Mikhail Gorbachev and the Collapse of Communism

In 1982, the Soviet Unions leader was dying, and a new leader had to come to power. This was the very young Mikhail Gorbachev, the youngest leader of the Soviet Union since Stalin. Mikhail wanted to bring change to the Soviet Unions communist ways, such as not being open to other countries. He created Glasnost, which was openness to other countries. This allowed trade with other countries to help the people get new products. He also unbanned certain books and lessened media censorship. Through perestroika, or economic reconstruction, to revive the economy.
By opening the Soviet Union to other countries, Mikhail lessened the power of the Communist Party over the country. The political system slowly changed to something closer to a Democratic system, and the Communist Party lost control. People became tired of communist ways, and the system proved to be a failure. Communism soon fell, and East European countries adopted new policy's.

The Collapse of Communism

After the War, America and Soviet Russia where in cold war. Soviet Russia was communist, and not willing to change to democratic movements. But as the 21st century came closer, the economy of communist countries such as Cuba and Soviet Russia began to collapse. The waste of money on military and oppressive government could not hold up the economy. By the 1990s Soviet Russia collapsed. The Berlin Wall, which separated communist East Germany and West Germany, was brought done. Now the sides where no longer separated.
The fall of communism ended the Cold War between the America and Communist countries. Eastern and western Germany where no longer separated. The Soviet Union became separated into different countries. After that very few countries remained communist including China and Cuba. The fear of nuclear war also decreased, and Democratic policys where accepted in other countries.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

In government, Apartheid is when a white minority has more rights than the other races such as Indian and black. This segregation was used in Africa by European rule. Different races where not allowed to get married, and all blacks over 16 had to carry documents. Manny people wanted to change this way of life. One of these men was Nelson Mandela. He became involved to free South Africa . He became the Leader of the African National Congress to try to help. The ANC used non violence to try to reach peace. Other groups tried to use violence to free Africa, and some thought Mandela was behind it. He was sent to jail for his actions in 1964 for 27 years, but later was free still determined to free Africa. When released from prison, it marked the beginning of the end of apartheid. Five years later, he became president of South Africa. This ended the racist rules in Africa.

African Independence

After WWII, Europe controlled many African countries. Some Africans inspired by American movements wanted to raise awareness of African culture and heritage. African colony's began to gain their independence. A nonviolent protester named Kwame Nkrumah helped Ghana gain its freedom from Britain. He also began to develop economic projects to help make Africa more advance. But these where expensive and hurt these countries economy, and failed to make the countries like Americas economy.
In Kenya, Britain did not want the African people to gain independence. Jomo Kenyatta was one of the leaders fighting for their rights. Another group known as the Mau Mau used violence to try to
scare the British. Kenyatta was not involved with this, but many where killed. He became president, and helped the country become more democratic. With many country's gaining independence, leaders such as Mobutu Sese Seko helped liberate the Congo, and the country's Algeria and Angola also gained independance.

Film Lesson- The Right Stuff

During the cold war, Russia and the United States had been competing over different tactical advantages in case another war broke out. These included the arms race, and when Russia launched the first satellite called sputnik in October 4,1957, the space race began. The United States feared that Russia can use the satellite to attack, and wanted to catch up with their technology. NASA was formed to help the United States reach space.

The film "The Right Stuff" showed the United States attempt to out-do the Russians during the space race. It began with the US finally breaking the sound barrier after many failed attempts, but keeping it a secret so the Russians would not know. The US wanted to send a man in space before the Russians would.They decided to find men who had "the right stuff" who where capable of surviving in space. Eventually they found 7 American men who where right for the job. But after many failed attempts of getting the rockets of the ground, they became worried and decided to send a monkey in space. The Russians saw this is a weakness and sent a man in space, angering the US even more. On July 20, 1969, the first man landed on the moon, and he was American, ending the space race.

NATO and the Warsaw Pact

After WWII, the alliance between the USSR and Western Europe and America used to defeat Hitler was broken. Tensions between the two sides once again increased. American and Europe did not want the Soviet Union to gain more territory, and spread Communism. They feared that another war may break out. America and Western Europe formed an alliance just in case of war with the Soviet Union broke out. This alliance was called NATO. It stood for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. North America would also help rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan. The NATO pact became more important as tension increased.
To counter the NATO alliance of its enemies, the Soviet Union created an alliance between itself and its satellite countries. This was the Warsaw pact. It was signed in Poland's capital Warsaw. The USSR had military in other allied countries and kept them running Socialist government. NATO said they would not support any country who signed the Warsaw Pact. With these two alliances, both sides where prepared for war, and tension between them continued to grow.

Film: Schindlers List

Schindlers List is a 1993 film showing the horrors of the holocaust. It was directed by the Jewish director Steven Spielberg and based on a novel. It is based on a true story about Oskar Schindler, and how he saved 1200 jewish prisoners life. The film shows a detailed and disturbing view on how the jews where treated at the concentration camp. The film was successful on depicting how Auschwitz's camp treated its prisoners.
The film had many brutal scenes of realism. It showed the death of innocent children, which was disturbing and emotional. All of the victims where innocent, and the punishments as cruel as the punisher's. Although the film was powerful and moving, the Hollywood movie did not prove as shocking as the realism of the film Night and Fog. Night and Fog shows real footage of the camp and its horrors. It shows the buildings of Auschwitz's and what their purpose was. What was most horrific and disturbing was the dumping of actual dead bodies into a burial, a horror no Hollywood m0vie could replicate.