Critical Issues in American History - Essay Example

Chapter Worksheet Part One: Terms Determine the most significant terms from the chapters and list them below Iran Hostage Crises. 2. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 3. Three Mile Island. 4. The Tea Party Movement. 5. Strategic Defense Initiative. 6. Al Qaeda. 7. The Cold War. 8. First Gulf War. 9. Globalization. 10 Proposition 187. From the above list, elaborate on five terms: 1. ___Iran Hostage Crises_______ Successful revolution by Islamic fundamentalists against the pro-American Shah of Iran in July, 1979 Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a radical cleric, installs a militant Islamic government. In October, President Carter allows the Shah to enter the USA on humanitarian grounds On November 4, 1979, Iranian students seize the embassy and detain more than 50 Americans The Iranians hold the American diplomats hostage for 444 days. Diplomacy and economic sanction ineffective The Iran hostage crisis undermines Carter’s conduct of foreign policy April 1980 military mission to rescue the hostages is a debacle Ronald Reagan wins election, largely due to Carter’s failure to secure release of hostages Hostages released on January 21, 1981, due to negotiations under Algerian auspices. 2. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In April 1978, Afghanistans communist Peoples Democratic Party seizes power in a coup  An Islamic and conservative insurgency begins in the provinces in opposition In March 1979, the USSR begins massive military aid to the DRA. In December, fearing an Iranian-style Islamist revolution, or US entry, the USSR invades Babrak Kamal is installed as the DRAs new Soviet-backed leader. The US, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia supply money and arms to the resisting mujahideen. Hostilities escalate and Karmal is replaced by Mohammed Najibullah in 1986. The DRA, USSR, US and Pakistan sign peace accords and the Soviets pull out troops by February 1989. More than one million Afghans and 13 thousand Soviet troops killed. Civil war continues and the mujahideen overthrow Najibullah in 1992. 3. _ Strategic Defense Initiative. On March 23, 1983 President Ronald Reagan announces his plan for groundbreaking research into a national defense system that could make nuclear weapons obsolete. This initiative is collectively dubbed the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI. It is a space-based missile defense program to guard against large-scale nuclear attack.  Nicknamed "Star Wars" as it envisages futuristic technology, including space-based laser systems. Proposed as a way to eliminate the threat of nuclear attack and end the Cold War. General skepticism about the feasibility and high cost of the technology.  No way to safely test such a system. Perceived to be a clear violation of the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty Blocks negotiations between the two super powers. Government commitment to the SDI project wanes after Reagan’s exit. 4. __ Al Qaeda. Terrorist network founded in about 1989 by Osama bin Laden and Muhammad Atef. Arabic word meaning “The Base.”  Begins as a logistical network to support Muslims fighting against the Soviet Union during the Afghan War  Headquarters established in Khartoum, Sudan, in 1991 and then shifted to Afghanistan. Has ties with other terrorist organizations world-wide that operate under its umbrella Dedicated to violently opposing non-Islamic governments, particularly the United States.  Responsible for attack on US forces in Somalia, bombing of US embassy in Kenya and Tanzania (1998), suicide bomb attack against the U.S. warship Cole in Aden, Yemen (2000) and the September 11 attacks against the United States.  U.S. government responds by attacking Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. Continues to orchestrate global terrorism through localized, relatively autonomous cells. On May 2, 2011, bin Laden is killed by U.S. military forces in Pakistan. Ayman al-Zawahiri replaces bin Laden as the organization’s leader. 5. First Gulf War. On August 2, 1990, Iraq invades Kuwait and seizes Kuwaiti oil fields. U.N. imposes trade embargo on Iraq. Hussein proclaims annexation of Kuwait. Saudi Arabia requests U.S. troops to defend against possible Iraqi attack. U.N. declares Iraqi annexation of Kuwait void and sets deadline for Iraqi withdrawal on January 15, 1991 Hussein rejects all U.N. resolutions and Iraq declares Kuwait its 19th province Operation Desert Storm begins on January 12, 1991 with US and coalition forces Iraq blows up Kuwaiti oil wells and pumps millions of gallons of crude oil into Gulf. Hussein announces Iraqs withdrawal from Kuwait on February 12. Coalition forces enter Kuwait City as President Bush declares Kuwait liberated. Part Two: Essays After reading the chapters, write three essay/discussion questions: 1. Evaluate Ronald Reagan’s Presidency. 2. Discuss the end of the Cold War. 3. How did globalization change the old world order? From the above list, respond to one of the above questions: 2. . Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev played major roles in bringing about the end of the Cold War. Ronald Reagan first adopted a hard-line policy towards the USSR, including an unprecedented military buildup, the introduction of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), and tough rhetoric (referring to the USSR as the ‘Evil Empire’). Reagan actively supported anti-communist struggles in Afghanistan and Central America. In his second term, Reagan softened his stand and negotiated with Gorbachev, agreeing to scale back the arms race. His 1987 speech in West Germany, “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall” was a clarion call for the end of the Cold War. A series of summits and treaties, in collaboration with Gorbachev, including the INF, drastically reduced Cold War tensions. Mikhail Gorbachev, who came to power in 1985, attempted to reform the USSR’s failing economy, and repressive political system, through his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Ronald Reagan yielded his hard-line stance largely because of Gorbachev’s overtures He openly promoted a new international order free of Cold War competition. In 1989, Gorbachev signed the START I Treaty, ending the Cold War. His permissive attitude led to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. George H. W. Bush only concluded the process initiated by Reagan and Gorbachev. East-West tensions continued to subside and Bush signed the START I arms control treaty in Moscow in 1989. Following this, Bush, along with Gorbachev, formally announced the end of the Cold War at the Malta Summit. The Berlin Wall, symbol of the Cold War, came down in November 1989, and communist governments in the erstwhile Soviet Union were progressively replaced by democratically elected governments. Part Three: Document After looking over the documents, which three do you view as most significant? Why? 1. 30-5. The Supreme Court judgment in Edwards vs. Aguillard (1987) is significant as a testament to the need for a strong judiciary to keep the legislature in check. It demonstrates the attempt made by the Christian Right to impose its belief on impressionable school children and destroy the secular fabric of society, by equating the theory of evolution with the theory of intelligent design as valid theories. It exposes the guise of academic freedom assumed in order to impose religious beliefs. Creationism is unequivocally defined as a religious doctrine and not a scientific theory. The judgment unequivocally asserts the constitutionality of secularism, prohibits the advancement of religious doctrines by the establishment and emphasizes the separation of the church and the state. 2. 31 - 5. Proposition 187 (1994) makes for particularly significant reading in these times, when the immigrant debate is one of the most contentious issues in the public domain. The document demonstrates that the issue of illegal immigration has been festering for decades. The resentment voiced against the use of public services by illegal immigrants is obviously based on the perception that tax payers money is being used to subsidize social benefits for illegal immigrants who do not contribute to taxes. This document makes it clear that immigration will continue to be a major issue in domestic policies and in diplomatic and economic relations with Mexico. It emphasizes the urgent necessity for the government to formulate and enforce a policy which addresses the concerns of both sides. 3. 31-8. Osama bin Laden’s tape is significant as it serves to provide an insight into the workings of the minds of hard core Islamic militants. It is obvious that American support for Israel is a goad to Islamic fundamentalists. Again, in their eyes, America is seen to be totally focused on capitalism and economic advancement, control of oil resources and dominated by the military-industrial complex. This document should not be ignored as the ranting of a fanatic. On the other hand, it demonstrates the need for introspection. It is a valuable pointer towards the need to re-evaluate America’s Middle –East policy and heightens the necessity for the Israel-Palestine conflict to be resolves at the earliest. Although there can be no justification for the targeting of innocent lives, bin Laden’s speech is a glimpse into the world of terror. Read More