8.7 America as a World Power

decolonization, Third World, covert action, CIA, Iran, Suez crisis, Eisenhower Doctrine, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Yom Kippur (October) War and oil embargo, Camp David Accords, Peace Corps, Alliance of Progress

decolonization

collapse of colonial empires, a development prevalent after WWII

Third World

developing nations (ex. India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ghana) that had not been industrialized unlike Communist and Western countries

• lacked stable political and economic institutions

• relied on foreign aid, subsequently becoming pawns in the Cold War

the U.S. and the Middle East

• U.S. attempted to maintain friendly ties with oil-rich Arab states while supporting Israel

• covert action - Eisenhower Administration’s handling of foreign policy by undercover action in internal politics of other nations rather than using troops

  • in 1953, the CIA overthrows a government in Iran in exchange for favorable oil prices and purchases of American arms

• Suez crisis - Eisenhower condemns British and French attack on Egypt, causing invading forces to withdraw

• Eisenhower Doctrine - the U.S. pledged economic and military aid to any Middle Eastern Country threatened by communism

• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - organization of Middle East states and Venezuela hoping to expand political power by coordinating oil policies

• Yom Kippur (October) War and oil embargo - Arab members of OPEC placed an embargo on oil in retaliation against U.S. aid to Israel during Syrian and Egyptian attack, caused worldwide oil shortage and damage to U.S. economy

• Camp David Accords (1978) - President Carter acts as an intermediary to Egypt and Israeli peace settlement framework, later creating steps toward negotiated peace in the Middle East

• Iran and the hostage crisis

Suez crisis

• Arab nationalist General Gamal Abdel Nasser led Egypt to seize and nationalize British and French owned Suez canal to fund Aswan Dam project on the Nile

• loss of canal threatened Western Europe’s supply line to Middle Eastern oil, causing Britain, France, and Israel to launch a surprise attack on Egypt to retake the canal

• Eisenhower was upset about being unaware of the attack and sponsored a UN resolution condemning the Egypt invasion, causing invading forces to fithdraw

Iran and the hostage crisis

• Anti-American sentiment in Iran after CIA overthrew democratically elected leader in 1953 and installed a dictatorial government for oil to flow to the west

• dictator/shah overthrown and forced to flee (1979) led to Iranian oil exports being halted

• shah was allowed into the U.S. for medical treatment (1979), Iranian militants held American state members of U.S. embassy hostage, Carter’s rescue attempts unsuccessful

the U.S. and Latin America

• U.S. opposition to Communism → covert action supporting dictators

• Kennedy set up Peace Corps (1961) and created Alliance of Progress (1961)

• Johnson - interventionist policy trying to prevent Communism in Western Hemisphere reminiscent of Theodore Roosevelt’s big stick policy

• Carter - Senate ratified treaty gradually transferring Panama Canal back to Panama (1978)

Kennedy and Latin America

• Peace Corps (1961) - organization recruiting young American volunteers to give technical aid to developing countries

• Alliance of Progress (1961) - U.S. program promoted land reform and economic development in Latin America

the U.S. and Africa

• U.S. intervention in Congo civil war fearing due to fears of Communist victory led to African nationalists’ further resentment of white colonialism

• covert action supporting white minority governments (apartheid) during Nixon’s presidency

• Carter championed human rights diplomacy