History of the United States II / Unit 16 USH2 2280 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Gorbachev
Captions available
The idea
In nineteen eighty-five Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet leader, a believer in socialism who saw, the Yawp says, that the Soviet Union desperately needed to reform itself.
In practice
Glasnost loosening censorship and perestroika liberalising the political machinery.
Where people slip
The Yawp says Gorbachev reached out to Reagan to end an arms race that was bankrupting the Soviet Union.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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