11A: U.S. Involvement in World Affairs

Describe U.S. involvement in world affairs, including the end of the Cold War, the Persian Gulf War, the events surrounding September 11, 2001, and the Global War on Terror .

End of the Cold War

Borders began to open and free elections were held, ousting long standing Communist regimes.

The symbolic end of the Cold War came in 1989 with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

The U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union influenced the ending of the Cold War.

Persian Gulf War

Following United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iraq for the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the U.S. led a UN-authorized coalition force of 34 nations, to expel Iraqi forces from the country of Kuwait.

The war was decisively won by the coalition forces as Kuwait was liberated, but Saddam Hussein remained in power.

September 11, 2001

Attack on the U.S. by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001
Terrorists successfully attacked three of four targets on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Greatest loss of life since Pearl Harbor
Moved U.S. to declare the War on Terror and deploy troops into nations of the Middle East which harbor terrorists.

Global War on Terror

U.S. led war following 9/11 attacks

Goals of the offensive

- Defeat terrorist such as Osama Bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and destroy their organizations
- Identify, locate, and destroy terrorists
- Deny sponsorship, support, and sanctuary to terrorists
- Diminish the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit
- Defend U.S. Citizens at home and abroad

Page updated

Report abuse

11A: U.S. Involvement in World Affairs

Describe U.S. involvement in world affairs, including the end of the Cold War, the Persian Gulf War, the events surrounding September 11, 2001, and the Global War on Terror .

End of the Cold War

Borders began to open and free elections were held, ousting long standing Communist regimes.

The symbolic end of the Cold War came in 1989 with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

The U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union influenced the ending of the Cold War.

Persian Gulf War

September 11, 2001

Attack on the U.S. by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001

Terrorists successfully attacked three of four targets on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Greatest loss of life since Pearl Harbor

Moved U.S. to declare the War on Terror and deploy troops into nations of the Middle East which harbor terrorists.

Global War on Terror

U.S. led war following 9/11 attacks

Goals of the offensive

Defeat terrorist such as Osama Bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and destroy their organizations

Identify, locate, and destroy terrorists

Deny sponsorship, support, and sanctuary to terrorists

Diminish the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit

Defend U.S. Citizens at home and abroad