Foreign Policy After the Cold War

Chapter 25, Section 4 Notes

Objectives

Identify changes in the Communist world that ended the Cold War

Summarize US actions taken to influence Central American and Caribbean affairs

Describe the events leading to the Iran-Contra affair

Analyze US involvement in the Persian Gulf War

Main Idea and Terms/Names

The end of the Cold War, marked by the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991, led to a redirection of many US goals and policies

Mikhail Gorbachev Glasnost Perestroika INF Treaty Sandinistas Contras Operation Desert

Storm

The Cold War Ends

1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary of Communist Party in the USSR

Marked new era in USSRReagan added pressure the already

weak Soviet economyDoubled defense spending

To keep up, Soviet economy was pushed to brink

Gorbachev

Glasnost – allowed open criticism of Soviet government and freedom of the press

Perestroika—restructured Soviet economyLess control over economySome private enterpriseSteps towards democracy

Gorbachev

Realized USSR needed better relations with USWould allow them to reduce

defense spendingINF Treaty

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces

One site inspections of each other

Soviet Union Declines

Gorbachev introduced democratic ideals14 non-Russian republics declared

independence in 1991Gorbachev resignedSoviet Union dissolved1992- Presidents Bush and Yeltsin

formally end Cold War

Other Communist Regimes

East Germany – Gorbachev encouraged a move towards democ.Reagan – “Mr. Gorbachev tear

down this wall”1989- East Germany opened the

Berlin Wall1990-Two Germanies were united

Yugoslavia collapsed (ethnic rivalries turned into a brutal war)

Central American/Caribbean Policy

Nicaragua Civil War between Somoza and

Sandinistas (rebels) Carter recognized Sandinistas and sent

aid (USSR/Cuba did too) Reagan cut off aid and supported Contras

CIA directed operations without Congress’s approval

Congress passed Boland Amendment (no aid to Contras)

1990 – free elections in Nicaragua

Central American/Caribbean Policy

Grenada- US used force to overthrow the pro-Cuban govt.Replaced it with a US friendly gov.

Panama – US soldiers sent to overthrow Manuel Noriega for drug traffickingTaken to Miami for trial -- convicted

Caribbean

Iran Contra Scandal

1983 – Iranian terrorists took American hostages in Lebanon Reagan denounced Iran and asked its allies

not to send arms to Iran Reagan approved the sale of arms to Iran

Iran promised to release hostages Reagan sent profits of arms sales to Contras

in Nicaragua Lt. Col. Oliver North found guilty of violating US

policy

Persian Gulf War

Iran and Iraq were at war – expensiveIn 1990, Iraqi troops invaded a

disputed area of Kuwait (for the oil)Then conquered Saudi Arabia

Persian Gulf War

Pres. Bush organized an international coalition against Iraqi aggressionLaunched Operation Desert Storm to

liberate KuwaitMassive Air assaultThen a ground assault from Saudi ArabiaLed by “Stormin’”Norman Schwarzkopf

2 months later, Kuwait was liberated Iraqi soldiers and people suffered greatly

Bush’s Domestic Policies

Rising deficitsRecession – 1990-1992

Bush was forced to raise taxes despite pledge (read my lips…)

Approval rating droppedDoomed for reelection