Iraq

Iraq

Did you know that the world’s first civilization was located in Iraq? Thousands of years ago people known as Sumerians settled in Mesopotamia—a region that is part of Iraq today. The country’s recent history includes wars and a corrupt leader.

​Saddam Takes Power

In 1979, a Ba`ath leader named Saddam Hussein became Iraq’s president. Saddam Hussein was a harsh ruler. He controlled Iraq’s media, restricted personal freedoms, and killed an unknown number of political enemies.

Multiple Choice

In what year did Saddam Hussein take control in Iraq?

• 1979

• 1980

• 1990

• 1991

​Invasions of Iran & Kuwait

​Under Saddam’s leadership, Iraq invaded Iran in 1980. The Iranians fought back, and the Iran-Iraq War dragged on until 1988. Both countries’ economies were seriously damaged, and many people died.

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​In 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, Iraq’s oil-rich neighbor to the south. This event shocked and worried many world leaders. They were concerned that Iraq might gain control of the region’s oil. In addition, they worried about Iraq’s supply of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons.

​(Play Operation Dessert Storm Clip HMH)

Multiple Choice

Which country did Iraq invade in 1980 leading to a war that lasted until 1988?

• Afghanistan

• Iran

• Kuwait

• Saudi Arabia

Multiple Choice

What is the major natural resource of the Middle East?

• Diamonds
• Apples
• Gold
• Oil

​War and its Effects

​In 1991, an alliance of countries led by the United States forced the Iraqis out of Kuwait. This six week event was called the Persian Gulf War. Saddam, who remained in power after the war, would not accept all the United Nations’ (UN) terms for peace. In response, the UN placed an embargo, or limit on trade, on Iraq. As a result, Iraq’s economy suffered.

Multiple Choice

Who placed an embargo on Iraq from 1990 to 2004?

• United States

• United Nations

• Iran

• Israel

Multiple Choice

This war was fought in 1991 by an alliance of countries to force Iraqi invaders to leave the country of Kuwait.

• Persian Gulf War

• Iran-Iraq War

• Operation Freedom

• Arabian War

Multiple Choice

What caused the Persian Gulf War?

• The U.S was bombed by Saudi Arabia
• Iraq invaded Kuwait hoping to have control of the oil
• The Stock Market crashed
• The Japanese bombed North Korea

​Soon after the fighting ended, Saddam faced two rebellions from Shia Muslims and Kurds. He brutally put down these uprisings. In response, the UN forced Iraq to end all military activity. The UN also required that Iraq allow inspectors into the country. They wanted to make sure that Saddam had destroyed the weapons of mass destruction. Iraq later refused to cooperate completely with the UN.

​Ten years after the Persian Gulf War, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led to new tensions between the United States and Iraq. U.S. government officials believed that Iraq aided terrorists. In March 2003, President George W. Bush ordered U.S. forces to attack Iraqi targets.

​Within a few weeks the Iraqi army was defeated and Saddam’s government was crushed. Saddam went into hiding, but U.S. soldiers later found Saddam hiding in an underground hole in Iraq. Saddam was arrested, tried, and executed for his crimes.

Multiple Choice

The US invaded ________ again in 2003 in order to destroy the nuclear weapons program and overthrow Saddam Hussein.

• Afghanistan

• Israel

• Iraq

• Iran

Multiple Choice

What was the result of the Invasion of Iraq?

• Osama Bin Laden was killed

• Saddam Hussein was executed

• The Israelis were liberated

• The Palestinian-Israeli War ended