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.