Gorbachev's Reforms: Perestroika and Glasnost (1985–1991)

1. Gorbachev elected CPSU general secretary

   Mar 11, 1985Labels: Mikhail Gorbachev, CPSU

   • Britannica
   • Gorbachev

2. April 1985 plenum launches “acceleration” drive

   Apr 20, 1985Labels: CPSU Plenum, Uskorenie

   • Uskorenie
   • Gorbachev

3. 27th CPSU Congress sets reform direction

   Feb 25, 1986Labels: 27th Party, Gorbachev

   • 27th Congress
   • Gorbachev

4. Chernobyl disaster intensifies demands for openness

   Apr 26, 1986Labels: Chernobyl, Nuclear Disaster

   • Britannica
   • Chernobyl

5. January 1987 plenum introduces demokratizatsiya

   Jan 27, 1987Labels: CPSU Plenum, Demokratizatsiya

   • Demokratizatsiya
   • CC Plenums

6. Law on State Enterprise adopted

   Jun 30, 1987Labels: Law on, USSR

   • Enterprises
   • Perestroika

7. Law on Cooperatives legalizes worker-owned cooperatives

   May 1, 1988Labels: Law on, Worker Cooperatives

   • Cooperatives
   • USSR 1982 91

8. 19th CPSU Conference endorses political restructuring

   Jun 28, 1988Labels: 19th Party, Congress of

   • 19th Conf
   • Britannica

9. Constitution amended to create new electoral system

   Dec 1, 1988Labels: Constitutional Amendments, Congress of

   • 1977 Const
   • Britannica

10. First partially free elections held for new Congress

    Mar 26, 1989Labels: Congress Elections, USSR

    • 1989 Election
    • Britannica

11. Congress of People’s Deputies convenes first session

    May 25, 1989Labels: Congress of, Televised Debates

    • CPD USSR
    • Congress gov

12. Article 6 removed, ending CPSU’s constitutional monopoly

    Mar 14, 1990Labels: Article 6, Congress of

    • 1977 Const
    • Pres USSR

13. Gorbachev elected first President of the USSR

    Mar 14, 1990Labels: President of, Mikhail Gorbachev

    • Pres Election
    • Washington Post

14. Hardliners launch August coup attempt

    Aug 19, 1991Labels: August Coup, GKChP

    • Britannica
    • Coup Attempt

15. Gorbachev resigns as CPSU general secretary

    Aug 24, 1991Labels: Gorbachev, CPSU Resignation

    • UPI
    • Coup Attempt

16. Gorbachev resigns as Soviet president

    Dec 25, 1991Labels: Gorbachev, USSR Dissolution

    • Washington Post
    • History com