Cold War- Reescaliation and End of the Cold War 1979-1989

Anti American Sentiment Builds in Iran

Popular movements around the Shah and his retaliation to the U.S. Iranian revoloutinaries: lined by anti Shah belifs, Mostly young college age students, want a more conservitive movement, they want choices not rules.

Iranian Revoloution

In 1979 people band together to overthrow the Shah. Ayatohollah Khomeini is the new leader. He inforces rules that are the exact opposite of the Shah (still bad). This seperates the U.S. and Iran, Iran stops giving the USA oil.

Background of Afganistan

1978 the Democratic Republic formed in Afgnastan. A communist socialist state. They were close with USSR.

Soviet-Afgan War

People in Afganistan (the Mujahideen) were unhappy with the communist government. They rise up against the gov’t and the USSR sends in troops. Then the USA backed the Mujahideen my sending them money. The USA sees this as an oppountuniry to make themselves powerful in Afganistan. The key figure in the Mujahideen was Osama Bin ladden who set up 9/11.

The Carter Doctorine

The U.S. will do anything in it’s power to maintain authority over the Persin gulf. A waring that USA will intervene and to get off their territory. Carter doesn’t want any anti-American power to be in charge of oil distribution. This is a more agressive side of Carter.

Iran-Iraq war 1970

Leader was Saddam Hussein who was a dictator in Iraq. He wanted to create a regional empire so he wanted to invade Iran. As Hussein plan his invasion he works with the U.S. as they both hate Khomeini. USA gives money and weapons to Hussein.

Ronald Regan

• 1980

• Good Speaker

• Hates communism

• has a 1950’s lense of the cold war

• rejects Detene

Regans early view of the cold war

He has problems with Detene because USSR and USA are treated as equals but USA is superior. Regan wants to esculate the arms race (rely on weapons)

Regans Stategic Defenise Order

Using lazor beams to destroy nuclear weapons. U.S. needs security from nuclear weapons if the USSR actually goes insane. Citizens start protesting, and Europe is freaking out.

Gorbachev comes to power

• New leader of the USSR

• understands the USSR is struggling (economically, techonogically)

• Intrested in more openess and peace

• starts introducing little capitalism elements to USSR

• Sees Regan as someone who wants to raise tempuature of the conflict

• knows the USSR won’t be able to survive another war

• want Detente

Gorbachev’s Option 1

• Getting Regan to end SDI and agree to weapons freeze

• Means the soviets wouldn’t have to worry

• Soviets wouldn’t have to lose more monet towards war

• no external or internal threats

Gorbachev’s option 2

• Soviets can invest in their own SDI

• They don’t have the money or technonlgy to do it

• people in the USSR will be upset

• Soviet union would collapse from the inside

• No money left for the people

Gorbachev’s option 3

• Fold and give up on the war

• need to admit to themselves and USA that they can’t compete

• U.S. would win the cold war

• Hope that the USSR will survive

• will free up money to give to people

• future of communism gone

Communism keeps it’s grip on China

The USA is crituqed for it’s relationship with China. China gives economic value to China. USA feels that what China does doesn’t hurt the U.S. and they keep peace