All Flashcards
When was the Tiananmen Square protest?
Spring of 1989; pro-democracy students demonstrated in Beijing, but the Chinese government crushed the protest.
When did the Soviet Union dissolve?
December 1991; the remaining republics dissolved the Soviet Union after a failed coup against Gorbachev.
When did Iraq invade Kuwait?
1990; Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to the Persian Gulf War.
When was Operation Desert Storm?
January 17, 1991; the US unleashed an aerial assault on Iraq, followed by a ground assault to liberate Kuwait.
When did the US launch air strikes at al Qaeda training camps?
After al Qaeda tried to blow up the World Trade Center in 1993, attacked two American embassies (Kenya and Tanzania), and attacked the USS Cole in 2000.
When was the INF Treaty signed?
1987; the US and the Soviet Union agreed to remove and destroy all intermediate-range missiles in Europe.
When did the Baltic republics declare independence?
1990; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union.
When did Clinton order an aerial assault in 1999?
When diplomatic efforts failed, Clinton and the heads of NATO governments ordered an aerial assault in 1999 after Milosevic stepped up the ethnic cleansing in response.
When did the US get involved in Yugoslavia?
Largely through air power after ethnic cleansing occurred during a civil war between various ethnic and religious factions.
When was the Rwandan genocide?
1996; Clinton controversially did not intervene during the 1996 Rwandan genocide.
Who was Ronald Reagan?
US President who intensified the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union and initiated the Strategic Defense Initiative.
Who was Mikhail Gorbachev?
Soviet leader who introduced Glasnost and Perestroika, seeking to improve relations with the US and reform the Soviet Union.
Who was Oliver North?
NSC staffer who was put in charge of soliciting donations from wealthy right wing Americans. In what North later described as a “neat idea”, he could use profits from the sale of weapons to Iran to finance the Contras.
Who was Boris Yeltsin?
President of the Russian Republic who disbanded the Communist party and attempted to establish a democracy and free market economy.
Who was Saddam Hussein?
The leader of Iraq who invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to the Persian Gulf War.
Who was General Schwarzkopf?
The general who led the combined forces troops directly into Kuwait City during the ground assault.
Who was General Colin Powell?
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs who advised President Bush to halt the advance and agree to an armistice with Iraq.
Who was Vladimir Putin?
Yeltsin's elected successor who took office in 2000.
Who was Slobodan Milosevic?
Serbian leader who ended Kosovo’s autonomy within Yugoslavia and imposed Serbian rule.
Who was Ayatollah Khomeini?
The leader of Iran during the Iran-Contra affair, when Americans were held hostage in Lebanon.
Causes and effects of Reagan's military buildup?
Cause: Reagan wanted to restore US military might and intensify Cold War competition. Effect: Increased military spending, development of new weapons systems like SDI ('Star Wars').
Causes and effects of the Iran-Contra Affair?
Cause: Desire to free American hostages in Lebanon and illegally fund the Contras. Effect: Illegal arms sales, constitutional crisis, damaged Reagan administration.
Causes and effects of Glasnost and Perestroika?
Cause: Declining Soviet economy and need for reform. Effect: Political openness, economic restructuring, ultimately contributing to the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Causes and effects of the Tiananmen Square protest?
Cause: Pro-democracy movement in China. Effect: Government crackdown, ending the brief period of political openness.
Causes and effects of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait?
Cause: Iraq's desire to control Kuwait's oil reserves. Effect: The Persian Gulf War, US intervention, and the liberation of Kuwait.
Causes and effects of the Kosovo conflict?
Cause: Milosevic ended Kosovo’s autonomy within Yugoslavia and imposed Serbian rule. Effect: NATO aerial assault in 1999, ethnic cleansing.
Causes and effects of the end of the Cold War?
Cause: Economic problems in the Soviet Union, Gorbachev's reforms, Reagan's pressure. Effect: Dissolution of the Soviet Union, end of the bipolar world order.
Causes and effects of the US intervention in the Persian Gulf War?
Cause: Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and threat to oil supplies. Effect: Liberation of Kuwait, high approval ratings for Bush, but Saddam Hussein remained in power.
Causes and effects of Al Qaeda attacks on US interests?
Cause: Al Qaeda's anti-American sentiment and desire to harm US interests. Effect: US air strikes on Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and Sudan.
Causes and effects of the US not intervening during the Rwandan genocide?
Cause: Clinton controversially did not intervene during the 1996 Rwandan genocide. Effect: ethnic cleansing.