DoRevision
Log in Sign up free

Reagan, Gorbachev and the Thaw

How the arms build-up of Reagan and the reforms of Gorbachev, glasnost and perestroika, led through the summits and the INF Treaty to the easing of the Cold War.

⏱️ 16 min 🎯 14 activities Teachers Not yet rated Students Not yet rated
Best used for
Homework Intervention Mock preparation

Revise this, the fun way

Play it interactively, earn XP and build a streak, free.

Start revising free

What you'll cover

Reagan, Gorbachev and the thaw 🤝

In the early 1980s a Second Cold War saw Reagan build up American arms. Then in 1985 Gorbachev became Soviet leader and brought in the reforms of glasnost and perestroika. The two leaders met at summits and signed the INF Treaty in 1987, easing tension at last.

Words for the thaw 🔑

Learn these four terms before you judge the thaw.

Two leaders 🆚

Reagan and Gorbachev came to the table from different starting points.

Grade 9 thinking 💡

To reach the top grades, assess how far Reagan and Gorbachev ended the Cold War, and weigh the reforms of Gorbachev against the pressure of the arms build-up of Reagan.

Match the name to its role 🔗

  • Reagan
  • Gorbachev
  • the INF Treaty
  • a summit
  • the US president who built up arms then made peace
  • the Soviet leader who reformed and eased tension
  • the 1987 deal to remove intermediate missiles
  • a meeting between the two leaders

Match the term to its meaning 🧩

  • glasnost
  • perestroika
  • arms race
  • Cold War
  • a policy of openness
  • a policy of restructuring the economy
  • a competition to build more weapons
  • a rivalry of tension without direct war

What did Gorbachev do? ❓

What did Gorbachev do as Soviet leader?

  • He reformed the USSR with glasnost and perestroika and eased tension.
  • He built the Berlin Wall.
  • He invaded the USA.

The reforms of Gorbachev ✅

Select the TWO reforms of Gorbachev.

  • Glasnost, or openness.
  • Perestroika, or restructuring.
  • A huge new arms build-up.
  • Building a new wall.

Order the thaw 🪜

An interactive activity.

Summarise the thaw 📝

In the early 1980s _____ built up American arms. In 1985 _____ became Soviet leader and brought in _____ and perestroika. The two leaders met at summits and signed the _____ Treaty in 1987, which eased the _____ War.

Reagan Gorbachev glasnost INF Cold perestroika Berlin Stalin missiles Afghanistan

Count the reforms 🔢

An interactive activity.

Spot the two reforms 🖍️

An interactive activity.

Reagan or Gorbachev? 🧭

An interactive activity.

Assess the thaw ✍️

An interactive activity.