Prepare for Success: 2025 AMSCO AP United States History Exam (APUSH) Period 9 Practice Test – Your Complete Guide!

Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 until 1991. His leadership marked a significant departure from previous Soviet policies, as he introduced major reforms such as Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring). These policies aimed to increase transparency in government and revitalization of the economy, ultimately leading to a reduction in tensions with the West and the easing of Cold War hostilities. Gorbachev's willingness to engage in dialogue with Western leaders, including U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, played a crucial role in the dissolution of the Iron Curtain and the subsequent end of the Cold War. This transformation was marked by landmark events like the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, both of which happened under his leadership.