A+world+in+Transition

=**The End of the Cold War?** = After the end of World War II Soviets dominated governments had controlled the nations Eastern Europe. People who attempted to revolt were harshly put down. One after another, communist governments collapsed. Dissenters, once treated as enemies of the state began to come into power. In 1981 the Polish government had outlawed solidarity, an independent labor union.

**A wall comes down**
No single event symbolized these changes more vividly than the opening of the Berlin wall. The cinder blocks and barbed wire had symbolized hostility in the cold war. After being divided for 45 years by the cold war became one nation again. Germans were dancing on top of the wall pounding at it with sledgehammers.



**Moving toward democracy**
Czechoslovakia chose their new president Vaclav Havel. In Rumania Nicolae Ceausescu resisted the tide of the change and had protesters shot. However when pro democracy demonstration continued, Ceausescu fled. He and his wife were captured, tried, and exucuted in December. Cities starting to want independence and they did get it.

=**New directions in Latin America** = George Bush took a less militant approach toward affairs in Nicaragua. The Bush adminisration worked out a bipartisan agreement with congress. The United States would provide the Contras with food, clothing, and medical supplies. Their was a reelection in Nicaragua which Bush thought was a democracy win.

**Invasion In Panama**
Panama was was a banking center and shipping point for major drug dealers. When a federal court indicated him on drug smuggling charges, Noriega became defiant. He declared a state of emergency and openly corrupted Panama's elections. Drugs continued to flow through the country. American military forces went to Panama. At first they put up a stiff resistance but they Noriega surrendered.

=**Unrest in China** = Students started a campaign for democratic reforms. America watched the demosrationd hoping that one of the world's most rigid communist regimes would begin its own reforms. In June the regime struck back. Army tanks rumbled into Tiananmen Square. Thousands were killed or arrested. Bush disapproved of the repression.

=A Policy Toward South Africa = Bush wanted the whole world to move towards democracy. Their was a policy of all races of seperation. If economics actions were taken against south africa would hurt the black majority by destroying jobs. Congress wanted different things they wanted limits on trade and investment, to pressure the south African government to end apartheid.

=**War Clouds in the Middle East.** = The Middle East remained a threat to world peace. After the Iraq-Iran war ended, the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein rebuilt his military. His troops invaded their neighbors Kuwait one of the richest oil-producing nations in the Middle East. In the 1980's the industrial nations became more dependent than ever before on oil from the Persian Gulf. Saddam Hussein had already conquered Kuwait, if he conquered Saudi Arabia also he would control more then 80 percent of the oil in the region. With all of this power he could cripple the economies of the western world. If Saddam wasn't stopped he might be able to expand his already strong military. Bush immediately dispatched American forces to Saudi Arabia. He urged the Arab nations to join other nations around the world to force Saddam to leave Kuwait. Saddam held American hostages and other foreigners captive. If the United states or any other country bombed Iraq they all would be killed.

=<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">**Fugitives in a Desert Drama.** = <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 255, 0);">Iraqi tanks rumbled through the streets of Kuwait city.They shot guns off and invaded, Kuwaiti stores, businesses, and even hospitals, removing valuable goods and shipping them back to Iraq. Saddam allowed some foreigners to leave but only women and children. Instead of being taken into custody they went into hiding, although there was a possibility they could be found. Some Kuwaiti's helped people so they wouldn't be taken into custody, they risked their life to save them. As people hid the Iraqi troops searched every where to find them. Kuwaitis couldn't hide in apartments they would of been found.

=<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; color: rgb(7, 187, 7);">**War in the Persian Gulf.** = <span style="color: rgb(128, 10, 128);">Hundreds of Americans and foreigners waited to see if they would be aloud to leave Kuwait and Iraq, the threat of war increased. January 15, 1991 was the deadline for Iraq's removal from Kuwait. Bush sent 200,000 additional troops to the Middle East. The troops would be allowed to attack if the President and congress considered it necessary. Saddam Hussein rejected a chance to negotiate, but released most of the foreign hostages, including the Americans. After the deadline wasn't met the United Nations members including Saudi Arabia and Britain launched an Air attack on Iraq.