CAMP DAVID
ACCORDS
President Carter believed he could
reassert morality in foreign policy.
In 1977, he invited leaders from Israel
and Egypt to Camp David where they
negotiated for nearly two weeks.
Under the "Camp David Accords," Egypt
recognized Israel and, in return, Israel
returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.
This stabilized the relations between
Israel and Egypt, a step toward the
ultimate goal of establishing peace in
the Middle East.
1. Which president was responsible for negotiating the
Camp David Accords?
2. What was the purpose of the Camp David Accords?
3. If you were to rename this historical event, what
would you call it?
IRAN
HOSTAGE
CRISIS
There was a successful revolution by
fundamentalists against the proAmerican Shah of Iran.
In 1979, Iranian students seized the
embassy and took over 50 Americans as
hostages for 444 days.
The crisis was all over the news,
weakening the image of President
Carter.
Patient diplomacy eventually resolved
the crisis.
1. Describe an "embassy" in your own words.
2. How did the Iran Hostage Crisis impact Carter's
presidency?
3. Why do you think the United States was hesitant to
escalate the situation with Iran?
THE REAGAN
DOCTRINE
Contrasting the Truman Doctrine,
President Reagan's foreign policy
sought to roll back communism.
He sent troops to Afghanistan and
Grenada in attempts to support those
in the countries who opposed
communist takeovers.
He also sent aid to the "Contras"
(anti-Communist rebels) in Nicaragua,
though Congress would ban his
administration from continuing to
provide aid to the Contras.
1. Summarize the Truman Doctrine.
2. Describe the Reagan Doctrine in your own words.
3. Which doctrine do you think is more effective in terms of
addressing communism?
IRAN-CONTRA
AFFAIR
Terrorist groups in Lebanon, with
connections to Iran, kidnapped several
Americans.
The U.S. secretly traded missiles and
other arms to free some hostages, but
also used funds from the arms deal to
support the Contras in Nicaragua.
News broke that Reagan's
administration negotiated with terrorists
and violated a Congressional ban.
Several people resigned but Reagan
claimed no knowledge of the bargain.
1. Summarize the Iran-Contra Affair in your own words.
2. Why was this event shocking and controversial?
3. How do you think this event impacted Reagan's
presidency?
GLASNOST
("OPENNESS")
In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev assumed
power as the new leader of the Soviet
government.
To address economic suffering and
widespread corruption, Gorbachev
introduced two policies.
1) "Glasnost" refers to transparency into
the Soviet government, allowing for
criticism.
2) "Perestroika" introduced limited free
enterprise into the economy.
Reagan and Gorbachev met to discuss
dismantling their nuclear arsenals.
1. How was Gorbachev's approach to foreign policy different
from previous leaders of the USSR?
2. Were the conversations to limit nuclear arsenals effective?
3. Do you think the continued easing of Cold War tensions
makes up for the Iran-Contra scandal?
APARTHEID IN
SOUTH AFRICA
In South Africa, laws segregated citizens
in a system known as "apartheid."
Reagan continued doing business with
the country but pressured them to
make reforms ("constructive
engagement").
Congress passed strict sanctions over
Reagan's veto.
Apartheid ended in the nineties and in
1994, the country elected Nelson
Mandela, who had spent 27 years in
prison for his opposition to apartheid,
in its first free presidential election.
1. Compare the approaches of the President and Congress
regarding Apartheid.
2. Why were there Americans who were passionate about
protesting South Africa's system of Apartheid?
3. How does Brown v. Board relate to this event?
THE PERSIAN
GULF WAR
After the USSR collapsed, many called
for a "new world order" based on
democracy.
President Bush (Sr.) organized an
international coalition against the
Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
He sent U.S. troops into Kuwait where
they defeated Iraqi forces in the
Persian Gulf War, though Saddam
Hussein remained in power in Iraq.
1. Why do you think the United States was concerned about
Iraq's occupation of Kuwait?
2. Was Bush's decisions to involve troops in the Persian Gulf
War an expansion of the Reagan Doctrine?
3. Why do you think the United States refrained from
pursuing the removal of Saddam Hussein from power?
"ETHNIC
CLEANSING" IN
EUROPE & AFRICA
A policy of genocide known as "ethnic
cleansing" rose in several parts of the
world.
President Clinton used air power
against Serbia and NATO intervened
when Serbian leaders attacked Bosnia
and encouraged Christian Serbs to
target local Muslims in Kosovo.
In Rwanda, the Hutus targeted the
Tutsis, resulting in 850,000 deaths with
little reaction from the United States.
1. How does this relate to the Nuremberg Trials?
2. Compare the United States approach toward defending
human rights in Bosnia and in Rwanda.
3. How is the purpose of NATO relevant to their intervention
in Bosnia?
DEMOCRACY
IN HAITI
President Clinton followed the
precedent set by Reagan and Bush by
supporting democracy abroad.
Haitian military leaders overthrew
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a
democratically elected leader in Haiti.
President Clinton sent American
troops to support efforts to restore
the elected leader to power.
1. Why did the United States intervene in Haiti?
2. How might this event relate to the Roosevelt Corollary to
the Monroe Doctrine? (A.K.A. Big Stick Policy)
3. Is supporting democracy abroad and combating
communism abroad the same thing?