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Perestroika</h1> <p class="article-subheading type--dog">Mikhail Gorbachev's revolutionary new policies</p> </div></div> </div><div class="loc article-post-header"><div id="post-header-social-block_1-0" class="comp post-header-social-block mntl-block"><div id="social-share-block_1-0" class="comp social-share-block mntl-block"><ul id="social-share_1-0" class="comp social-share mntl-social-share share" data-title="Glasnost and Perestroika" document="StructuredContentDocumentEx{parent=BaseDocumentEx{templateType=STRUCTUREDCONTENT, documentId=1779417, bestTitle='Glasnost and Perestroika'}}" data-description="Learn how General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's new policies of glasnost and perestroika were his attempt to revitalize the Soviet Union." data-tracking-container="true"> <li class="share-item share-item-facebook"> <span 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href="https://www.thoughtco.com/history-and-culture-4133356" rel="nocaes" class="text-btn" > <span class="text-btn__text-label">View More</span> <svg class="icon icon-caret-right text-btn-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a></div> </div><div class="loc article-pre-content"><div id="article-meta_1-0" class="comp article-meta mntl-block" data-tracking-container="true"><div id="reference-bylines_1-0" class="comp reference-bylines mntl-bylines right-rail__offset"><div id="mntl-bylines__group_1-0" class="comp mntl-bylines__group mntl-block mntl-bylines__group--author"><div id="mntl-bylines__item_1-0" class="comp mntl-bylines__item mntl-attribution__item mntl-attribution__item--has-date"> <span class="mntl-attribution__item-descriptor">By</span> <div data-tooltip="Jennifer Rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20th-century history." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/jennifer-rosenberg-1778035" rel="nocaes" data-trigger-link="true" class="mntl-attribution__item-name" tabindex="-1" >Jennifer Rosenberg</a> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip mntl-tooltip mntl-group "> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__top mntl-author-tooltip__top--no-image"> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip__name_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__name mntl-attribution__item "> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/jennifer-rosenberg-1778035" rel="nocaes" class="mntl-attribution__item-name" tabindex="0" >Jennifer Rosenberg</a> </div> <span id="mntl-author-tooltip__job-title_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__job-title mntl-text-block">History Expert</span> <ul id="mntl-author-tooltip__education_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education mntl-block"><li id="mntl-author-tooltip__education-item_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education-item mntl-text-block">B.A., History, University of California at Davis</li></ul> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__bio"> Jennifer Rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20th-century history. </div> </div> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__bottom"> <span class="mntl-author-tooltip__learn-more-text">Learn about our</span> <a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-editorial-guidelines" rel="nocaes" class="mntl-author-tooltip__learn-more-link" >Editorial Process</a> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="mntl-attribution__item-date">Updated on February 13, 2019</div></div> </div></div> </div><div class="loc article-content"><div id="article-content_1-0" class="comp article-content mntl-block"><div id="mntl-sc-page_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content expert-content" data-sc-sticky-offset="85" data-sc-ad-label-height="24" data-sc-ad-track-spacing="100" data-sc-min-track-height="250" data-sc-max-track-height="600" data-sc-breakpoint="50em" data-sc-load-immediate="3" data-sc-content-positions="[1, 1050, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150]" data-bind-scroll-on-start="true"><p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> When <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/mikhail-gorbachev-1779895" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">Mikhail Gorbachev</a> came to power in the <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-was-the-ussr-1434459" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">Soviet Union</a> in March 1985, the country had already been steeped in oppression, secrecy, and suspicion for over six decades. Gorbachev wanted to change that. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_2-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_3-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Within his first few years as general secretary of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev instituted the policies of glasnost ("openness") and perestroika ("restructuring"), which opened the door to criticism and change. These were revolutionary ideas in the stagnant Soviet Union and would ultimately destroy it. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_4-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-what-was-glasnost"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_5-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> What Was Glasnost? </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_6-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Glasnost, which translates to "openness" in English, was General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's policy for a new, open policy in the Soviet Union where people could freely express their opinions. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_7-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_8-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> With glasnost, Soviet citizens no longer had to worry about neighbors, friends, and acquaintances turning them into the <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-kgb-4148458" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">KGB</a> for whispering something that could be construed as criticism of the government or its leaders. They no longer had to worry about arrest and exile for a negative thought against the State. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_9-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_10-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Glasnost allowed the Soviet people to reexamine their history, voice their opinions on governmental policies, and receive news not pre-approved by the government. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_11-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-what-was-perestroika"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_12-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> What Was Perestroika? </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_13-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Perestroika, which in English translates to "restructuring," was Gorbachev's program to restructure the Soviet economy in an attempt to revitalize it. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_14-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_15-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> To restructure, Gorbachev decentralized the controls over the economy, effectively lessening the government's role in the decision-making processes of individual enterprises. Perestroika also hoped to improve production levels by bettering the lives of workers, including giving them more recreation time and safer working conditions. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_16-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_17-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> The overall perception of work in the Soviet Union was to be changed from corruption to honesty, from slacking to hard work. Individual workers, it was hoped, would take a personal interest in their work and would be rewarded for helping to better production levels. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_18-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-did-these-policies-work"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_19-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Did These Policies Work? </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_20-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika changed the fabric of the Soviet Union. It allowed citizens to clamor for better living conditions, more freedoms, and an end to <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-communism-1779968" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">Communism</a>.  </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_21-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_22-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> While Gorbachev had hoped his policies would revitalize the Soviet Union, they instead <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-downfall-of-communism-1779970" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">destroyed it</a>. By 1989, the <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-berlin-wall-28-year-history-1779495" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">Berlin Wall</a> fell and by 1991, the Soviet Union disintegrated. What had once been a single country, became 15 separate republics. </p></div> <div id="sources-and-citation_1-0" class="comp sources-and-citation mntl-block"><div id="citation-widget_1-0" class="comp citation-widget js-citation-widget" data-tracking-container="true"> <div class="citation-widget__container js-container"> <button class="citation-widget__button js-button"> <span class="citation-widget__cite-label">Cite this Article </span> <svg class="icon icon-cite citation-widget__icon-cite" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-cite" href="#icon-cite"></use> </svg> </button> <div class="citation-widget__window js-window"> <svg class="icon icon-close citation-widget__icon-close js-icon-close" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-close" href="#icon-close"></use> </svg> <div class="citation-widget__heading">Format</div> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link citation-widget__format-link--active js-format-link">mla</a> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link js-format-link">apa</a> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link js-format-link">chicago</a> <div class="citation-widget__heading">Your Citation</div> <div class="citation-widget__content js-content"> <span class="citation-widget__citation citation-widget__citation--active js-active" data-citation-format="mla">Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Glasnost and Perestroika." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/glasnost-and-perestroika-1779417.</span> <span class="citation-widget__citation" data-citation-format="apa">Rosenberg, Jennifer. (2023, April 5). Glasnost and Perestroika. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/glasnost-and-perestroika-1779417</span> <span class="citation-widget__citation" data-citation-format="chicago">Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Glasnost and Perestroika." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/glasnost-and-perestroika-1779417 (accessed February 27, 2025).</span> </div> <div class="citation-widget__copy-container"> <button class="citation-widget__copy-button js-copy-button"> <div class="citation-widget__copy-wrapper"> <svg class="icon icon-checkmark citation-widget__icon-checkmark" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-checkmark" href="#icon-checkmark"></use> </svg> <span class="citation-widget__copy-label js-copy-label">copy citation</span> </div> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </div><div class="loc article-right-rail"><div id="mm-ads-right-rail_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-right-rail mntl-block"><div id="sc-billboard-group_1-0" class="comp sc-billboard-group mntl-block js-scads-inline-content"><div id="mntl-block_2-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard1-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard1-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_1-0" class="comp 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mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779383" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/roe-v-wade-abortion-rights-1779383" data-ordinal="3" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:150.0%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/Z1_yDXfOindDjpabwlOlo6krdq0=/250x5297/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/roevwade-56b6b83c5f9b5829f83428e4.jpg" width="250" height="5297" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="0.666" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/Z1_yDXfOindDjpabwlOlo6krdq0=/250x5297/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/roevwade-56b6b83c5f9b5829f83428e4.jpg" width="250" height="5297" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Roe v. 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src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/WGmffE3kv3uwHApwQZZVKQTQcWg=/250x1243/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/QueenElizabethII-56abc4565f9b58b7d009e601.jpg" width="250" height="1243" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Queen Elizabeth II" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Intruder Enters Queen Elizabeth's Bedroom</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_5-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_5-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779385" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-jonestown-massacre-1779385" data-ordinal="5" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.6%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/JANzuJURb5drmSa67pUzb-6Db1M=/250x4000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TC_1779385-the-jonestown-massacre-5af447d11d64040036c08682.png" width="250" height="4000" alt="An illustration of the key events in the Jonestown Massacre" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.5" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/JANzuJURb5drmSa67pUzb-6Db1M=/250x4000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TC_1779385-the-jonestown-massacre-5af447d11d64040036c08682.png" width="250" height="4000" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="An illustration of the key events in the Jonestown Massacre" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">The Jonestown Massacre</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_6-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_6-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779396" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-history-of-cabbage-patch-kids-1779396" data-ordinal="6" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:149.5%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/vuV4hUw5iMejdy1aJLX0R0K6EDA=/250x3000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cabbagepatch-56a48c2d3df78cf77282eea2.jpg" width="250" height="3000" alt="A picture of a Cabbage Patch Kids doll." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="0.669" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/vuV4hUw5iMejdy1aJLX0R0K6EDA=/250x3000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/cabbagepatch-56a48c2d3df78cf77282eea2.jpg" width="250" height="3000" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="A picture of a Cabbage Patch Kids doll." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">The History of Cabbage Patch Kids</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_7-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_7-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779411" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/e-t-movie-released-1779411" data-ordinal="7" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.5%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/pgKXpwfOqywFcHdgQjXzZDBzA3w=/250x3409/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/et2-56a48da93df78cf77282f072.jpg" width="250" height="3409" alt="E.T. and Elliott" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.503" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/pgKXpwfOqywFcHdgQjXzZDBzA3w=/250x3409/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/et2-56a48da93df78cf77282f072.jpg" width="250" height="3409" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="E.T. and Elliott" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">E.T. Movie Released</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_8-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_8-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779393" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/terracotta-army-discovered-in-china-1779393" data-ordinal="8" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:81.2%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/bEnvgvUXdFV5ufxFFwaBiyvx2DM=/250x1562/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/106486627-56a48d4a3df78cf77282efc7.jpg" width="250" height="1562" alt="Qin Shihuangdi’s buried clay terracotta warriors" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.231" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/bEnvgvUXdFV5ufxFFwaBiyvx2DM=/250x1562/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/106486627-56a48d4a3df78cf77282efc7.jpg" width="250" height="1562" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Qin Shihuangdi’s buried clay terracotta warriors" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">When Was the Terracotta Army Found?</span></div> </div> </a></li></ul> <div id="reference-outbrain_2-0" class="comp reference-outbrain mntl-outbrain"> <div class="OUTBRAIN js-outbrain-widget" data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/glasnost-and-perestroika-1779417" data-widget-id="AR_2"></div> </div> <ul id="mntl-masonry-tax-card-list_2-0" class="comp mntl-masonry-tax-card-list mntl-masonry-card-list mntl-masonry-list mntl-block masonry-list"><li id="masonry-list__item_9-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_9-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779388" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/mash-t-v-show-premiers-1779388" data-ordinal="1" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:127.9%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/nSst7EPaONQsm09ekFPwWwP7IZ8=/250x2826/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MASH-56a48dd93df78cf77282f0bc.jpg" width="250" height="2826" alt="A picture of the actors of MASH sitting in a jeep." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="0.781" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/nSst7EPaONQsm09ekFPwWwP7IZ8=/250x2826/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MASH-56a48dd93df78cf77282f0bc.jpg" width="250" height="2826" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="A picture of the actors of MASH sitting in a jeep." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">MASH T.V. Show Premiers</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_10-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_10-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779397" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/discovery-of-the-titanic-shipwreck-1779397" data-ordinal="2" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.5%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/0mFGnStfMtB5NuTU3CvR5M6Heqc=/250x1330/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/titantic_artifact-1767352-58e7ba203df78c51624ed48e.jpg" width="250" height="1330" alt="TITANIC The Artifact Exhibit" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.504" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/0mFGnStfMtB5NuTU3CvR5M6Heqc=/250x1330/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/titantic_artifact-1767352-58e7ba203df78c51624ed48e.jpg" width="250" height="1330" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="TITANIC The Artifact Exhibit" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">When Was the Titanic Found?</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_11-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_11-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779409" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/space-shuttle-challenger-disaster-1779409" data-ordinal="3" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:69.3%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/BwhWyrdRm2TmE3tf6y7fb08yvD0=/250x666/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/challenger2-56a48b8f3df78cf77282eb90-15be95b6e4e7455e8fb94e401684541c.jpg" width="250" height="666" alt="The Space Shuttle Challenger lifting off at the Kennedy Space Center." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.441" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/BwhWyrdRm2TmE3tf6y7fb08yvD0=/250x666/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/challenger2-56a48b8f3df78cf77282eb90-15be95b6e4e7455e8fb94e401684541c.jpg" width="250" height="666" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="The Space Shuttle Challenger lifting off at the Kennedy Space Center." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_12-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_12-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779400" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-rubiks-cube-1779400" data-ordinal="4" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:70.5%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/mkAFkuvV6ErgXZGFfCKjvofYEUE=/250x2973/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RubiksCubeChampionship-58b466ce5f9b5860462185f7.jpg" width="250" height="2973" alt="Rubik's Cube Challenge Contestant, Zoltanh Labas." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.417" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/mkAFkuvV6ErgXZGFfCKjvofYEUE=/250x2973/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RubiksCubeChampionship-58b466ce5f9b5860462185f7.jpg" width="250" height="2973" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Rubik's Cube Challenge Contestant, Zoltanh Labas." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">The History of the Rubik's Cube</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_13-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_13-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779413" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/reagan-assassination-attempt-1779413" data-ordinal="5" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:75.0%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/_60JIWbSq-QY1P_QVapC9EWKYKw=/250x1512/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/KMD16ReaganLibrary_015-580d823d3df78c2c739d7cd8.JPG" width="250" height="1512" alt="The Assassination Attempt of President Reagan at the Reagan Library" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.333" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/_60JIWbSq-QY1P_QVapC9EWKYKw=/250x1512/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/KMD16ReaganLibrary_015-580d823d3df78c2c739d7cd8.JPG" width="250" height="1512" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="The Assassination Attempt of President Reagan at the Reagan Library" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 80s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Reagan Assassination Attempt</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_14-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_14-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4587809" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/why-did-the-soviet-union-collapse-4587809" data-ordinal="6" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.6%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/l1lou1VmPUcEEvGyhJGVHHCO1AQ=/250x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/symbol-5c73110046e0fb00014ef625.jpg" width="250" height="1000" alt="Soviet motifs in Moscow Metro, Russia" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.5" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/l1lou1VmPUcEEvGyhJGVHHCO1AQ=/250x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/symbol-5c73110046e0fb00014ef625.jpg" width="250" height="1000" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Soviet motifs in Moscow Metro, Russia" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="The 90s"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse?</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_15-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_15-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779970" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/the-downfall-of-communism-1779970" data-ordinal="7" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.7%;"> <img 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mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_16-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1779895" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/mikhail-gorbachev-1779895" data-ordinal="8" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.4%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/6Ye0jTgO8m8ouc1zxsBr7lljM9E=/250x395/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/0310-gorbachev-56a6172d3df78cf7728b46f7.jpg" width="250" height="395" alt="Mikhail Gorbachev" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.504" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/6Ye0jTgO8m8ouc1zxsBr7lljM9E=/250x395/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/0310-gorbachev-56a6172d3df78cf7728b46f7.jpg" width="250" height="395" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Mikhail 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