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Winter Olympics
The US hockey team defeated the USSR team to win the gold medal at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. The USSR was the favorite to win after winning gold at the past four Winter Olympics. -
Summer Olympics
his was followed by the US protesting the Summer Olympics which were hosted by Moscow. The US-led protest resulted in 65 countries opting out of the Games -
Ronald Reagan Becomes President
He went on to serve a second term, holding office during every following event in this presentation. He pushed an anti-Communist mindset firmly throughout the entire Cold War. His election and decisions in office had very clear effects on the Cold War and battle against Communism. -
Announcement of the Caribbean Basin Initiative
Made to prevent the overthrow of governments in the region by the forces of communism. The way this was accomplished by helping to facilitate a stable economy. https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/caribbean-basin-initiative-cbi -
Helmut Kohl was elected Chancellor of Western Germany.
He was one of the best Chancellors in history and one of the only Chancellor’s to serve for 16 years. -
Reagan announces Star Wars.
March 23: President Reagan announces defence plan called Star Wars. This was the U.S’s first plan to have nearly total defense from a massive nuclear attack. This plan would include the building a network of ground-based and space-based systems to shield the country and apparently the space-based portion would have used lasers armed with nuclear warheads to shoot down incoming Soviet missiles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGLBA65tZg -
Nuclear Joke
During a microphone sound check for his weekly radio address, President Ronald Reagan jokes about bombing the Soviet Union. "My fellow Americans," Reagan says. "I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." The quip is not aired but is leaked to the press. The Soviet Union temporarily puts its defense forces on high alert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mwAntNGz9k -
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen as Party secretary in March 1985; Party leaders elected him general secretary of the Party, and he became the new leader of the Soviet Union.
https://alphahistory.com/coldwar/gorbachevs-maiden-speech-1985/ -
Iran Contra Affair
he White House had secretly sold arms to Iran in an effort to win the freedom of U.S. hostages in Lebanon, and then diverted money from the sales to Nicaraguan rebels known as the Contras. -
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
On December 8th, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty that limits their arms. The US and USSR both permanently have to eliminate nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5500 kilometers. This continues to be relevant, because after an investigation into Russia recently it was suspected that they violated the treaty. This led to President Trump formally announced they would ignore their treaty obligations causing Russia to do the same. -
Soviet Union will no longer militarily interfere with Eastern Europe.
Gorbachev announces in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly that the Soviet Union will no longer militarily interfere with Eastern Europe.
https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/116224.pdf?v=373893a00d59186510e13c0cc7b57141
