Restructuring the Postwar World

Main Idea: The Cold War superpowers supported opposing sides in Latin American and Middle Eastern conflicts.

IV. Cold War Around the World

USA and USSR compete

• Latin America

• Asia

USA and USSR compete

• For influence among developing nations through

– Using covert activities

– Military force

– Economic aid

Latin America: Cuba

• Castro leads Communist revolution

• Bay of Pigs – failed

• Cuban Missile Crisis

– Brink of nuclear war

Latin America: Nicaragua

• 10-year civil war

• Somoza Family– dictatorship ousted by Sandinistas

Latin America: Nicaragua

• Daniel Ortega – USA & USSR backed him

Latin America: Nicaragua

• Communist Sandinistas vs. USA-backed Contras

– El Salvador

• Sandinistas aided socialist rebels

• USA began to support anti-Communist rebel forces

Latin America: Nicaragua

• 1990 – free elections

Middle East: Iran

• Islamic values vs. Western materialism

• After WWII, Pahlavi embraces westernization

– PM Mossaddeq seizes gov’t; shah flees; US restores shah

Middle East: Iran

• Oil wealth feeds a secular culture

Middle East: Iran

• Ayatollah Khomeini leads religious revolt against US-backed secular gov’t

– Promotes an Islamic state

– Pursues radical anti-US policies

– Seized US embassy – hostages 444 days

Middle East: Iran-Iraqi War

• 1980

• Khomeini vs. Saddam Hussein

• US sold weapons (secretly) to Iran

– Wanted release of hostages

• UN ceasefire - 1988

Middle East: Afghanistan

• Muslim revolt threatens to oust Communist regime

• USSR invades 1979

– USSR’s Vietnam

Middle East: Afghanistan

• US Response

– Arms rebels

– Embargo of grain shipments

– Boycotts 1980 Olympics

• 1989 forces withdraw

Review

• The United States and the Soviet Union compete for influence throughout the developing world by supporting rival factions.