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.

Film: Night and Fog

Night and Fog is a 1955 french documentary film, showing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camp. The film uses still images and actual footage taken by German Nazis to describe the process of the Germans taking their prisoners to a Nazi camp, and the horrors that await them there. The film shows the abandoned Auschwitz camp, and each buildings dangerous purpose, each with gruesome results. The Jewish prisoners are forced to endure manual labor, but this is only a excuse for the Germans mass murder.
The chilling scenes of the actions carried out by the Nazis proves much more power full and disturbing than that of a Hollywood movie such as Schindler's List. The haunting images of the Nazi prisoners bodies being pushed by a bulldozer into a hole in the ground, and the disposal of thousands of bodies may be too powerful and real for some viewers. But the realism of the film is its most powerful feature, and depicts the events of the Nazi concentration camps much more than any Hollywood counter part.

The Treaty of Versailles (Ended WWI)

After the end of WWI, most of Europe had been in bad conditions. Many towns and city's where destroyed, and many where killed. A peace treaty called the Treaty of Versailles was made and proposed by the Allied Forces to Germany on May 7, 1919. The treaty, consisting of 440 articles, wrongly blamed all causes and effects of the war on Germany. At first, Germany had a large amount of complaints to the treaty. Most of Germany's territory was taken from them, and all of their land overseas was lost. The German army and navy was limited and bans where put on the use of heavy artillery, tanks, and aircrafts.
The treaty was signed on June 28, 1919, which is exactly five years after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Of all country's after the war, Germany received the worst treatment due to the signing of this treaty. They had to pay the allies money. This ruined Germany's economy and the country was not able to profit, therefore they could not save themselves from the bad economy. These treatments made Germany desperate and angry at the allied forces. They wanted change. Many believe that this treaty helped lead up to WWII, with Germany being desperate for change, and willing to listen to the Dictator Hitler and join in a war.

Mustafu Kemal and the Modernization of Turkey

Mustafu Kemal has changed a lot as the President of Turkey. But he first started out as a military leader and hero. He helped with the Turkish national liberation struggle, and led his country to freedom while serving in the army. He then later moved to politics after winning the Turkish National Movement. In 1923, he established the Republic of Turkey and became Turkeys first president. During his 15 year run as president, he created a new government and many new rules. His plan was to modernize Turkey and give his country dignity and happiness. In his idea of a government, education and freedom played a large role.
Mustafu wanted to make the governments role in education important. He made faith in religion free to any person. Muslim, Christians, and Jews where able to practice their religion freely, and the government protected their rights to do so. He also tried to modernize the look of Turkey. He changed the calender to the western calender, and took away the fez hats and veils of women. The country went threw many social changes under his rule, most of which where beneficial. Not only was he the president, but he also served as the Leader of R.P.P, Prime Minister of Turkey, and Speaker of Parliament. He died on November 10, 1938, due to sickness.

Gandhi

Gandhi started his life not as a symbol of India's freedom but as a young Indian lawyer. Gandhi was a well educated man, but acheived little success. One of these was because of race. India was not in control of its own country, but controlled by the British. Gandhi had then moved to South Africa, but found himself a victim to prejudice and unfair law for him and his people. Over this course he had suffered many imprisonments before deciding to use passive resistance and civil disobedience to help his cause. He began to protest and campaign for India's independence.

Gandhi moved back to India to help free it of British rule using passive resistance and protest. Gandhi soon gained many loyal followers in India, and his actions soon became effective. He began to boycott British goods, instead encouraging Indian residents to make their own. Soon the British government began to get angered by Gandhi, and arrested him and his protesters on many occasions. Although the British used violence, such as in the Amritsar Massacre, Gandhi supported peace. Gandhi helped the people protest against British rule and the Salt March, when he protested the British salt rules. His followers continued to grow as he aged.

In 1947, India won its freedom from Britain, but only if the Muslim and Hindu cultures where separated, which was not part of Gandhi's plan. Later, he was assassinated , his death was an event that was shocking and saddening for many. Although he was a major influence on India's freedom, I believe that India would have reached its freedom due to WWII effect on Britain's power. But Gandhi did speed up the process of India's freedom and should be considered a hero.

The Russian Revolution

WWI had an extremly negative effect on Russias economy. There where food shortages, population decrease, inflation, and many people where peasents. The government, and the Czar Nicholas II where unable to help the people. The people of Russia wanted a new form of government and a revolution. A revolution leader named Lenin tried to help the country. Inspired by Carl Marx, he believed in communism and spread it through Russia. The people wanted a new government. Inspired by his quote of Peace, land, and bread, they embraced the idea of communism

This started the Russian revolution. They removed their leader Nicholas II from power. This resulte in riots and violent demostrations. New people took government positions. This is known as the Febuary revolution. During a period known as the October revolution. During this, the Soviet Union was established. They got rid of the Democratic system, and set up dictatorship in the country. This resulted in the Russian Civil War.

Causes of WWI

During the late 1800s, tensions began to rise between countries in Europe. Many countries began to stock up on weapons and military forces. Nationalism caused angry feelings between countries, and imperialism caused rivalry between countries. Alliances such as the Three Emperors Lead and Triple alliance where made in case of war. Many armies and navies where expanded because of militarism. Because of conflict, Serbia threatened Austria, and Russia threatened that they would support Austria.

Because of alliances made, Europe was split into two sides that where angry and in compition with each other to be the best. Each country beleived it was better than the other. All tension was let loose when a Serbia assassinated Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand. War broke out between the two countries, and because of previous alliances made with countries, other countries became involved in the war. Later on, because of American ships being destroyed by war, they too entered and helped the Triple Alliance win the war.