America's Evolving Global Role

1. Standard 8.6 Summarize America’s role in the changing world, including the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the expansion of the European Union, the continuing crisis in the Middle East, and the rise of global terrorism.

2. Dissolving of Soviet Union • Gorbachev became leader in 1985 and advocated glastnost, openness, and perestroika, restructuring. • Berlin Wall falls to end Cold War. • Soviet Union broke up into independent states because of internal problems.

3. European Union • U.S. protected Europe with NATO and selling of arms to protect them from Soviet communism. • Came out of the European Common Market which was designed to improve trade within the region. • EU evolved and came up with common currency.

4. U.S. world role after Cold War • We were only super power so we felt we had greater responsibility to maintain world peace. • Led to resentment towards U.S.

5. Crisis in Middle East • Israel created in 1948. • We supported Israel against Arabs neighbors and the PLO. • Terrorists groups highjacked planes and cruise ships. • U.S. policy – do not negotiate with terrorists. • Still great conflict today.

6. U.S. and the Middle East • Middle Eastern oil was very important to our economy. • Nixon had to stop an oil embargo against us by OPEC. • Carter and his belief in human rights led to Camp David Accords. • No negotiations with terrorist was put aside when we had to negotiate to free Iran Hostages and American hostages held in Lebanon.

7. Map of SW Asia and Middle East

8. Persian Gulf War • Led the UN efforts to expel Iraq out of Kuwait. President was George H.W. Bush. • Our military presence in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf led to fanatic religious fundamentalists groups like the Taliban to try and expel us out of that region.

9. 9/11 • World Trade Center bombed in 1993. • World Trade Centers hit by planes in 2001 by al Qaeda. • Led to us sending forces to Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban.

10. Middle East today • Bin Laden was killed. • Just removed troops from Afghanistan. • Still pushing for Democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. • Strained relations with Iran because of nuclear capability. • Overall it is still an area of major concern for American Foreign Policy.

11. Nixon – Foreign Policy • Helped by Sec of State Kissinger. • Used Realpolitik – national interests should guide U.S. foreign policy.

12. Nixon deals with our enemies • Called their policy détente – lessening of military and diplomatic tensions between U.S. and Soviets. • Visited China in 1972 to better open relationships. • Visits Soviet Union to meet Breshnev and sign SALT I Treaty– limited the number of intercontinental nuclear missiles each nation could have.

13. 1978 • Camp David Accords – a framework for achieving peace in the Middle East.

14. 1979 Cont’d • June – SALT II: limited the number of nuclear warheads and missiles each power retained. • Oil crisis that led to energy crisis, and inflation soared to 11.3%. Called for many measures to reduce the money supply. • Oct. – Start of Iran Hostage Crisis. We had allowed the Shah to enter the U.S. for cancer treatment. Iranians wanted him for trial. Iranian students that supported the Ayatollah Khomeini seized the American embassy. Crisis lasted until Jan. 1981.