Chapter 20 - Developments in Africa and the Americas Flashcards
How did Angola gain independence?
- Portuguese maintained colony of Angola BUT fighting against Angolan nationalists since early ’60s
- April 1974 = Right-wing gov in Lisbon overthrown
How did Portugal try to streamline independence in Angola?
- Tried to establish interim gov with representatives of different nationalist factions
- Representatives from MPLA, UNITA and FNLA
How did foreign intervention begin in Angola?
- June 1974 = China sent 120 military advisors to aid FNLA
- Jan 1975 = USA sent $300,000 in covert funding to FNLA
- MPLA receiving arms and aid from USSR
- Cuba sent military instructor to support MPLA
What was the impact of the outbreak of Civil War in Angola?
- Kissinger persuaded Ford to send $25 million in supplies and $16 million in arms to FNLA
- Oct 1975 = FNLA (supported by South Africa forces) advanced towards Luanda
How were Cuba involved in the Angolan Civil War?
- November 1975 = Cuban forces victorious in protecting Luanda from South Africans
- By Jan 1976, 12,000 Cuban troops supporting MPLA
- Cuban troops vital in helping MPLA reach victory in March 1976 (MPLA then created People’s Republic of Angola (PRA))
- Cuba started removing troops 1977 BUT promised military aid if PRA faced threats
- Cuba forces used to support PRA suppression of an attempted coup
- Angolan-Cuban relations weakened Soviet-Cuban relations
- Cuba sent experts in infrastructure development, healthcare and education to Angola
- Cuba gave scholarships for Angolan students to study in Cuba
What were the pros and cons of the option for USA to do nothing in Angola in 1975?
- Realised FNLA wouldn’t win
- OPTION to do nothing and let things happen
PROS
= avoid costly involvement
= US couldn’t be entirely in control anyway
= Protect USA from international criticism
= Avoid further irritating MPLA
CONS
= likely Neto would become dominant so Angola would move towards political left
- Zaire might think USA not interested in region so move towards Anti-American stance
Why could the USA not continue covert aid for the FNLA?
- South Africa also aiding FNLA campaign and USA couldn’t be seen to be connected to South Africa
- Africa challenging last remainder of white minority rule across the continent
- In South Africa, was growing international condemnation of apartheid (racist social and political system under white minority rule)
Why was Soviet intervention in Angola especially significant?
- The first time the USSR got involved in a country outside of the Soviet orbit
- First time USA failed to respond to USSR military moved outside Soviet orbit
(could show USA wouldn’t counter similar communist interventions in future), ,
Why was the USSR so eager to get involved in Angola?
- Sino-Soviet split (1961) = China couldn’t gain in Angola at expense of USSR
- USSR had to appear more willing than Chinese to support national liberation movements
- Neto though USSR’s compliance with detente had solidified US-USSR relations = USSR less credible in Angola
How did China influence the USSR’s actions in Angola?
- Sino-Soviet split (1961) = China couldn’t gain in Angola at expense of USSR
- Tension between USSR and China to both be major communist power
- China AND US supported FNLA = USSR saw this as outcome of improving Sino-American relations since 1971
- USSR sought to undermine influence of both China and USA
How did leadership initially change in Ethiopia?
- After WW2, Britain awarded territory of Ogaden (usually belonging to Somali) to Ethiopia
- July 1977 = Somali invaded Ogaden to retake it
- 1974 = Ethiopian Emperor Selassie was overthrown by Colonel Mariam = established Marxist-Leninist dictatorship
How did Ethiopia gain support?
- Appealed to both USSR and Cuba
- Soviets withdrew support for Somalian regime
- Nov 1977 = Castro sent troops to Ethiopia to aid them
- Brezhnev congratulated Castro - view aligned
- By Feb 1978, 15,000 Cuban troops on Ethiopia
How did the conflict in Ethiopia end?
- March 1978 = Somali troop retreated
- Truce announced
What was the significance of the conflict in Ethiopia?
- USA accused Moscow of using Cuba to extent its own power in Africa
- Any developing relations between USA and Cuba profoundly damaged
- Disappointing as Carter’s US gov had wanted detente with both USSR AND Cuba
How did the USA try to interfere with the election of Allende in Chile?
- US businesses interested in Chilean copper and silver mines
- Allende socialist and looked to USA like another Castro
- CIA attempted covert action to lead to coup to stop Allende taking power
- Coup failed = Allende democratically elected Chilean President
What changes did Allende bring to Chile?
- Seized millions of hectares of land = redistributed as farm co-operatives
- Nationalisation of banking and copper industry
How did the USA cause problems for Allende in Chile?
- 40 Committee used extensive funds to undermine Allende
- USA influenced World Bank not to lend Chile money, and withdrew its own economic aid
- Inflation spiralled, industry declined, farming stagnated and unemployment rose
- Numerous strikes (some instigated by CIA intervention)
How did Pinochet intervene in Chile?
- Used social distress to plot military coup against Allende (Sep 1973) = A killed and regime overthrown
- Allende supporters were rounded up and killed and socialist reforms reversed
- Pinochet brutal = Chile still under dictatorship for next 25 years
How did the USA intervene in Grenada?
- Oct 1983 = Reagan assembled 7000-strong invasion force
- Worried Grenada would become communist base in Caribbean after military coup by Coard Faction (assisted by USSR and Cuba)
- Handful of Cuban military advisers in Grenada BUT NO OTHER EVIDENCE of trying to establish Pro-Soviet or Pro-Cuban regime
- US claimed invasion was to protect US medical students studying in Grenada
What was the international response to the US invasion of Grenada?
- USSR saw example of US imperialism
- USSR ordered Soviet negotiators out of Geneva arms control talks
- Thatcher angry Britain wasn’t consulted about US action on former-British colony
- USA forced to use veto power when censured by UN Security Council
What was the USA’s view of Nicaragua?
- June 1979 = Sandinista National Liberation Font seize power from General Somoza
- Carter recognised Sandinista gov and provided assistance (hoped to influence democracy and prevent it turning to Moscow for help)
- BUT Reagan regarded Sandinistas as communists
How did Reagan get involved in Nicaragua?
- March 1981 = The Contras (anti-Communist) founded by old business classes and Somoza National Guard
- US provided funds, equipment and training to the Contras
- Neighbouring Honduras (pro-American state) provided safe haven for Contras (pressured by US)
How did Nicaragua become more communist?
- March 1982 = in response to major Contra attack:
- Imposed press censorship restrictions on civil liberties
- Introduced universal military conscription
- Reagan wanted this image in Nicaragua to emphasise US need to contain communism
What illegal or questionable activities did Reagan’s administration carry out in Nicaragua?
- Evade restriction on aid to Contras (as stated by Congress) by CIA trying to persuade US allied (e.g.: Israel, Taiwan) to provide funding
- High-level US officials helped to sell arms to Iran despite US embargo on weapon sales to Iran
= profits used to fund black market arms for Contras - CIA mined Nicaraguan harbours and US refused to pay reparations when ordered by International Court of Justice
