70s and 80s Flashcards
Explain the doctrine of Caspar Weinberger that must be met to send ground forces into combat
Clear objectives, clear support from Congress and the people, and a clear exit strategy
What were SALT 1 1972 AND SALT 2 1979?
Set limits on nuclear missile production
What led OPEC to do the 1973 oil embargo?
US support of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War
Now that oil is so expensive, US builds Alaskan pipeline
Jimmy Carter
Good guy! Outsider pick, perhaps reaction to Watergate. Born-again Christian, weird Georgian family
Human rights yay! Withdrew support from dictators like the Shah and Samoza
Brokered Egypt/Israel Peace at Camp David Accords 1978
Returned Panama Canal
Bungled the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Outline Iranian Revolution
1978-79. Shah military spending and human rights abuses are backed by US, Shah flees to Mexico
Ayatolla Khomeini returns to Iran from Exile Feb 1979
CIA and embassy support his opponents because he’s nuts
1979-81 Iranian Hostage Crisis
Carter lets Shah have cancer treatment in US 1979
Khomeini faction sees it as plot to restore Shah
Iranian students take over American Embassy in Iran with Khomeini backing. Take hostages
Carter fucks up rescue attempt, loses 1980 election
Outline Reagan’s platform
Believes in moral majority vs. a permissive society. Hates lefties who want legalized drugs, reproductive rights, social services, etc.
Gives tax breaks to the rich “tickle down economics”
Rekindled the Cold War. Soviet Union is the “Evil Empire”
Star Wars to break MAD 1983
Backs the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in secret with Stinger Missile through Pakistan
Spends Soviet Union into the Ground - they have to exert 20% GDP to keep up defense
Outline Iran Contra Scandal
Marxist Sandinista revolt against dictator Somoza in Nicaragua. US gives aid to El Salvador to stop domino effect.
Reagan - Iran-Contra Affair - funds Iran, who gives weapons to Contras in Nicaragua to fight communists
Outline Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan 1979-89
Soviet military aid since the 1950s
Divide between Islamists and communists.
President Taraki begins land reform, women’s rights, education, changes flag to red (communist)
Taraki is overthrown 1979 by muslim insurgents. Soviets killed in Herat, control 50% of country.
Soviets invade 25 December 1979
15k Soviet troops killed, 500k wounded
Soviets have a scorched earth policy - destroy infrastucture, 1 million Afghan casualties. 1/3 afghan in Pakistan refugee camps
US support Mujahideen (plural of jihad) in secret via Pakistani intelligence. Give stinger missiles that destroy Soviet helicopter gunships.
What did Mikhail Gorbachez do to make the Soviet Union collapse?
Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring)
Glasnost made the government more transparent and ended censorship of the media. Life in the west was getting more coverage. Political prisoners released
Perestroika released Eastern European satellite states from Soviet control. The Soviets needed to take out a lot of their military as the war in Afghanistan was costing them so much.
Rejected military intervention in Europe - Brezhnez Doctrine.
What happened at the Baltic Demonstrations?
Aug 23, 1989 (50 year anniversary of Molotov-Ribbentrop pact) 2 million hold hands across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
When did the Berlin Wall fall?
Nov 9, 1989
