History & Politics — 1987

World events, Cold War developments, treaties, and political turning points of 1987.

World events, Cold War developments, treaties, and political turning points of 1987.

File	Date	Summary
Reagan's 'Tear Down This Wall' Speech	1987-06-12	Reagan challenges Gorbachev at the Brandenburg Gate before ~45,000; "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" becomes the defining phrase of Cold War resolution.
Iran-Contra Affair (1986–1987)	1987-07-07	Reagan administration secretly sells arms to Iran and diverts proceeds to Nicaraguan Contras; Oliver North's testimony before the joint congressional committee rivets 55 million viewers.
Montreal Protocol (September 16, 1987)	1987-09-16	46 nations adopt the first global environmental treaty, setting binding schedules to phase out ozone-depleting CFCs and halons.
INF Treaty (December 8, 1987)	1987-12-08	Reagan and Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the first arms-control accord to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons.
First Intifada (December 1987)	1987-12-09	A Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupts in Gaza and the West Bank, launching a six-year struggle that reshapes Middle East politics and leads to the Oslo Accords.

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