End of Imperialism (1945 – Present)

Imperialism in Asia

The Middle East• Post-War Changes–After WWI• Ottoman Empire was split up

by the Allies– Territories were controlled by

the League of Nations (mainly Great Britain and France)– Natives had very little control

• The large amounts of oil attracted many Westerners to the region

Balfour Declaration: promise by the League of Nations to eventually create a homeland in Palestine for the Jewish people

The Middle East• After WWII–Most countries in the

Middle East gained independence–Rising nationalism• Zionism: the strong desire to create a

homeland in Palestine for Jewish people• Pan-Arabism: the belief that Arabs should work

together to achieve common goals–The UN began creating a homeland for

Jewish People in Palestine

Trouble in Palestine• History of Palestine

• Jews claim Palestine as their homeland• By the 1900s, most of the people living

in Palestine were Arabs • U.N. Charter

• Israel was to be created as a “state” for Jews• Another state was to be created for

Palestinians (non-Jewish, mostly Arab residents of Palestine)

• The Creation of Israel (1948)• Western nations (Europe and U.S.) supported

the creation of Israel, angering many Muslims• The Arab Reaction

• Arabs were angered by the existence of a Jewish country on what they believe to be “Muslim lands” and planned to destroy Israel

Arab-Israeli Wars• Arab countries tried to destroy Israel:– 1948 Arab-Israeli War– Six Day War (1967)– Yom Kippur War (1973)

• Results: – Arab countries were defeated and

humiliated– Israel gained more territory• Israeli military occupied Arab territories of Gaza Strip, West

Bank, and Golan Heights • Israelis built settlements in occupied territories

– Many Palestinian Arabs became refugees (people who flee their homeland because of war or persecution)

Other Conflicts• Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (1948-Present)– Occupied territories• To protect its people from attacks, Israel’s military tightened

control over Palestinian territories• The PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) was created to

fight for the rights of the Palestinians

– Ongoing problems• Some Palestinians want to destroy Israel, have intentionally

targeted Israeli civilians, and refuse to live side by side in peace– Israel withdrew from Gaza Strip & attacks against its civilians increased

• A separate country has not been created for Palestinians– Israel refuses to remove military & Jewish settlements from West Bank

Other Conflicts• The Suez Crisis (1956)–Gamal Abdel Nasser used Egyptian

military to take control of the Suez Canal from the British and French–Great Britain, France, and Israel attacked

Egypt• The United States forced them

to withdraw• Egypt kept control of the Suez Canal•Nasser became a hero in the Arab world

Other Conflicts• Islamic Revolution in Iran (1979)– The Shah (leader) tried to modernize Iran • Created a secular (non-religious) government

like those found in Western countries (Europe and the United States)– Angered many Muslims

– Radical Muslims led by Ayatollah Khomeini took control of Iran’s government• Set up government based on strict laws of Islam

– Limited people’s freedom– Women’s rights were severely restricted

• Kidnapped 52 Americans from U.S. embassy– Held for over 1 year– U.S. refused to recognize Iranian government

Other Conflicts• Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)– Iran (ruled by Shi’a Muslims) and Iraq (ruled by Sunni

Muslims) had a history of religious differences– Iraqi military invaded Iran in 1980– After 8 years of fighting, the war ended with nothing

gained by either country• Persian Gulf War (1990)– Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sent soldiers into

neighboring Kuwait to take control of oil fields– Coalition forces (led by the United States)

forced Iraqi troops out of Kuwait– Saddam stayed in power in Iraq

Islamic Terrorism• Terrorism: intentional attacks on civilians to create

fear and achieve political or religious goals• Islamic Terrorism– Not all terrorists are Muslims and most Muslims are not

terrorists!– However, many terrorist attacks have been carried out

by radical Muslims over the past 30 years• Hi-jacking of airplanes carrying westerners• Bombings of American embassies in pre-dominantly Muslim

countries• Attacks against Western tourists• Many suicide bombings against Israeli citizens

Islamic Terrorism• September 11, 2001 (9/11)

– 4 passenger planes were hi-jacked» 2 flew into the World Trade Center in NY City» 1 flew into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.» 1 (believed to be headed for the White House) brought down in a

field in Pennsylvania by passengers who fought against the hi-jackers

– Thousands of Americans were killed– Carried out by members of al-Qaeda (large Islamic terrorist group)

» Led by Osama bin Laden

• Many intentional attacks against civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan• Bombings of trains and buses in Spain and U.K.

Islamic Terrorism–Reasons given for Islamic terrorist attacks• The creation of Israel• Western governments’ support for Israel• U.S. military bases in the Middle East• Influence of Western culture on people of Muslim

countries–Goals of Islamic Terrorists• Destroy Israel• Remove Western people/militaries/ideas from

“Muslim lands”• Remove secular governments from “Muslim Lands”• Create a world-wide Islamic Empire

The Global War on Terror• U.S. Declaration of War on Terrorism–U.S. declared war on terrorists and any

countries that harbor them• The War in Afghanistan (2001-present)–After 9/11 attacks the Taliban (radical Muslim

government in Afghanistan) harbored and supported Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorist group• U.S. invaded Afghanistan, removed Taliban from

power, and helped set up a democratic government• U.S. continues to support the Afghan government in

the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda

The Global War on Terror• The War in Iraq (2003-present)– Most countries believed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein

had weapons of mass destruction (WMD)• Saddam used chemical weapons against Kurds and Iranians• UN weapons inspectors were kicked out of Iraq

– The U.S. invaded Iraq, removed Hussein from power, and helped set up a democratic government• No significant amount of “WMD” were found after invasion

– The war became unpopular in the U.S. and elsewhere

• U.S. is trying to help Iraq become independent– “Insurgents” continue fighting Americans and Iraqi government– Terrorists from have also come to Iraq to disrupt this process