Question

the weakness of the economy and gorbachevs reforms led to the collapse of the soviet union. all the republics that were in the soviet union became independent nations. then they formed a loose confederation called the commonwealth of independent states.
the collapse of the soviet union ended the cold war. in january 1993, russia and the united states signed the start ii treaty. this treaty cut both nations nuclear weapons by 75 percent.
communists were knocked from power throughout eastern europe. germany reunited. other eastern european nations enacted democratic reforms.
students in china demanded freedom of speech. in april 1989, protesters held marches to voice their demands. the marches grew into large demonstrations in beijings tiananmen square. the chinese military crushed the protesters. soldiers killed hundreds of them and arrested others. people all over the world watched these actions. they were upset by what they saw.

1. what events in the soviet union led to the end of the cold war?

central american and caribbean policy (pages 838-839)
how did the united states act toward its neighbors?
in 1979, sandinista rebels overthrew the nicaraguan government. president carter sent aid. so did the soviet union and cuba. in 1981, president reagan charged that the sandinista government was communist. he supported the contras, a group trying to defeat the sandinistas. after years of conflict, a peace agreement was signed and free elections were held in 1990.
reagan sent u.s. troops to grenada in 1983. he feared its government had ties with cuba. the u.s. troops overthrew the pro-cuban government. they set up a pro-american government in its place.
in 1989, president bush sent more than 20,000 u.s. troops to panama. he wanted to overthrow panamanian dictator manuel noriega. he also wanted to arrest him for drug trafficking. noriega was taken by the american military. they took him to miami. he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 40 years in prison.

1. how did the united states influence affairs in grenada?

middle east trouble spots (pages 839-841)
how did the united states act toward the middle east?
in 1983, terrorists linked to iran took some americans hostage in lebanon. reagan condemned iran. he called on u.s. allies not to sell iran weapons for its war against iraq.
three years later, the american people found out that reagan was breaking his own policy. some of his staff had sold missiles to iran. they were trying to free the hostages in lebanon. also, some of the profits from the sale were sent to the contras in nicaragua. these illegal activities were called the iran-contra affair.
in the summer of 1987, congress investigated iran-contra. some of reagans staff were convicted of crimes in the scandal. in 1992, president bush pardoned some of these people.
in 1990, iraq invaded kuwait. on january 16, 1991, with the support of congress and the united states nations, president bush launched operation desert storm to fight iraq and to free kuwait.
the united states and its allies staged air strikes against iraq. on february 23, they also launched a ground attack. on february 28, president bush announced a cease-fire. the persian gulf war was over. kuwait was freed.

1. what was the purpose of operation desert storm?

Explanation:

Soviet Union events ending Cold War

Using the Cold War End knowledge point

• The weakness of the Soviet economy and Gorbachev's reforms led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
• All Soviet republics declared independence and formed a loose confederation called the Commonwealth of Independent States.

U.S. influence in Grenada

Using the U.S. Foreign Policy and 1980s Foreign Policy knowledge points

• In 1983, President Reagan sent U.S. troops to Grenada due to fears of its government's ties with Cuba.
• The U.S. military overthrew the pro-Cuban government and established a pro-American government in its place.

Purpose of Operation Desert Storm

• In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, threatening regional stability and oil supplies.
• The purpose of Operation Desert Storm, launched in January 1991, was to fight Iraq and free Kuwait.

Answer:

Question 1

The weakness of the Soviet economy and Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, which split into independent nations and formed the Commonwealth of Independent States, officially ending the Cold War.

Question 2

In 1983, the United States sent military troops to Grenada to overthrow its pro-Cuban government and establish a pro-American government in its place.

Question 3

The purpose of Operation Desert Storm was to fight the invading Iraqi forces and liberate Kuwait.