Exam Notes

Gulf War & Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991)

  • Iraq invaded Kuwait; America defended Kuwait to maintain oil supply.

  • Iraq retreated in 1991.

OPEC & The Oil Embargo

  • OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, controlling oil exportation.

  • Oil Embargo (1973-1979): OPEC cut off oil to America due to its support for Israel.

The Presidents

  • George H.W. Bush (Republican, 1989-1993):

    • USSR collapsed.

    • Operation Desert Storm after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

    • Passed Clean Air Act.

  • Bill Clinton (Democrat, 1993-2001):

    • Economic boom in the 1990s.

    • Attempted peace talks between Israel (Rabin) and PLO (Arafat).

    • Impeached for perjury in 1998.

  • George W. Bush (Republican, 2001-2009):

    • War on Terror/September 11 attacks.

    • Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.

    • Tax cuts and No Child Left Behind Act.

  • Barack Obama (Democrat, 2008-2016):

    • First African American president.

    • Affordable Care Act.

    • Nobel Peace Prize.

US Relations in the Middle East

  • Israel is America's strongest ally.

  • No relationships with Iran.

  • Weapon trade agreements: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia.

  • Oil trade agreements: Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Saddam Hussein & WMDs

  • Saddam Hussein: Leader of Iraq in 1979.

  • WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) were a key reason for the war with Iraq.

Osama bin Laden & al Qaeda

  • Osama bin Laden formed al Qaeda.

  • September 11th: Terrorist attack led by Osama Bin Laden crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

  • Death of bin Laden: Killed on May 2, 2011, marking the end of the Afghanistan War.

Refugees

  • Refugee: Forced out of their country.

  • Migrant: Chooses to leave their country.

  • Forced Displacement: Leaving homes due to conflict, violence, persecution, etc.

  • Main refugee-producing countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.

  • Asylum: A refugee enters another country.

EPA (purpose/function) & Environmentalism

  • 1970: EPA created.

  • 1980: Recycling becomes nationwide mandate.

  • 1985: Hole in the Ozone discovered.

  • 1997: First hybrid car (Prius).

  • 2006: Al Gore’s documentary on global warming.

  • 2015: Great Pacific Garbage Patch mapped.

  • 2016: Paris Agreement signed.

Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels

  • Fossil fuels: Non-renewable energy from dead plants/animals.

  • Renewable energy: Naturally replenishing.

America’s Modern Relations with…

  • India: No wars, no alliance.

  • China: Wars in Vietnam, Korean, and Taiwan; no alliances.

  • Russia: Not allies; fought in Ukraine and Cold War.

  • Israel: No wars; strategic partners.

  • Iran: Not allies; no wars.

Other Study Guide Topics

  • OPEC: Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

    • Five Founding countries: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

    • The Oil Embargo (1973-1979): OPEC cut off oil to the U.S.

  • America’s Relationship with the Middle East & Oil

    • Petroleum Exporting countries: Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela.

  • Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm: Launched in 1991 to force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.

  • Clinton’s Presidency:

    • Attempted Peace Talk Between: The leader of Israel (Rabin) and the PLO leader (Arafat).

  • Terrorism & Extremism:

    • Terrorism: Unlawful use of violence and intimidation for political/religious goals.

    • Extremism: Holding extreme political or personal views.

  • Terrorist Methods: Revolution, war/military, domestic, international, and ideological.

  • 1972 Olympics (Munich massacre): Palestine group attacked the Olympic village killing 11.

  • September 11th: Osama bin Laden led a terrorist attack crashing planes into the world trade center on September 11 2001.

    • Bush’s Response: War on Terror, Patriot Act.

    • The War on Terror: Started by the U.S. to combat al qaeda and all other extremist groups.