On October 25, 1983, the United States invaded Grenada, a small island nation in the Caribbean. The invasion, code-named Operation Urgent Fury, was launched in response to a request for assistance from the Governor-General of Grenada, Sir Paul Scoon. Scoon had been placed under house arrest by the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG), a Marxist-Leninist regime that had come to power in a coup d'état the previous year.
The United States claimed that the invasion was necessary to protect American citizens on the island and to restore democracy. However, the real reasons for the invasion were more complex.
Reasons for the invasion
* Geopolitical concerns: Grenada was a strategic location in the Caribbean, and the United States was concerned about the PRG's close ties to Cuba and the Soviet Union. The United States feared that Grenada could be used as a base for communist subversion in the region.
* Economic interests: The United States had significant economic interests in Grenada, including a large investment in a sugar plantation. The PRG had threatened to nationalize these assets, which alarmed the U.S. government.
* Domestic politics: The invasion of Grenada was popular with the American public, who saw it as a victory against communism. The invasion also helped to boost President Ronald Reagan's approval ratings.
The invasion
The invasion of Grenada began early in the morning of October 25, 1983. Approximately 1,900 U.S. troops landed on the island and quickly overwhelmed the PRG's defenses. The PRG's leader, Maurice Bishop, was killed in the fighting.
By December 15, 1983, the invasion was complete. The United States had succeeded in overthrowing the PRG and restoring democracy to Grenada. However, the invasion also had a number of negative consequences, including the deaths of hundreds of Grenadians and the destruction of much of the island's infrastructure.