history exam 3 film questions & class notes
According to U.S. official John Negroponte, what would have happened if the U.S. had not intervened in Latin America? Provide the direct quote that he gives in the film.
"I think the immediate suffering could have even been considerably greater."
During the Hostage Crisis, one of the American hostages asked one of the men holding them why they were doing this, when it violated all Persian traditions. The student answered, "__________________________."
"You have nothing to complain about, your country took my country hostage in 1953".
In the 20th century, China and Russia both experienced:
-Government overthrow & brief nationalist governments -Communist revolutions and takeovers -Violent Civil wars -Totalitarian communist dictatorships
The film (American Coup) also includes a clip of Allen Dulles, and what does he say about what the U.S. does (or does not) do in foreign countries? Based on the film's information, do you believe that he is telling the truth?
.
Why does the film (American Coup) claim that Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapons program? It notes three reasons:
1)Security 2)Prestige 3)To protect from an attack
There are several steps that the clandestine operation in Iran took. These steps were: 1. (list specific groups and what the C.I.A. offered them) 2. (note what social events the C.I.A. set in motion, and how it did this)
1)Tribal leaders & newspaper editors were bribed to spread negative news about Mossadegh 2)CIA convinced several mobs to start rioting, and make people think that Mossadegh had lost control of the country. Shah was also convinced by CIA to join the plot
China and Russia were both ruled by:
A hereditary, absolutist ruler
Who was Somoza?
A line of Nicaraguan Dictators that the U.S. put in power
Shortly before the second coup attempt, some of the Iranian agents working with the C.I.A. got "cold feet." To ... encourage ... them to go through with the coup, the C.I.A. gave them two options, either: (a) OR (b)
Accept bribery money, or be killed.
The Force Publiqe consisted of European officers, and _______ soldiers.
African
The Iranian revolution replaced the Shah with what?
An Islamic Republic
Who led the Iranian Revolution?
Ayatollah Khomeini
During and after WWII, what country occupied Iran?
Britain
(III) When those efforts failed as well, Britain tried a "sneaky" method within Iran, which was what? And what did Mosaddegh do?
Britain tried to bribe members of Iranian parliament. Mossadegh closed the British embassy in Iran and kicked them out of the country.
Who was General Pinochet?
Chilean dictator and army commander who overthrew the socialist government of Salvador Allende
Who were the Contras?
Counterrevolutionaries opposed to the Sandinistas. A force trained by the U.S. to overthrow the Nicaraguan government.
Who was Fidel Castro?
Cuban revolutionary & dictator
Who was Salvador Allende?
Elected socialist leader of Chile, held Marxist beliefs
Who was hired by King Leopold to sign Congo treaties?
Explorer Henry Morton Stanley
How does the film (American Coup) describe "McCarthyism" in the U.S.?
Fear of communism, intense, illogical campaign against it.
Who wrote the open letter to King Leopold?
George Washington Williams
What was the first big step Allende took when becoming President, and what was his purpose in doing this? (Why high this upset the U.S.?... speculate on that question)
He nationalized Chile's copper, which was previously under U.S. control. More parts of the Chilean economy became nationalized
What did the U.S. government do to destabilize Salvadore Allende's government? -- make sure you identify some specific steps the U.S. took in its efforts to undermine the government
In order to destabilize Chile's government, the CIA: -Removed the Chilean army commander from his post -Attempts to destabilize the economy
Who was Che Guevara?
Joined Fidel Castro and spread the Cuban Revolution.
Who did Allen Dulles select to carry out the C.I.A.-organized coup in Iran?
Kermit Roosevelt
When none of these plans worked out for the British, they asked the U.S. for help. The U.S. sent the C.I.A. under the leadership in Iran of _________ __________ to overthrow the Mosaddegh government.
Kermit Roosevelt.
How did King Leopold first obtain land in the congo?
Land treaties were signed with the natives, who didn't understand what they were signing.
Who was Archbishop Romero?
Leader of Salvadorian Catholics. He spoke out against a massacre, and was killed.
Who was the last Shah of Iran?
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
The film (American Coup) begins by posing the question, "How *do* you overthrow a government?" Later, the film outlines some of the steps the British and then the C.I.A. took. 3 (A) First, what exactly had Mosaddegh done that upset the British so much?
Mossadegh heavily opposed Britain's control of Iran's oil industry. He nationalized the oil industry.
What U.S. administration chose to overthrow Mohammed Mosaddegh? And why did it choose clandestine (secret) operations?
Mossadegh nationalized the oil industry in order to control the country's chief asset
Who were the Sandinistas?
Nicaraguan revolutionary / political group that overthrew the samoza government
Was the Ottoman Empire feudal?
No
In 1908, what did the British discover in Iran?
Oil
At the end of the film (American Coup), a clip of former President Obama is shown calling for what?
Peace
What is the historical or traditional name for the modern country of Iran?
Persia
Who was Arbenz?
President of Guatemala, voted into position in 1950. He intended to reform Guatemala and reduce the influences of U.S. companies
After the Boland Amendments were passed, how did the U.S. government fund its activities in Nicaragua? (and what were we doing there, again?)
Reagan's men secretly sold arms to Iran
Both Japan and the Ottoman empire saw what groups emerge in the post WWII period?
Socialist and Communist groups
How does the film (American Coup) present the future for Iran? (what does it suggest might happen, and why, for Iranian society?)
That the U.S. and Iran might become partners, and there's hope for a more modern, progressive, tolerant Iran. There are many young people in Iran without any hostility towards either country.
What was the "A.P.O.C." and why were the Iranians unhappy with it?
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company. The Iranian were unhappy because Britain was taking all of the oil that Iran needed to boost it's economy.
Why did the U.S. agree to interfere in Iran? (What fear did the British play upon to convince the U.S.?) As the film (American Coup) describes it, was this fear justified or based on accurate intelligence?
The British played upon America's fear of communism. It was not based on accurate intelligence.
When King Leopold was in control of the Congo, what was it's name?
The Congo Free State
After the CIA's coup that overthrew Mossadegh, who was placed back on the throne, and gained the mistrust of civillians
The Shah
What happened at El Mozote?
The U.S. backed El Salvador army entered the guerilla - controlled El Mozote province. The civilians there were slaughtered, and the U.S. denied that there was evidence of a massacre.
How did the U.S. get involved with these groups (Sandinistas & Contras)? And why?
The U.S. wanted to control who was in power in the government. The U.S. funded the contras, who got rid of the Sandinistas.
In the film, what company owned large chunks of Guatemala's economy?
The United Fruit Company of Boston
Who did the British place on the throne of Iran during WWII, and why did they choose him?
The abdicated Shah's son
What was the Berlin Conference?
The meeting at which 14 countries, including the U.S., agreed on how split up Africa.
General Zahedi, who was co-operating with the C.I.A., helped lead the final push against Mosaddegh and replaced him as Prime Minister. In return for his help, what did the C.I.A. give General Zahedi? ___________________
The position of Iranian Prime Minister, and 5 million dollars
What was the purpose of the Bay of Pigs invasion according to the film? Did it succeed?
The purpose of the invasion was to overthrow Castro and his government. It failed.
How does the film (American Coup) explain the motivations behind the 1979 Iranian Revolution? What does 1953 have to do with it?
The revolution was mostly due to the Shah's repression. In 1953, the democratic government of Iran was overthrown, and
In response to the social events the C.I.A. set in motion, what did the U.S. threaten Mosaddegh with? This ultimately resulted in his downfall, because __________________.
They threatened to stop recognizing him as Prime Minister of Iran. Mossadegh decided to back down and instate martial law, which allowed coup plotters t gain access to weapons.
According to the film (American Coup), what was Iran doing in Afghanistan between 2000-2001 and how did George Bush repay them?
They were helping Afghanistan deal with their problems, such as the Taliban. George Bush labeled Iran as a member of the "Axis of Evil".
In the aftermath of regaining power, the Shah creates the SAVAK. What was the SAVAK? List some of the things it did.
They were secret police who eliminated the Sha's political opposition. They arrested people & tortured them. People were taken away and killed.
What was Mosaddegh's charge?
Treason
Both the Ottoman Empire and Japan forcefully repressed socialist and communist groups. T/F?
True
In the 20th century, neither the Ottoman Empire or Japan experienced what?
Violent civil wars, or communist authoritarian governments
Was the Japanese Empire feudal?
Yes
(II) When those steps did not work, Britain tried international legal/political means a). b).
a) They asked the U.S. security council to order Iran to give back the oil company. The security council refused b) The British took Mossadegh to the world court, and their case failed.
(I). First, the British tried some overt means to overturn the government of Mosaddegh. Britain tried two things to apply economic pressure: a). b).
a) They tried to close down the oil industry and leave Iran to run it b) They built blockades so that Iran couldn't sell it's oil
How many military officers who had supported Mosaddegh were later executed? and what was their charge? What else happened in the military?
about 60. they were charged with being loyal to the democratic government.
Russia and China both had state-directed efforts to _________, which resulted in many deaths
modernize
Why does the film (American Coup) explain that Harry Truman authorized the creation of the C.I.A. after WWII?
so there would never be another pearl harbor
In Russia and China's history, ethnic groups and political opponents were often:
targeted and killed
In the film (American Coup) U.S. Senator Ron Paul is interviewed, and he claims that the "goal of all honest individuals" should be ___________. And why? Why does he think this is important?
the truth. When history is distorted, we continue to make mistakes.
Was Mosaddegh democratically-elected Prime Minister, yes or no?
yes
