Global Studies
Name _____________________________________
Iraq: A Brief History
1. Iraq, a triangle of ______________________________, ____________________________, and
___________________________ river valley, is about twice the size of ___________________.
2. Iraq’s population of ___________________________ is primarily ____________________, but
there is a significant ___________________________ minority in the __________________.
3. ____________ of Iraqis are Muslim, but there has a long history of conflict between the large
________________________ population and the smaller ______________________ population.
4. Iraq has the world’s _______________ largest reserves of ________________.
5. Iraq was part of the ___________________________ Empire for centuries and was occupied by
__________________________ during WWI who maintained control until _______________.
6. Iraq was declared a _______________________ in 1958, but was ruled by a series of military
_________________________. ______________________________________________ and
his _____________________-dominated Ba’ath Party took power in _________________.
7. The Iran-Iraq War of _________________________ was caused by long-standing disputes over
_________________________ and Iran’s support of Iraqi ____________________. As a result,
________________ invaded _________________.
8. The U.S. supported __________________ because of Iran’s ________________________
fundamentalist government. The war left over ____________________________ died and there
was _____________________________________________ when a U.N. cease-fire took effect.
9. The _________________________________________ of 1990-1991 started when Iraq invaded
and occupied _______________________. Iraq was saddled with a huge _________________
from Iran-Iraq War, Kuwait had oil, Iraq wanted a larger route to ________________________,
and Iraq claimed Kuwait was _______________________________ during the Ottoman Empire.
10. In response, the U.S. established a trade _______________________ and the U.S. led a UN
coalition that ___________________________________________________. Following the
brief conflict, the U.S. _____________________________.
11. Unresolved issues after Persian Gulf War included the fact that Saddam Hussein was
_____________________________________, U.S. forces stayed in
______________________________ and Persian Gulf to enforce “_______________________”
to protect _______________ in northern Iraq and ________________ in southern Iraq from
Saddam’s Sunni regime, and concerns remained about Iraq’s possession of
________________________________________________________________________.
12. The UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to destroy weapons of
_____________________________________and _____________________________________
and to allow UN ______________________________.
13. __________________________________________________ occurred because Iraq would not
allow full ___________________________, violating the treaty. As a result of non-compliance
and reports that Iraq had ___________ (weapons of Mass Destruction), the U.S. _____________
Iraq in _____________________________________.
14. Complications following the U.S. action in Iraq included:

the disruption of essential _______________________ like _________________________,
______________________, and ______________________

sectarian conflict started between ____________________ in south, ___________________
in central and west, and _______________________ in north

_______________________ became active in Iraq and targeted US, coalition forces, and
Shiites
15. Saddam Hussein was __________________________ and brought to trial, found guilty of
crimes ______________________________________________, and _____________________.
16. The process to establish a ________________________ in Iraq proved ____________________.
17. U.S. forces ____________ Iraq at the end of ____________. Since then, ____________ has
gained influence, there has been _______________________ conflict, and ____________ took
control of much of western Iraq. Some US troops have ________________________ to Iran to
help fight ___________.
Global Studies
Name _____________________________________
Iraq: A Brief History
1. Iraq, a triangle of mountains, desert, and fertile river valley, is about twice the size of Idaho.
2. Iraq’s population of 36 million is primarily Arab, but there is a significant Kurdish minority
in the north.
3. 97% of Iraqis are Muslim, but there has a long history of conflict between the large Shiite
population and the smaller Sunni population.
4. Iraq has the world’s fifth largest reserves of oil.
5. Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries and was occupied by Britain during WWI
who maintained control until 1932.
6. Iraq was declared a republic in 1958, but was ruled by a series of military dictators. Saddam
Hussein and his Sunni-dominated Ba’ath Party took power in 1979.
7. The Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 was caused by long-standing disputes over territory and
Iran’s support of Iraqi Shiites. As a result, Iraq invaded Iran.
8. The U.S. supported Iraq because of Iran’s Islamic fundamentalist government. The war left
over 1 million died and there was no clear winner when a U.N. cease-fire took effect.
9. The Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991 started when Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. Iraq
was saddled with a huge debt from Iran-Iraq War, Kuwait had oil, Iraq wanted a larger route
to Persian Gulf, and Iraq claimed Kuwait was part of Iraq during the Ottoman Empire.
10. In response, the U.S. established a trade embargo and the U.S. led a UN coalition that
removed Iraq from Kuwait. Following the brief conflict, the U.S. left Iraq.
11. Unresolved issues after Persian Gulf War included the fact that Saddam Hussein was still in
power, U.S. forces stayed in Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf to enforce “no-fly zones” to
protect Kurds in northern Iraq and Shiites in southern Iraq from Saddam’s Sunni regime, and
concerns remained about Iraq’s possession of chemical and biological weapons.
12. The UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction and
long-range missiles and to allow UN inspections.
13. Operation Iraqi Freedom occurred because Iraq would not allow full inspections, violating
the treaty. As a result of non-compliance and reports that Iraq had WMDs (weapons of Mass
Destruction), the U.S. invaded Iraq in March 2003.
14. Complications following the U.S. action in Iraq included:

the disruption of essential services like electricity, water, and police.

sectarian conflict started between Shiites in south, Sunnis in central and west, and Kurds in
north.

al Qaeda became active in and targeted the US, coalition forces, and Shiites
15. Saddam Hussein was captured and brought to trial, found guilty of crimes against his own
people, and hanged.
16. The process to establish a democracy in Iraq proved difficult.
17. U.S. forces left Iraq at the end of 2011. Since then, Iran has gained influence, there has been
Sunni-Shiite conflict, and ISIS took control of much of western Iraq. Some US troops have
returned to Iran to help fight ISIS.