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. 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

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 INF Treaty
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 –
Bush was forced to raise taxes despite pledge (read my lips…)
Approval rating dropped
Doomed for reelection