1957: Hussein joins underground Baath Socialist Party.

The national committee of the Baath is the decision making body in Syria. The number of members in Syria exceeds 1 million.

July 16, 1979: Takes over as president of Iraq from al-Bakr; launches purge of Baath.

Beginning in the mid-1970s, Bakr was overcome by illness and by a series of family tragedies. He increasingly turned over power to Saddam Hussain.

Aug. 2, 1990: Invades Kuwait, leading to war with U.S.-led coalition that liberates Kuwait the following February.

This invasion is what caused the U.S. to become involved with Iraq.

Dec. 13, 2003: Captured by U.S. soldiers near Tikrit.

Saddam Hussein was found in a tiny cellar at a farmhouse about 15km (10 miles) south of his hometown Tikrit.

Dec. 30, 2006: Saddam Hussein is executed by hanging.

He was executed because he was found guilty of war crimes and the mass murder of hundreds of people.

Works Cited

"Baath Party Statement A Call to the Heroic Tribes in Southern Iraq." Www.uruknet.info :: Informazione Dal Medio Oriente :: Information from Middle East :: [vs-1]. Uruknet, 07 Sept. 2006. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Saddam Hussein - A Biography of Saddam Hussein." 20th Century History. The New York Times. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

Kjeilen, Tore. "Ba'th Party - LookLex Encyclopaedia." LookLex [Travel Guides / Encyclopaedia / Language Course]. Looklex Encyclopaedia. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

 "Baath Party." The Syrian Encyclopedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

Sanger, David E. "Agog." EGGPLANT. WordPress, 2009. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.