The Persian Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War

1991. The U.S. fought against Iraq when they illegally invaded Kuwait.

Attack on America

2001. On September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda hijacked four large airplanes in America. Two were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City and one was crashed into the U.S. Pentagon.

War in Iraq

2003. U.S., Britain, Australia, and Spain attacked Iraq in March 2003. The conflict was declared over in May with the removal of Saddam Hussein.

Al Qaeda

Terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden. Crashed airplanes in America.

Causes of the War

• Iraq wanted to take over Kuwait's oil fields, and wanted access to the Persian Gulf (for oil transport). • Iraq considered Kuwait to be part of their country. • Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein wanted control of the Muslim world.

Results of the War

• Iraq was defeated, and its army was reduced. • Economic hardship was created for the Iraqi people due to trade sanctions imposed after the war. • Hussein remained in power and rebuilt his forces. • The U.N. cease-fire agreement called for Iraq to allow U.N. inspectors to look for and destroy Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Results of the Attack

• President George Bush declared war on terrorism. • U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan, the base of the Al Qaeda network. • The Department of Homeland Security was formed.