Final answer:
The end of the Cold War was precipitated by Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the failed August 1991 coup, and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991.
Step-by-step explanation:
Several significant events contributed to the end of the Cold War, marking the decline of Soviet power and the rise of democracy and nationalism. One notable event was the ascension of Mikhail Gorbachev as the leader of the USSR in 1985, who introduced the policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), intended to rejuvenate the Soviet system but ultimately causing its dissolution. Another pivotal moment was the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which symbolized the collapse of communist control over Eastern Europe and the beginning of German reunification.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed by President George H.W. Bush and Gorbachev in July 1991, significantly reduced nuclear arsenals and highlighted a cooperative approach to international security. Later, an attempted coup by Communist Party hardliners in August 1991 failed, leading to increased protests and the weakening of central Soviet authority. By December 1991, the Soviet Union formally dissolved, and the newly independent states formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
In the broader context, these events are significant because they marked a shift towards democracy and independence, challenging the totalitarian regimes fostered during the decades of the Cold War. The peaceful end of the Cold War was seen not only as a victory for Western democracy but also as a testament to the power of nonviolent protests and the will of the people in shaping their own destinies.