1. The End of the Cold War
APUSH
3/25/09
Ms. Weston

2. The Election of President Carter
Ran against Republican Gerald Ford in 1976
Ford unpopular because he had pardoned Nixon
Carter popular because he was so sincere and moral
At first very successful, got support of Congress
As an inexperienced outsider, he began to rub Congress the wrong way, by not following traditional protocol.

3. Carter’s Humanitarian Diplomacy
As a born-again Christian, Carter wanted to apply a concern for “human rights” to foreign policy
Camp David Accords (1978): Carter got Egypt and Israel to meet in US, came to an agreement for Israel to return land to Egypt and Egypt to respect Israel’s borders
Carter resumed full diplomatic relations with China
Passed two treaties turning control of Panama Canal to Panamanians by 2000.
Still, détente with the USSR appeared to be breaking down
Soviet and Cuban troops helped revolutionary movements in Africa
Arms control was failing

4. Carter Deals With the Energy Crisis
Massive inflation in late 1970s
Huge deficits in federal budget, interest rates high
Carter urged people to conserve energy, people were unwilling
In Iran, revolution ousted the Shah, installed a fundamentalist government that refused to sell oil to US
Oil prices rose even more, Carter seemed unable to deal with crisis.

5. The Iran Hostage Crisis
November 1979: Muslim militants took over US embassy in Iran, and took all of its occupants hostage
Muslims angry that the US had allowed the former Shah to come to America for medical treatment
Events in Middle East worsened when Soviets sent troops to Afghanistan
US called for embargo against USSR, boycott of Olympic Games in Moscow, end to SALT II treaty
Iranian Hostage Crisis led to end of Carter
Tried to use economic sanctions and pressure against Iranians
Rescue mission failed

6. Reagan Renews the Cold War
Elected in 1980
Republican candidate ran against then unpopular Carter
Used harsh words against USSR “focus of evil” in world
Wanted to increase US military capabilities so he could threaten the weakened Soviets with power

7. Star Wars
Reagan was gambling that his building up of military would lead Soviets to back down
1983 announced plan for Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) nicknamed “Star Wars”
Called for orbiting battle stations in space that could fire at incoming missiles
Like a huge defense shield over US cities
Relations with Soviets worsened as US imposed sanctions on Poland, and a Korean plane with Americans aboard was shot down from over USSR
1984: Soviet athletes boycotted Olympics in Los Angeles

8. Continued Troubles Abroad
Iranians did agree to release of hostages, Reagan got all the credit
Israel took over more land and invaded Lebanon
US sent troops to try to help Lebanon, ended in disaster
None of this hurt Reagan’s popularity “TEFLON PRESIDENT”

9. Election of 1984 Reagan ran against Democrat Walter Mondale
Mondale first to run female v.p.
Reagan won in landslide because strong economy at home and the way he stood up to the Soviets
Reagan’s second term more focused on foreign policy
In USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev began reforms
Glasnost “openness,” some freedom of speech
Perestroika—some free market competition
Began successful summit talks with Reagan to eliminate intermediate range nuclear weapons in Europe.

10. The Iran-Contra Scandal
Reagan worried about hostages in Iran and the left-wing Sandinista government in Nicaragua
Worked out a secret plan to sell weapons to Iran who would help US get hostages released. Meanwhile money from these weapons would be given to the contras in Nicaragua to help get rid of the Sandinistas.
Reagan totally violated Congress’s ban on aid to Nicaragua
News of secret dealings broke in Made Reagan seem careless and unintelligent.
In end, Reagan still one of most popular presidents in American history.

11. President Bush and the End of the Cold War
Republican Bush elected in 1990.
Privileged background, but much experience in service.
Late 1980s-early 90s: Democracy arriving in communist world
Demonstrations at China’s Tiananmen square
Solidarity movement ended Communism in Poland
Communist regimes collapsed in Hungary, Czech, and East Germany
Destroyed the Berlin Wall

12. Bush and the End of the Cold War ctnd.
In USSR, communist old-guards failed in their attempt to overthrow Gorbachev.
Weakened, Gorbachev resigned, Boris Yeltsin took over as President.
Soviet Union broke down into 15 republics: all democratic and capitalist.
Bush declares a “new world order” where everyone would be democracy and work out problems peacefully
Idea of “end of history” where ideological battles gone

13. Persian Gulf Crisis
1990: Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, a tiny oil-rich country bordering Iraq
Motivated by oil and control of Persian Gulf
US had helped Saddam against Iran in 1980s
UN warned Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait, threatened him with embargo and he refused
US led an international force into Iraq and Kuwait
All volunteer US army
US general Norman Schwarzkopf led heavy bombings of Iraq along with ground troops to force surrender.
After four weeks, Iraq surrendered.
Still, Saddam in power. Still trouble in Middle East.