# Gorbachev becomes General Secretary (1985)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1985-gorbachev-becomes-general-secretary
Categories: ruler-change

After Chernenko's death, 54-year-old Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen General Secretary on 11 March 1985. He launched an anti-alcohol campaign in May and met Ronald Reagan in Geneva in November. He soon spoke of 'acceleration', then perestroika and glasnost. Gorbachev's election began the reforms that ended the Soviet system.

## Why it matters
Gorbachev's election began the reforms that ended the Soviet system.

Ruler at the time: [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://history-russia.com/rulers/mikhail-gorbachev)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Mikhail Gorbachev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Gorbachev)
- [Wikipedia — Geneva Summit (1985)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Summit_(1985))
- [Wikipedia — Perestroika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perestroika)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Gorbachev becomes General Secretary](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Gorbachev+becomes+General+Secretary)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)