Chapter 25 Section 4 Notes US Foreign Policy under Reagan & Bush

The Collapse of the Soviet Union Why did it happen? The Economy sucked High Oil Prices Needed to Spend $ on Defense to compete with the US Wealthy Western Countries wouldn’t continue to loan the Communists $ (didn’t trust them)

Leadership sees the need for change Mikhail Gorbachev = New Leader (1985) Believed in glastnost (openness) More freedoms for people (speech, press, etc…) Believed in perestroika (economic and gov reforms) more democratic, more trade with non communist countries

How did it happen? Drastic reductions in active nuclear arsenals of U.S and Soviet Union Begins with INF Treaty (1987) Intermediate Nuclear Forces Reduced active nukes by two thirds in less than 10 yrs Drastic reduction of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe by late 1980s formerly called satellite nations far less troops more freedom to govern themselves Most choose democracy over communism Most have peaceful transitions

Best Example = East Germany The Berlin Wall comes down in 1989 Germany unites into 1 country in 1990

Bad Example = Yugoslavia The Country splits into sections Major warring over control Split along ethnic and religious lines

The Soviet Union itself splits up (late 1991 – early 1992) 14 areas declare their own independence 11 of the areas agree to join Russia & collectively work together for some purposes Called the Commonwealth of Independent States Most areas are slowly transitioning towards democracy

China in the 1980s Still Communist – but more open More trade with U.S. starts with Nixon, improves with Reagan More freedom for businesses Could decide 3 basic economic ?’s themselves What to produce? How to produce it? Who to produce it for? Could decide on prices themselves Still restricted freedom for people Tiananmen Square incident

Latin American Policy in the 1980s

Nicaragua U.S. helps a dictatorship stay in power for 40 yrs Anastasio Somoza Friendly with U.S. Treated citizens poorly Civil War in late 1970s with a rebel group known as the Sandinistas Carter helps Sandinistas gain power Concerned about human rights (remember!) U.S. provides them millions of $ in aid They also get aid from Communist countries

Another War in early 1980s Known as IRAN CONTRA SCANDAL Sandinistas vs. Contras (different Rebel group) Reagan’s administration helps Contras gain power with $ and weapons Concerned that Sandinistas were too influenced by Communists Congress didn’t approve of it (Boland Amendment) and wanted the funding to stop Reagan administration secretly sells weapons to Iran Partly to get some US Hostages released Uses the $$$ to privately fund the Contras Known as IRAN CONTRA SCANDAL Discovered by Congress towards end of Reagan’s Presidency Investigation resulted in Court Cases 11 Reagan officials convicted in court (Reagan never indicted) None of them served jail time (all pardoned before sentencing)

Grenada (1983) U.S. prevents tiny Caribbean island from becoming Communist Army installs new govt. Took 4 days

Panama (1989) U.S. sends soldiers to capture their dictator (Manuel Noriega) Took about a month. Brought back to US for trial Gets 40 yrs in prison for drug trafficking

US – Middle East Relations (1980s and early 1990s) Bottom line: Not so good Problem #1 = Our good relationship with Israel Problem #2 = Our support for Shah of Iran

Iran Led by Ayatollah Khomeini (remember!) Deeply religious, Anti US because of previous support of the Shah Took a lot of US hostages throughout 1980s US encourages other countries to not trade with them White House secretly does to get some hostages back Part of Iran Contra Scandal on earlier slide

Iraq Led by Saddam Hussein Dictator… didn’t treat most of his people well US still had a better relationship with him than Khomeini in early 1980s

Iran – Iraq War (1980 – 1988) About 1 million deaths total (half military, half civilians) Cost over 1 trillion $’s (in damages, to fight, etc…) the U.S. sold weapons to both sides Sold more military equipment to Iraq than Iran Both countries borrowed a lot of $$$ to pay for the stuff End result – No territory changes hands

Iraq in major debt afterwards Invades and Occupies Kuwait (1990) Small oil –rich country along Persian Gulf Threatens to invade Saudi Arabia by end of 1990 Has around half of all known oil in the world U.S. economy is threatened

Operation Desert Storm (Jan – Feb 1991) . Operation Desert Storm (Jan – Feb 1991) U.S. and U.N. offensive to get Iraq out of Kuwait 100,000 Iraqi deaths 175,000 more Iraqis taken prisoner 400 deaths total for U.S. and U.N forces Hussein Surrenders in 6 weeks Big victory for U.S. and U.N Hussein allowed to stay in power

Desert Storm Aftermath Iraqi people suffer afterwards Trade embargo limited supplies getting into the country Many civilians (including kids) die of disease and malnutrition Anti – American sentiment is common Iraq eventually invaded in 2003 following 9/11 Ordered by George HW Bush’s son