

1991   Collapse of the Soviet Union: Estonia Estonia

Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia , is a country in Northern Europe [i]. ... 

 declares its independence from the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

, and more than 100,000 people rally outside the Soviet Union's parliament building protesting the coup that deposed President Mikhail Gorbachev.

1991   Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as president of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

.