The Opium Wars

In the 19th century, Britain's trade of opium with China started a war known as the Opium War. China had traded many things with Britain including tea, which had now become very important in Europe. Britain wanted to trade something with China so it would not become a one sided trade that would hurt Britain. They began to trade opium to the Chinese. Opium is a highly addictive drug that is made from poppy plants, and is used to make many highly addictive drug. Many of Chinas population became addicted, and Chinas economy was damaged trying to pay for all the opium with gold, silver, and tea.
In 1838, the Chinese government started to restrict opium trade with Britain. Chinese government refused to let opium in the country, and would not back down from the British who pressured it onto them. This lead to the British attacking China to allow opium in the country. This was known as the Opium Wars. The British won these drug wars, and China faced defeat. Chinese government signed a treaty to allow opium to be traded in Chinese ports. They also allowed the sale of Opium legal. This caused Chinese government to become weaker and control was lost.

Mountains Of The Moon

Mountains of the Moon is a historical film about John Speke and Richard Burton. It tells of their journey threw Africa's uncharted land, as well as their search for the source of the Nile River. During this quest, they faced many hardships. One great trouble was that they did not know the area, and faced hot temperatures and needed water. Another great problem was the African tribes inhabiting the area, who where not always welcome to them. They had never seen white people before, and attacked them, causing them to retreat. The second time they where more prepared, but still faced difficulties with other tribes and also with animals such as lions and insects.

Even this being so, the European explorers had some advantages. This was a technological advantage. They had better weapons, such as guns which where more useful than spears. The Africans where amazed with their technology. Their superior technology helped the Europeans conquer Africa. This also helped lead to the discovery of the source of the Nile river. This was the worlds third largest lake. It was called lake Victoria, which was named after the European queen. It is strange that they named an African lake after a European queen because the Europeans had not discovered it, the Africans knew it was there before the Europeans.

The Meiji Restoration of Japan

For a long period of time, Japan has been a country dedicated to isolation. They did not want to trade with any other countries and only worried with themselves. In 1853, European explorers such as Mathew Perry landed in Japan and wanted water and coal to trade. The Japanese where astonished by there technology. Japan was an archipelago, which is a small group of islands, so it would be easy to trade. The Japanese where very resistant to open up trade with Europeans. Many fought the Europeans because they did not want trade. But with the help of superior technology, Mathew Perry was able to force trade with Japan. This led to the fall of Japanese shogunates and the restoration of power for the Emperor Meiji.
The introduction of trade to Japan helped the country move towards modernization. Japans government was changed, and the country became more open to trade. Japan was being exposed to many other outside cultures and goods. All this helped the Japanese government expand. The population increased and s0 did industrialization. The Meiji Emperor had much less control than the shogun did, and the Meiji Emperor soon just became a figurehead. All of this led to the advance country japan is today.

Karl Marx and Communism

Karl Marx did not like the way the world was during the Industrial Revolution. He wanted a new form of government to rule. This is why he created and founded Communism. Marx helped make the Communist Manifesto, which set the basics for the rules and principals of Communism. He wanted to end Capitalism and Socialism and make all people share the same rights. He wanted an end of the bourgeoisie class system.
In Karl Marx's eyes, a Communist country was supposed to be ruled by its people. All people should have the same rights and pay no matter what profession. He did not like that some had power while others did not. All workers would share a common wealth with their bosses, and there would be no more class systems. Unfortunately his ideas where never truly used in Communist countries. In Communist countries, the people where controlled by strict dictators. Many of people rights where limited, and people could not speak against there government. The media was also being censored. Although his idea was never realized, Karl Marx is still the founding father of Communism.

Karl Marx and the Industrial Revolution

Karl Marx was a German thinker during the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution caused many people to work hard in factories for little pay and harsh conditions. Marx was against this idea , and believed that the workers and bosses should have equal rights. Marx was against child labor and the unfairness that workers faced. Marx supported a communist society in which workers had equal right a pay as everyone else. He believed that workers should control the government.
Karl Marx dislike of the Industrial Revolution and the unfair class systems inspired him to make a new form of government. This was Communism, a system when all people shared common rights. In his eyes, the government should be controlled by the workers, and all classes should have equal pay and rights. No one should have advantages or better lifestyles than others, and should share the same wealth. Although his view of Communism was never truly used in Communist countries.

Nationalism and the Creation of Italy

After revolution's in places such as America, France, and South America, a new type of government was needed. Some wanted to bring back monarchy's to rule the people. Another idea known as nationalism was emerging among the people. This is the belief that ones loyalty and belief should be in the people who share common cultures. Countries should also become a nation state. Borders where made to separate these states, and all the people followed the same common rules.

The United States is a nationalist country. We have a common flag, a national anthem, and we all follow the same rules. Almost everyone in the United States share a common culture, whether it be religion or political views. Even though some may not be from the United States, they may have nationalist qualities without knowing it. Everyone supports there country in sports and other thing when nationalist. They all share a common history.

The idea of Nationalism helped create many nation states. Many empires where being torn apart by nationalist movements. The Russian and Austrian-Hungarian empire soon fell to nationalism. Italy was being ruled by Austria, and the people wanted a change. During 1848, many violent revolts broke out, and the people wanted a to make a nation state, although their attempts failed. It was a prime minister Camillo di Cavour who helped unite Italy and win its freedom as a nation state.

Simon Bolivar and Latin American Revolutions

Simon Bolivar was a famous liberator and military leader. His accomplishments helped free many South American countries from the rule of Spain. Simon Bolivar was born in Venezuela, where he received a well education after the death of his parents. He was also schooled in Spain, and traveled through Italy and France. There he became inspired by enlightenment thinkers such as Locke. He also traveled through the US, who had just won there independence. He was convinced that it was time that his country had its own revolution.
Simon started a revolution which led to Venezuela's independence in July 5th, 1811. After freeing Venezuela from Spain, Simon continued to reinforce his army and military power, and begin to liberate more countries. He then established the Republic of Colombia, and made himself president. He then continued to free more country's in South America, and by the end freed Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
Simon Bolivar is considered a great revolutionary hero for South America. He liberated almost an entire continent from Spain's control. Although he was not as good a political leader than he was a military figure. His Government rule was not so smooth, with many civil wars in his own countries. But he is still a great leader, and considered the George Washington of South America.

Robespierre and The Reign of Terror

After the French Revolution, Frances government became much more democratic, and the middle class and poor gained more power. But the new leaders did not meet all of the peoples expectations. King Louis XVI lost a lot of his power, and was afraid for his life. Radical clubs in France tried to take control of the government. They also tried to get rid of anyone in the old government. Using an execution device known as the guillotine, many where executed and publicly killed. After trying to escape France, King Louis XVI was charged with treason and killed.

After this, there was much fear in Frances government and the people. Maximilien Robespierre took control of the government after this. He wiped out and killed any trace of the old monarchy's. He closed churches and killed many people. He acted like a dictator, and his rule was known as the Reign of Terror. This is because so many people where killed by execution. He was soon killed and a new government was formed, which was much better than Robespierre's rule.

The French Revolution

1) The people of France did not like that the Nobles and Clergy had to pay little to no taxes. There was a food shortage and taxes had been increasing. They also believed that the King was very weak and did not care about the people.

2) A French peasant would have a lot to complain about. There was a food shortage, and the price of bread had increased. The government was also falling into dept, and the people where being treated unfairly.

3) Source A shows a normal civilian or peasant carrying a clergy and noble on his back. He had to support the other two classes, and hoped that he would not have to soon. He hoped for a revolution.

4) The author of source B describes the lives of peasants to be very harsh and very desperate. The people did not have that much, but still had to pay 20kg of wheat, and three chickens as taxes. The taxes where difficult for them to pay.

5) Yes it does. It shows that the poor had a very hard life, and that they had to pay to support the rich. It shows why they would want to revolt against the rich and have a revolution to avoid the harsh times.

6) John Locke would be influenced by his work and follow him. He also does not like the old form of government and would embrace democracy for France and America. He had similar views for Americas government.

7) It was probably banned by the Clergy and Nobles and King, because they do not want peasants to revolt and want them to follow there rules. They wouldn't want the peasants to try to form a new government.

John Locke and the Enlightenment

John Locke was an enlightenment thinker who inspired Thomas Jefferson when he wrote parts of the Declaration of Independence. Many ideas brought up in this section were used boy Locke. Jefferson wrote that all men are created equal, and have the same rights as each other. They should have equal opportunities and be treated fairly.

He also stated that the government should be controlled and based on the people being governed. The government should do whats best for the people and to ensure their safety and happiness. It also says that if the government fails to follow these rules, the people should be able to abolish or remove this government, and set up a new one based on their demands. The people should have the right to choose who rules them.

Copernicus And The Trail Of Galileo

Before the scientific revolution, people had the belief that the Earth was the center of the universe, and all planets revolved around the earth. This is known as the geocentric belief. During the scientific revolution, a man named Nicolas Copernicus supported the heliocentric belief. This was the belief that the sun is the center of the universe. We all know this was the true answer. But he had little evidence of this at the time, and many people such as the Catholic Church had disapproved of this new belief.

Galileo had believed in Copernicus and his heliocentric beliefs. He later on wrote a book saying that the earth was not the center of the earth, and in fact the sun was. The Catholic Church had supported the geocentric belief, because of the bible saying that the earth is center of the universe. Because of there belief, they were angered by Galileo, and put him on trail. They charged him with going against the Catholic Church, and even planned on arresting or killing him. After the trail, he was put on house arrest. He was angered by this, but accepted his punishment.

Scientific Revolution: The Scientific Method

The scientific revolution began in the late 1500s. During this period, people like Isaac Newton and Galileo tested and found new scientific discoveries. Before this, people believed in the Bible and Greek and Roman methods to explain science. During the revolution, most of these where tested and new information was learned.

The scientific method was a way to prove or test something to find the truth of an event. It is an easy way to determine the truth without argument or dispute. It is much better than giving a statement without the truth or proof. It was used in the scientific revolution to find out and prove many statements to be true or false.

The scientific revolution consist of four main steps. The first is to diagnose a problem or occurrence u have a question about. Next is to compose a hypothesis, which is what u believe the outcome will be. Next is to use the hypothesis to test out your experiment and get results. Last is to make a conclusion of the experiment. People use this method to prove or disprove statements or event, and was very useful during the scientific revolution.

Evolution Vs Creation

According to Darwin's theory of evolution, all organisms on earth have evolved and descended by earlier ancestors. They have become more advance over the years, and soon become new organisms. This has happened through natural selection. This is a process when an organism has a beneficial mutation that is passed on to the next generation. Over time a new creature is formed that is more advance than the original. According to Darwin, this is how all creatures on earth are formed.

The creation theory of evolution is much different than Darwin's theory. According to this, all organisms, life, and the universe where created from a deity or god. This theory deals with many religions such as Catholic and Islam. This says that a deity, god, or other powerful being created the world, and does not support the theory of evolution. Like the theory of evolution, it is also controversial.

I personally support Darwin's theory of evolution. This is because to me, this seems much more logical than the theory of creation. It has much more evidence and seems more likely than a god creating all the living things in the universe. It is more likely that creatures adapted and matured from natural selection and became new beings. To me, the theory of evolution is much more realistic.