Foreign Policy After the Cold War

1. Foreign Policy After the Cold War Chapter 25, Section 4 Notes

2. 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

3. 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 Main Idea and Terms/Names

4. The Cold War Ends • 1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev became general secretary of Communist Party in the USSR • Marked new era in USSR • Reagan added pressure the already weak Soviet economy • Doubled defense spending • To keep up, Soviet economy was pushed to brink

5. Gorbachev • Glasnost – allowed open criticism of Soviet government and freedom of the press • Perestroika—restructured Soviet economy • Less control over economy • Some private enterprise • Steps towards democracy

6. Gorbachev • Realized USSR needed better relations with US • Would allow them to reduce defense spending • INF Treaty • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces • One site inspections of each other

7. Soviet Union Declines • Gorbachev introduced democratic ideals • 14 non-Russian republics declared independence in 1991 • Gorbachev resigned • Soviet Union dissolved • 1992- Presidents Bush and Yeltsin formally end Cold War

8. Other Communist Regimes • East Germany – Gorbachev encouraged a move towards democ. • Reagan – “Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall” • 1989- East Germany opened the Berlin Wall • 1990-Two Germanies were united • Yugoslavia collapsed (ethnic rivalries turned into a brutal war)

9. 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

10. 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 trafficking • Taken to Miami for trial -- convicted

11. Caribbean

12. 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

13. Persian Gulf War • Iran and Iraq were at war – expensive • In 1990, Iraqi troops invaded a disputed area of Kuwait (for the oil) • Then conquered Saudi Arabia

14. Persian Gulf War • Pres. Bush organized an international coalition against Iraqi aggression • Launched Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait • Massive Air assault • Then a ground assault from Saudi Arabia • Led by “Stormin’”Norman Schwarzkopf • 2 months later, Kuwait was liberated • Iraqi soldiers and people suffered greatly

15. Bush’s Domestic Policies • Rising deficits • Recession – 1990-1992 • Bush was forced to raise taxes despite pledge (read my lips…) • Approval rating dropped • Doomed for reelection