Week 4

Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)- 1983
After Detente President Reagan continued to increase defense spending. This allowed to put economic and military pressure on the Soviet Union. Then in 1983 president Reagan announced Star Wars or the Strategic Defense Initiative. This program meant so that the US could protect itself against enemy missiles. Although the program did not happen it still remained as a symbol of US and Communist sentiment.

Chernobyl – 1986
In 1986 during a reactor systems test, a sudden gush of power destroyed unit 4 which was a nuclear power station in Chernobyl Ukraine. This sudden gush of power was the result of a flawed reactor that was being operated by unqualified people. The explosion caused major damage and released huge amounts of radioactive materials into the environment. This incident was important because it played a major part in the fall of the Soviet Union.

Perestroika - 1985
Gorbachev blamed the soviet union's inefficient system of central planning for all the economic problems. So in 1985 he announced the idea of Perestroika, which means economic reconstruction. He made these changes in hopes of reviving the economy. The goal was not to throw out communism but to just make the economic system better. Perestroika was important because ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Democratization 1988-1991
Democratization was the act of spreading the democratic ideals. It happened because the US was trying to get rid of communism and spread democratic values. This was important because it was trying to spread the western ideals in order to get rid of communism.

Year of Miracles - 1989
The year of Miracles was when the Berlin wall fell and when the Chinese demonstrated that they were pro- democracy. It was a year in which many things went right in the world and their was justice for many countries like Czechoslovakia. This was important because since the year of miracles when when the Berlin Wall came down it meant the the Cold War was over.

Fall of the Berlin Wall - 1989
After years of people jumping back and forth between East and West Berlin the east side suggested that the wall be torn down. The East sis was having hardships and so everyone wanted toe escape the East and the horrible l lives their and move to the west, which was doing way better economical and socially. The fall of the Berlin wall was important because it ended the cold.

Collapse of the Soviet Union - 1991
The collapse of the soviet union happened because of the soviets invasion in Afghanistan and because of the soviets failing economy. When the soviets invaded Afghanistan it was like Vietnam all over again. The soviets lost and then The USSR broke down into 15 different countries. This was important because It lead to the loss of Communism.