The 1980s and 1990s: new technology, the end of the Cold War and the Gulf War

Grade 11 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   The Gulf War, 1990 to 1991 (cards A to E). Card A, the votes, in our words: on November 29, 1990, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 678, which allowed member states to use all necessary means if Iraq had not left Kuwait by January 15, 1991. On January 12, 1991, the Senate voted 52 to 47 and the House 250 to 183 to authorize US forces to act under that resolution. President Bush signed the measure on January 14, 1991. Card B, Public Law 102-1, section 2(a), January 14, 1991 (excerpt): "The President is authorized, subject to subsection (b), to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677." Card C, President George H. W. Bush, television address, January 16, 1991 (excerpt): "Our objectives are clear: Saddam Hussein's forces will leave Kuwait. The legitimate government of Kuwait will be restored to its rightful place, and Kuwait will once again be free. Iraq will eventually comply with all relevant United Nations resolutions, and then, when peace is restored, it is our hope that Iraq will live as a peaceful and cooperative member of the family of nations, thus enhancing the security and stability of the Gulf." Card D, President Bush, television address, February 27, 1991 (excerpt): "Kuwait is liberated. Iraq's army is defeated. Our military objectives are met. Kuwait is once more in the hands of Kuwaitis, in control of their own destiny." Card E, dates and counts, in our words: Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The coalition's air campaign began on January 16, 1991, and its land campaign on February 24. Offensive operations stopped at midnight, Eastern time, on February 27, and the Office of the Historian dates the end of the war to February 28, 1991. On January 16 Bush spoke of 28 countries with forces in the Gulf. The Office of the Historian writes that the coalition that freed Kuwait City had forces from thirty-four countries. The two figures count at different times and in different ways.

2. 1.

   Card B authorizes force "pursuant to" Resolution 678. Read with cards A and C, what does that wording do, Ari asks?

   • It lets the President use force for any aim he states, such as those in card C
   • It ties the authority to Resolution 678, about Iraq leaving Kuwait
   • It makes the UN, not Congress, the source of the authority
   • It requires a new UN vote before each action, since it acts under 678
3. 2.

   A commentator says the 52-to-47 Senate vote shows a nation split on the war. Using card A, which reply is best, Bo asks?

   • Right: a five-vote margin is too thin to speak for the nation
   • Right: the House vote shows a split too, since 183 members opposed
   • Close in the Senate, wider in the House, and votes authorize, not endorse
   • Wrong: two senators changing sides would still pass it, so the margin is safe
4. 3.

   Of those voting, about 53 percent said yes in the Senate and 58 percent in the House. A student says the House backed Bush's goals more strongly. Which reply is best, Esme asks?

   • Unfair: shares of those voting cannot be compared across chambers
   • Fair, but for card B's wording alone, since the House added the 'pursuant to' clause
   • The shares are close, and the votes authorized force, not support for goals
   • Fair: a larger share on the same measure shows stronger support
5. 4.

   Card D is Bush's own statement the day offensive operations stopped. What is its main limit as evidence that the aims were met, Kira asks?

   • It is strong, since it was made after the fighting and reports what had happened
   • It is weak, since a leader reporting on his own decision gains from success
   • It is the leader's own claim, so other evidence is needed to check it
   • It reports Congress's view, since the war had been authorized by law
6. 5.

   Bush spoke of 28 countries on January 16, and the Office of the Historian writes of thirty-four. How should a historian treat the figures, Milo asks?

   • As an overcount, since the later figure includes countries that gave just support
   • As a gap of timing alone, since countries joined after January 16
   • Both can stand, since they count at different times and in different ways
   • As settled by Bush's figure, since he spoke while the forces were gathered
7. 6.

   One writer dates the war from August 2, 1990 to February 28, 1991, another from January 16 to February 28, 1991. Who is right, Noah asks?

   • The second, since a war begins when the coalition's forces first strike
   • Neither, since card E dates the end differently from both
   • Both: one counts from the invasion, one from the coalition's action
   • The first, since the war began when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2
8. 7.

   Which card sets what the President was legally authorized to do, and what role does card C play beside it, Pia asks?

   • Cards B and C together set the authority, since the President announced his aims
   • Card B sets the authority, and card C states intent that cannot widen it
   • Card C sets the aims the law must follow, and card B limits it to them
   • Card A sets the authority, since the UN voted first, and card C adds to it
9. 8.

   Cards A and B describe a UN resolution and a US law. What does each do, Ren asks?

   • Either one alone gave the power, so Congress's vote added nothing
   • The resolution let states use force, and the law let the President act under it
   • The law let the President act on aims of his own, and the resolution backed it
   • The resolution gave the President power to use US forces, and the law confirmed it
10. 9.

    A student says Iraq had only 47 days' warning, from Resolution 678 on November 29 to January 15. What do cards A and E show, Tala asks?

    • 47 days, which the cards show was too short for Iraq to comply
    • 47 days, and that was the full time between the invasion and the first action
    • 47 days from the resolution, but Iraq was in Kuwait 166 days by the deadline
    • 166 days of warning, since the resolution passed on August 2
11. 10.

    Which conclusion do cards A to E support best, Zee asks?

    • The UN and Congress authorized force; the Kuwait aims were announced met
    • Congress authorized force narrowly, which shows the aims lacked support
    • Force was authorized by the UN and Congress, and each stated aim was met
    • The UN resolution alone authorized the war, with Congress just confirming it