IRAQ History of Iraq This region was part

IRAQ

History of Iraq • This region was part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500’s. • During WWI, Great Britain set up the Kingdom of Iraq and put a Pro-British ruler into power.

History of Iraq • In the 1950’s this government was overthrown. • After a series of other governmental changes the Ba’ath Party too power in 1968.

Iraq: Saddam Hussein • A Ba’ath leader named Saddam Hussein became the president. • Saddam Hussein was a harsh ruler. He controlled the press, restricted personal freedoms and killed numerous political enemies. • Iraq was the second largest oil exporter in the world.

Iraq: Iraq/Iran War • In 1980 Iraq invaded Iran. • Saddam Hussein was worried that the Shia Islamic revolution that was taking place in Iran would spill over into Iraq.

Iraq’s Oil Fields

Iraq: Iraq/Iran War • Saddam Hussein decided to take advantage of the chaos in Iran and invade without being noticed. • The Iranians fought back and the Iraq/Iran war continued until 1988. Both countries suffered. • After the Iraq/Iran War, Saddam Hussein found that his country was so much in debt, that he decided to invade Kuwait to gain control of the oil fields.

Iraq: Persian Gulf War • An alliance of countries (including U. S. and Great Britain) forced the Iraqis out of Kuwait

Iraq: Persian Gulf War

Iraq: Results of The Persian Gulf War • Saddam Hussein remained in power in Iraq. • Because Saddam refused to accept U. N. terms for peace, the U. N. placed an embargo on Iraq. • Iraq’s economy suffered as a result of the embargo. • 600 oil fields in Kuwait were set on fire with devastating environmental affects.