Gorbachev was born on 2 March 1931 in the village of Privolnoye, Stavropol Krai, then in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union.
In June 1950, Gorbachev became a candidate member of the Communist Party.
On 25 September 1953 he and Raisa registered their marriage at Sokolniki Registry Office.
In June 1955, Gorbachev graduated school of law (Moscow State University) with a distinction his final paper had been on the advantages of "socialist democracy" (the Soviet political system) over "bourgeois democracy" (liberal democracy).
In August 1955, Gorbachev started work at the Stavropol regional procurator's office, but disliked the job and used his contacts to get a transfer to work for Komsomol, becoming deputy director of Komsomol's agitation and propaganda department for that region.
In March 1961, Gorbachev became First Secretary of the regional Komsomol.
In November 1978, Gorbachev was appointed a Secretary of the Central Committee.
On 10 March 1985 Chernenko died.
He led the Soviet Union from 13 February 1984 until his death thirteen months later, on 10 March 1985. Chernenko was also Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 11 April 1984 until his death.
Became General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
In April 1986 the Chernobyl disaster occurred.
Gorbachev is elected to be the Executive President of the Soviet Union by the New Parliament.
Gorbachev resigns from the office.
The Soviet Union falls apart.