Back to Period 9: 1980–Present

Lesson PreviewLesson 2 of 5 in this unit

9.2 The End of the Cold War

Part of Period 9: 1980–Present in AP® US History. Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

Start free

The final decade of the Cold War transformed global politics. By the 1980s, the Soviet economy was faltering, burdened by military costs and stagnation. The United States, under Reagan, intensified pressure through defense buildup and the Strategic Defense Initiative, forcing the Soviets to match spending they could not sustain.

In this unit

5 lessons

  1. 9.1Reagan and ConservatismPreview lesson
  2. 9.2The End of the Cold WarThis lesson
  3. 9.4A Changing EconomyPreview lesson
  4. 9.5Migration and Immigration in the 1990s and 2000sPreview lesson
  5. 9.6Challenges of the 21st CenturyPreview lesson

Continue the full lesson in Stellar

Create a free account to unlock the remaining sections, checkpoints, course practice, and progress tracking for AP® US History.

Start free