Cold+War+1980s

Cold War 1980s

**Who: **A Russian politician, the last General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. ( [] ) **When:** Born March 2, 1931 ( [] )
 * //Gorbachev//**
 * What:** Mikhail Gorbachev is married to Raisa Gorbacheva (1953), has one daughter, and two granddaugthers. He was the president of the USSR from 1990-1991 ([] )
 * Where:** Union of Soviet Socialists Republic ( [] )
 * Why:** Gorbachev was a soviet political leader who was born in the agricultural region of Stavropol. He also studied law at the University of Moscow. Gorbachev improved relations with the US president Ronald Reagan. With Reagan, he signed an Intermediate Nuclear Forces arms limitation treaty in 1987. This treaty limited the amount of nuclear weapons a country could withhold. ( [] )

**Who:** He was born February 6, 1911 and died June 5, 2004 ( [] )
 * //Ronald Reagan//**
 * What:** He was the 40th president of the United States and the 33rd governor of California. He was part of the Republican party and served in office from 1981-1989 ( [] )
 * When:** February 6, 1911 to June 5, 2004 ( [] )
 * Where:** The United States
 * Why: **He created the program known as the Reagan Revolution, which aimed to reinvigorate the American people and reduce their reliance upon Government. ([] ) Ronald Reagan signed an Intermediate Nuclear Forces arms limitation treaty in 1987 with Gorbachev. This treaty limited the amount of nuclear weapons a country could withhold. ([] ) In 1986 Ronald Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his presidency, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression. ([] )

**Who:** This was announced by president Jimmy Carter on January 24, 1980 and extended the containment policy to the Persian Gulf area. ( [] )
 * //Carter Doctrine//**
 * What:** This was a doctrine that ensured the protection of Middle East oil and declared that the United States would consider any attempt by an outside force, particularly the Soviet Union, to gain control of the gulf region an attack on United States’ important interests that would be repelled by military force if necessary. ( [] )
 * When:** January 24, 1980 ( [] )
 * Where:** The United States
 * Why:** This is important because it showed the U.S. would use military force if necessary to keep the Soviets out of the Persian Gulf. In addition, the doctrine was a response to the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. The United States did this in order to protect Middle East oil and give an example towards the Soviets that they would not be able to do what they did in Afghanistan again. ( [] )

**Who:** The Reagan Doctrine, created by the president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, was a policy of supporting anti-Communists insurgents wherever they might be. ( [] )
 * //Reagan Doctrine//**
 * What:** This doctrine, created by the Reagan administration, was a strategy that was created and used by the United States to oppose the global influence of the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War. ( [] )
 * When:** The mid 1980’s to end of the Cold War (1991) ( [] )
 * Where:** Used by the United States ( [] )
 * Why:** This doctrine was created to serve the purposes of diminishing Soviet influence on the rest of the world. This also potentially opened up the door for capitalism in nations that were being governed by Soviet supported governments. This doctrine also supported freedom and to defy Soviet supported aggression. ( [] )

**Who:** Central America, bordering both the Carribean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras ( [] )
 * //Nicaragua//**
 * What:** A state that was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Britain than occupied this territory in the 19th century. ( [] )
 * When:** 1838 the country became an independent republic. ( [] )
 * Where:** Central America, bordering both the Carribean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras ( [] )
 * Why:** This state is a representative democratic republic. It is the largest state in Central America. This state is mountainous in the west with fertile valleys. There are two big lakes called the Nicaragua and Managua lakes. The pacific side of the coast is volcanic and very has many vegetation. ( [] )

**Who:** Anastasio Somoza was born in 1896 by a wealthy coffee planter in San Marcos, Nicaragua. ( [] )
 * //Samoza//**
 * What:** He was educated in the United States, he was returned to Nicaragua where he became one of the leading supporters of the American-backed regime. ( [] )
 * When:** 1896 ( [] )
 * Where:** The United States and Nicaragua ( [] )
 * Why:** He was a tyrannical and corrupt leader, which made him extremely unpopular, and many people tried to oust him. In addition, he kept personal bodyguards with him wherever he went. His son Luis Somoza Debayle as a military dictator of Nicaragua replaced his leadership. ( [] )

**Who:** Sandinistas were members of a left wing political party called the Sandinist National Liberation Front. ( [] )
 * //Sandinistas//**
 * What:** They were a Nicaraguan political party that established a junta that nationalized such industries as banking and mining. ( [] )
 * When:** 1962 ( [] )
 * Where:** Nicaragua ( [] )
 * Why:** This group was formed in 1962 to oppose the regime of Anastasio Somoza Debayle. The Sandinistas, in 1979, launched an offensive from Costa Rica and Honduras that toppled Somoza. This group did not like Somoza because of his extremely tyrannical and corrupt leadership. Sandinistas had an influential impact on the government’s military and police. This group is generally referred to as the FSLN and its members are called Sandinistas. After regaining power in 1979, the Sandinistas ruled Nicaragua for about 11 years from 1979 to 1990. ( [] )

**Who**: United States President Ronald Reagan and the American National Security Council vs. Iranian Contras. ( [] ).
 * //Iran Contra Affair//**
 * What**: President Reagan supplied weapons to Iran in order to release American hostages that were being held in Lebanon by terrorists who supported Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. This event is linked to the Iran Hostage Crisis. The United States armed the Contras, who were enemies of the Sardinistas of Nicaragua. In exchange for the return of the American hostages, the American government gave anti-tank missiles to the Iran Contras. Following this American crisis, the Contras, even after receiving the anti-tank missiles, took more American hostages. ( [] ).
 * Where**: The United States, Israel, Nicaragua, Iran ( [] ).
 * When**: 1985 – 1992 ( [] ).
 * Why**: After the Contras took more American hostages, the United States neglected to ever make a deal with Iran again. President Reagan had kept this a secret deal until it was exposed by Iranian propaganda. The President’s actions in foreign affairs and his ability to overlook the National Security Council was questioned by American society, especially after the court hearings were televised on national television. Government officials such as the military aide, CIA chief, National Security advisor, and defense secretary were investigated publicly.  At the conclusion of the investigation, it was discovered the President Reagan had known nothing about the deal because the National Security advisor, Poindexter, had made the deal of weapons in exchange for American hostages to the Iranian Contras. Although Poindexter and the defense secretary, Weinberger, after President George H.W. Bush was elected, he pardoned both former of the former government officials. ( [] ).

**//Panama and Noriega//**   **Who**: Unites States military and George Bush Sr. vs. Panama Defense Course and General Manuel Noriega ( http://revcom.us/a/017/us-invasion-panama.htm). **//SDI - "Star Wars"//**
 * What**: The United States military of 27,000 men entered Panama’s Defense Force of 2,000 men by force. ( http://revcom.us/a/017/us-invasion-panama.htm). This plan, Operation Just Cause, was ordered by President George Bush Sr. in order to capture and charge Panama’s dictator, Noriega, with drug trafficking and his abuse of his citizens (http://revcom.us/a/017/us-invasion-panama.htm). The United States were pulled into the war after Noriega murdered an American unarmed soldier of the marine corps. (http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/papa/panamaus1989.htm). Noriega eventually surrendered to the United States and was convicted for his crimes against humanity including assault, mistreatment, and murder (http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/papa/panamaus1989.htm).
 * Where**: Panama, Central America ( http://revcom.us/a/017/us-invasion-panama.htm).
 * When**: December 20, 1989 ( http://revcom.us/a/017/us-invasion-panama.htm) until January 3, 1990
 * Why**: The United States became involved with the affairs of a foreign nation, not allowing Panama its state sovereignty, violating the charter of the United Nations (http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/44/a44r240.htm). Their act of retaliation was commanded in order to charge Noriega on drug charges, ensure the protection of American citizens, and reinforcing human rights in Panama (http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/papa/panamaus1989.htm).

**Who**: Proposed by President Ronald Reagan and headed by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. ( [] ).
 * Where**: Protection in the United States of America ( [] ).
 * What**: The Strategic Defense Initiative or also known as Star Wars. Established the “Anti-Ballistic Missile System.” Unlike the previous American strategies, this was more of a defense plan insuring protection rather than complete destruction of the offender. Historians believe Reagan made this speech because of the recent Cold War threat made by the Soviet Union ( [] ).
 * When**: March 23, 1983 ( [] ).
 * Why**: Helped President Regean strive towards ending the Cold War and upholding the missile attack threat of Soviet Union. It also started the beginning of the Anti-Ballistic Missile, containing explosive nuclear and chemical material, that counteracted the Soviet Union ballistic missiles ( [] ).

**Who**: Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviet Union Government Gorbachev was given power to help reform the declining economy of the Soviet Union. Perestroika was the name of his plan for reconstructing and reforming the economy, however this plan changed quite often because he was unsure what exactly would be the new reform (http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/Perestroika.html). **Where**: Soviet Union (http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/Perestroika.html).
 * //Perestroika//**
 * What**: “All-around intensification of the Soviet economy, the revival and development of the principles of democratic centralism in running the national economy, the universal introduction of economic methods, the renunciation of management by injunction and by administrative methods, and the overall encouragement of innovation and socialist enterprise” (http://www.historyguide.org/ europe/perestroika.html).
 * When**: 1986 – 1991 (http://mars.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/gorrev.html).
 * Why**: The Soviet Union economy had been going downhill and Gorbachev tried to take the initiative to fix it, which was somewhat unsuccessful. Although it can take nearly centuries to adapt a successful system for the economy, perestroika was believed to go into effect with many more consequences but much quicker. ([]). However his ineffective theories eventually led to the downfall of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the Berlin Wall. ([]).

**Who**: Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Communist Party
 * //Glasnot//**
 * What**: Meaning “openness,” this was part of his plan of perestroika to reconstruct the Soviet Union society and “[redefine] how the USSR’s media were employed as an instrument of leadership” (http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/1999/gibbs.htm). This theory allowed citizens to criticize the Soviet Union government openly ([]).
 * Where**: Soviet Union (http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/1999/gibbs.htm).
 * When**: 1980’s (http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/1999/gibbs.htm).
 * Why**: “He expanded media freedoms in order to employ the press against his enemies.” This theory gave the mass media more power and strength in society, strongly influencing the Soviet Union economy, politics, and government. ([]).

**Who**: The Democratic Allies in Western Berlin against the Soviet Union Communists in Eastern Berlin. ( [] ).
 * //Fall of the Berlin Wall//**
 * What**: Previously in 1941, the Soviet Union demanded to be given control of Berlin and that the Allies must evacuate. The Allies occupied Western Germany and the Soviet Union occupied Eastern Germany, including most Berlin. The Soviets were unable to take control of all of Berlin and Germany so they put up a huge, dividing wall, separating the two sides. “The Berlin Wall became of symbol of infamy and hatred.” ( [] ). German citizens on either side were not allowed to cross over and even in attempted escape, only about 5,000 were able to escape from the East to the West. However about 200 people were also shot in an attempt to cross over the wall. After the communism in Western Berlin weakened, an East German government official declared that citizens were allowed to cross over the wall.
 * Where**: The border separating Western Germany from Eastern Germany. ( [] ).
 * When**: November 9, 1989 ( [] ).
 * Why**: The wall itself alone symbolized the division in European nations between democracy being spread by the Allies, and communism, still used by the Soviet Union. ( [] ). It symbolized the end of the Cold War in Europe ( [] ). Not only had this occurred, but the spread of democracy had escalated throughout Europe and became apparent when the Berlin Wall was brought down. ( [] ). At the time significant communist governments in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Poland fell from power, giving Germans the opportunity to flee from Germany. After East German government announced that citizens could cross through the wall, citizens took out their anger on the wall and began violently hammering the wall and destroying it every way possible. It was an emotional celebration for all of Germany as they were allowed their democratic freedom finally and even some relatives that had been separated by the wall were reunited. ( [] ).