May 2009 Archives

Q4 - Lesson #39 - Communism's Fall in Europe

By
Mike Vergin
on May 29, 2009 10:01 AM |
We'll check in on changes in Eastern and Central Europe today, before wrapping things up with a look at events from Tiananmen Square forward in China on Monday. We'll also aim to get you some working time and a chance to hit the highlights from Chapter 36 before Tuesday's final "Two-Minute" Review.

Any questions on these? Unit #8 Exam - Identifications and Essay Questions

Just to clarify:

  • Essay: Due by the time you arrive at the Final Exam.
  • Identifications: You do this at the Final Exam.
  • DBQs: You do this at the Final Exam.
  • Multiple Choice: You do this at the Final Exam.

Remember, no computers are used during the Final Exam, so any note sheet for the IDs needs to be printed out in advance.
Here's a link to the Extra Credit - World History Film opportunity...


Changes in Central and Eastern Europe:

wall_fall.jpg







You are several others will be assigned a country. Your job is to prepare us a "travel guide" of sorts for that country. However, we won't be asking questions like, "Where should we stay?" and "What should we eat?" Instead, focus on the following:

  • If at all, how did the fading of communism affect your country?
  • How did the country reassert its independence after the decline of the Soviet Union?
  • What have been some of the key challenges facing your country?
  • Who are the people, groups and/or events we absolutely should know?

central_europe.jpg
These are the countries which we will be "touring" together today:

  • Poland
  • Hungary
  • Germany
  • Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic and Slovakia)
  • Romania
  • Yugoslavia (see below)




yugoslavia.jpg














By the way, in an attempt to minimize confusion, here's the current status of the former Yugoslavia. These countries have been created: Bosnia and Herzogovina, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but its status is still in dispute. (The United States does recognize its independence.)


HOMEWORK for next session - Monday, June 1st

Please do the final "regular" reading assignment of your World History career by reading Chapter 35, Section 5, "China:  Reform and Reaction." (pp. 1059-1063) The quiz will be matching.

Your Current Events are due on Monday, June 1st. You can find copies of the template on previous lessons.

Your packet of Chapter 36 quizzes should be turned in by Tuesday, June 2nd. Yes, you are free to use your book as you complete them.

Remember that you write the Unit #8 Essay out of class, and they are due no later than upon your arrival to the Final Exam on Thursday, June 4th.

Q4 - Lesson #38 - The Collapse of the Soviet Union

By
Mike Vergin
on May 28, 2009 8:00 AM |
Since we went right up to the end of class time yesterday, we can backtrack and take any questions or comments on apartheid and/or AIDS. We'll also go back and pick up those last few events from Latin America.


The Collapse of the Soviet Union and the Fall of Communism - Our focus shifts today to an event that, had you asked me about it two years earlier when I was about your age, I never would have expected to see happen. The fall of the Soviet Union both significantly changed the world's political outlook, but it also dealt a fatal blow to communism's chances of competing with capitalist and democratic systems. We'll try and make sense of these events today...

Before we go too far, I want you to put yourselves in the position of a Soviet citizen, say a member of the Communist Party, in 1985. Pair up with those around you and brainstorm a list of complaints and criticisms you have about your lives. (Consider this your 9.5 Theses, if you will...) It might help to think in terms of social, economic and political issues. Think about both the Soviet Union in particular and communism in general.

Let's take a few minutes now to browse a set of Gorbachev notes that I've used when teaching this topic in other classes. (It will download as a Microsoft Word document, and you're free to use it to take some notes if that would be helpful... That's a hint.)

Here are some events I believe you need to understand to make sense of all this...

gorbachev.jpg














Gorbachev and Reform
  • glasnost
    • Chernobyl
  • perestroika
  • demokratizatsiya
ethnic tensions in the republics
rise of Boris Yeltsin

yeltsin.jpeg








August Coup - 1991
December 25, 1991 - end of the Soviet Union
Commonwealth of Independent States

soviet_union.png














I'm interested in your opinions on these questions...

  • Which factors were more important in the ending of the Soviet Union? Internal or external?
  • Should Gorbachev be remembered as a hero or a failure?
  • Is Russia better off without communism?
  • Is the world safer now than during the era of the Cold War?
  • Should communism be, in the words of Reagan, left on the "ash heap of history?"

Here's what Time had to say when it named Gorbachev one of the 100 Most Important People of the Century.


Gorbachev remains active as head of the Gorbachev Foundation.


Russia since 1991 - We've talked about Putin a number of times these past two years. Let's talk briefly about some of the issues that Russia has faced since the fall of the Soviet Union.

  • Boris Yeltsin (1991 - 1999)
  • rise of the oligarchs
  • economic transitions
russian_economy.PNG










chechnya.png
  








  • Chechnya (1991 - 2002) - insurgency continues
    • Moscow theater hostage crisis (2002)
    • Beslan school hostage crisis (2004)
  • Vladimir Putin (President 2000 - 2008) (Prime Minister 2008 - )
  • Dmitry Medvedev (President 2008 - )

medvedev_putin.jpg








HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Friday, May 29th

Please continue your reading in Chapter 35 with Section 4, "Changes in Central and Eastern Europe." (pp. 1052-1058) The quiz will be true / false.

Remember that your final batch of Current Events are due on Monday, June 1st. You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events. (Remember, you are picking stories from particular areas, not according to the AP History themes we had been using.) 

Q4 - Unit #8 Exam - Identifications and Essay Questions

By
Mike Vergin
on May 27, 2009 8:00 AM |

Unit #8 Identifications: During the Social Studies Final Exam on Thursday, June 4th, you will write on your choice of 5 of the 8 identifications that appear on the ID portion chosen from the list below. You may bring 10 words of "notes" for each of the 15 possible identifications to the exam. (Printed out, as you will not be able to use your computer.) You will need to turn in these notes, and I reserve the right to count symbols, acronyms, etc. as one or more words. Each of the five identifications is worth 5 points.

A good identification is typically in the range of 4 to 6 sentences in length. (You do need to write in complete sentences.) You should demonstrate both an understanding of just who / what the ID "is" and place it in the appropriate historical context. In addition, you need to explain the significance of the ID. In other words, answer the "So what?" question.

containment
Marshall Plan
Cultural Revolution
Khmer  Rouge
Fidel Castro
Ayatollah Khomeini
Nikita Khrushchev
Partition of India
intifada
Six-Day War
Taliban
PRI
apartheid
glasnost
Tiananmen Square


Unit #8 Essay Exam - Questions and Format - You'll write an essay as part of the Final (Unit #8) Exam. This essay should be turned in no later than at your arrival to the Social Studies Final Exam on Thursday, June 4th. Below you can find both the questions from which you will choose and the format for the essay portion on the Unit #8 Exam. The essay will be evaluated on the usual 30 point scale, and that score is doubled in PowerSchool.

Format: The actual essay will be written by hand or word-processed. You should prepare for a five-paragraph essay. That means that you should include an introduction (with a clear thesis statement), three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. (Note that the questions lend themselves to such a format. That is on purpose.)

Remember that the questions are not designed for you to tell us everything you have learned. Focus on what the question is requiring you to do.

* I want them printed out. (Double spaced, please.) Printing double-sided is fine.

A. Identify and explain the significance of the three specific events that you feel best represent the overall nature of the Cold War. Is the world of today more or less safe than the Cold War world? Why?

B. During the Cold War lessons, you were introduced to the "Doomsday Clock." (Here's the timeline. It is currently set for five minutes to midnight.) Identify and explain the significance of three factors/issues that you think should be considered foremost in deciding where to set the clock in the near future. Two years from now, what time do you think the Doomsday Clock should read? Why?

C. Imagine that you have been given complete control of the Middle East peace process. Explain your recommendation or position on each of these three issues: the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the future of the Old City of Jerusalem, and the status of the security barrier built by Israel along the West Bank. Five years from now, will the Palestinian / Israeli situation be more or less peaceful than it is today?

D. To many, the Cold War is the dominant theme of the post-World War II world. Setting aside events that took place between the superpowers, identify and explain the significance of the three world events that you believe will come to be recognized by historians as the most important of the last half of the 20th century. Which specific individual do you believe best epitomizes the post-World War II world?

Q4 - Lesson #37 - South Africa Before and After Apartheid

By
Mike Vergin
on May 27, 2009 8:00 AM |
Before we return to Africa one more time, we need to finish up some pieces from our "25 Not Quite Random Things about Latin America" activity. Let's try to do that quickly.

Your reading for today focused on the challenges of democracy in Africa. We can touch base on the Nigeria story, but the country of South Africa will be our focus for today. In particular, we'll examine the system of apartheid that was in place for decades. After that, we'll consider the threat AIDS is posing in many areas of the world by considering the case study of sub-Saharan Africa.


Apartheid in South Africa - When we last left South Africa, it had become an independent member of the British Commonwealth between the world wars. In 1948, the Afrikaner-led Nationalist Party came to power advocating a system of apartheid. For more than four decades, this become one of the most notorious governmental systems in the world.

  • How did apartheid work?
  • What was the damage done by apartheid?
  • How was apartheid opposed? (Internally? Externally?)
  • How was the system of apartheid dismantled?

Timeline of Apartheid -
  • 1948 - National Party institutes apartheid
  • 1950 - race classification, Group Areas Act passed, ANC banned
  • 1960 - Sharpeville Massacre
  • 1964 - Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment
  • 1976 - Soweto Uprising - 600 killed
  • 1977 - Stephen Biko killed in police custody
  • 1980s - international pressure increases
  • 1986 - state of emergency
  • 1989 - F.W. de Klerk becomes president
  • 1990 - Mandela released, ANC unbanned
  • 1994 - Mandela elected president in free elections

bantustans.png

The colored areas on the map show the "homelands" or Bantustans where the black African population of South Africa was forced to live during the apartheid decades.













AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: While certainly a worldwide crisis, AIDS has struck most severely in Sub-Saharan Africa. We'll take a look at the extent of the crisis using a set of overheads that look at the "numbers" behind the crisis. (These particular overheads are from 2000, so the specific numbers are no longer accurate. However, they certainly make certain points effectively. You can find updated information below.)

aids_growth.gif













Some questions for us to consider:
  • Why has AIDS hit Sub-Saharan Africa so heavily?
  • What might be done to slow the epidemic?
  • Should (or how should) the outside world help in dealing with the effects of the epidemic?

Here are some additional resources on AIDS:

"Death Stalks a Continent" - Time, (2001) - As the front page says, "This is a story about AIDS in Africa. Look at the pictures. Read the words. And then try not to care."

If you want some straight-forward information, the Global Issues - AIDS in Africa site is a good one to use.

"Worldwide AIDS epidemic slowing, says UN" - The Guardian, July 29, 2008. This is one of many articles suggesting that the epidemic may be slowing. (Don't confuse that with being cured.)

"FRONTLINE: The Age of AIDS" - This 2006 PBS site looks at the worldwide aspects. The timeline and map features are both interesting.

If you are interested in the most recent evidence on AIDS in Africa, check out this video from Hans Rosling on HIV. He's really good.


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Thursday, May 28th

Please continue your reading in Chapter 35 with Section 3, "The Collapse of the Soviet Union." (pp. 1046-1051) The quiz will be fill-in-the-blank.

Remember that your final batch of Current Events are due on Monday, June 1st. You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events. (Remember, you are picking stories from particular areas, not according to the AP History themes we had been using.) 

Q4 - "25 Not Quite Random Things about Latin America"

By
Mike Vergin
on May 26, 2009 8:00 AM | | Comments (14)
Here's the place to post your comment/write-up on your topic... These should be posted before the start of class on Wednesday.

Q4 - Lesson #36 - Checking in with Central Asia and Latin America

By
Mike Vergin
on May 26, 2009 8:00 AM |
That may be the strangest lesson title yet... These two areas have relatively little in common, except that one closed Chapter 34, and the other began Chapter 35. We'll check in on some key events in both regions.

Before anything else, we can debrief a bit about Friday's Jerusalem 2009 Peace Conference. In particular, I am interested in home this activity changed or reinforced your attitude toward the Middle East and/or any of the particular sides. As I mentioned, I intend to offer you a choice of essay questions (take home) that includes one on the Middle East.

Remember that you have a batch of Current Events due on Monday, June 1st. (I will be out that day, so you can expect that it will be largely a work day.) You'll know all the Unit #8 Identifications and Essay Questions tomorrow.


Central Asia - As you read in Chapter 34, a number of the nations of Central Asia were created in the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union. We can check in very briefly with both the Transcaucasian and Central Asian states, but then we'll focus a little bit more on Afghanistan.

central_asia.jpg

afghanistan.jpg


Latin America - I'll be honest when I tell you that the period from the end of World War II to the 1980s in Latin America is hardly one of my specialties. However, we'll do an activity below that should hit many of the most salient and important specifics from that period up to today in Latin America. 

First, I think it is interesting to take a minute and consider what the book establishes as four key practices in a democracy.

  • free elections
  • citizen participation
  • majority rule, minority rights
  • constitutional government
Whether you are looking at Latin America or elsewhere, consider the factors conditions that might both foster and threaten these practices. Let's hear some of your ideas.

latin_america.jpg
















Facebook comes to Latin America... I think I've told you that I have never seen either Facebook or MySpace. That doesn't mean that I've been living in a cave and haven't heard about the "25 Random Things about Me" fad. In that spirit, we're going to try and introduce you to "25 Not Quite Random Things about Latin America" as a quick assignment.

You will select one of the "things" below, and there are two components to the assignment.

First, you will have one minute (no more) to explain your thing, and its significance to the class. We will try and get as many of those in today as we can, hopefully starting with 25 minutes left in class.

Second, you will be expected to make a blog posting of 100-150 words or so regarding your topic. Give us the basic facts and significance of your item. If you want to include a link to something useful, feel free to do that. (These blog postings should be made on the entries provided, and they are due before class time tomorrow.)


Here's the Facebook-inspired list of "25 Not Quite Random Things about Latin America":

Juan and Evita Peron - Argentina
"Dirty War" - Argentina
"Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo" - Argentina

Evo Morales - Bolivia

"Lula" da Silva - Brazil

Salvador Allende - Chile
Augusto Pinochet - Chile
Isabel Allende - Chile

Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Colombia
FARC - Colombia
Plan Colombia - Colombia

Fidel Castro - Cuba
Guantanamo Bay - Cuba

"Papa Doc" and "Baby Doc" Duvalier - Haiti 
Tonton Macoute - Haiti

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) - Mexico
Frida Kahlo - Mexico
Tlatelolco Massacre - Mexico
Chiapas - Mexico
NAFTA - Mexico
Vicente Fox - Mexico
Zapatista Army of National Liberation - Mexico

Manuel Noriega - Panama

Operation Condor - "Southern Cone" dictatorships

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

Remember that we looked at some of the Cold War events in Central America already, so that's why terms like Contra and Sandinista are not on the list...


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Wednesday, May 27th

Please continue your reading in Chapter 35 with Section 2, "The Challenge of Democracy in Africa" (pp. 1040-1045) The quiz will be multiple choice.

Your contribution to the "25 Not Quite Random Things about Latin America" blog posting is due before the start of class time tomorrow. My expectation is somewhere between 100 to 150 words, and no credit will be given if it is not expressed in your own words. (You can go up to 250 or so words if you are really interested in your topic, but more than that is probably overkill.)

Remember that your final batch of Current Events are due on Monday, June 1st. You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events. (Remember, you are picking stories from particular areas, not according to the AP History themes we had been using.) 

For Chapter 36, you received a packet of the five quizzes on Friday, and you can complete them on your own as assignments between now and next Tuesday's final day of class.

Q4 - Lesson #35 - Jerusalem 2009 Peace Conference

By
Mike Vergin
on May 22, 2009 8:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Welcome to today's "Jerusalem 2009 Peach Conference." We have gathered in the shadow of the Temple Mount / Noble Sanctuary in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. Our goal is to make meaningful progress toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis between Israelis and Palestinians.

temple_mount.jpg











Here is the format: - We'll allow groups five minutes to meet to plan strategy and discuss issues of importance. After that, we will return to the large group. Members of "The Quartet" will assist in moving through the agenda. 

Remember to strive to be consistent with your role. You do not need to turn only to your "leaders" to speak. Everyone here should have a voice, but "agreements" need only be agreed to by the respective leaders.

Agenda for the Jerusalem 2009 Peace Conference: 

Strategy Planning (5 minutes)

Opening Statements: 

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
  • United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Immediate Issues:

  • How can the current tension between Israel and the Palestinians be lessened?
  • Should the security barrier/ wall on the West Bank be removed?
  • What should be done to improve conditions in Gaza?
  • What can be done to increase the safety of the citizens of Israel?

Longer Term Issues:

  • Should an independent Palestinian state be created? If so, where?
  • What should be done with the status of Jerusalem?
  • What should be the fate of Jewish settlements on the West Bank?
  • Should Palestinian refugees receive the "right of return?"
  • How can the prospect of terrorism be reduced?
  • How do we guarantee all have access to water and needed resources?

Announcement of Treaties / Agreements

Closing Remarks / Press Statements


Here's a reminder of who is present at our conference today...

Representatives of Israel

  • Israel - Tzipi Livni (Opposition Leader - Kadima)
  • Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister - Likud)
  • Israel - President Shimon Peres
  • Israel - Avigdor Lieberman (Foreign Minister - Yisraeli Beiteinu)
  • Israel - Ehud Barak (Defense Minister - Labour)
  • Israel - soldier serving of Gaza border
  • Israel - settler living on West Bank
  • Israel - mother of three (Jerusalem)

Representatives of the Palestinians

  • Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah)
  • Palestinian -PNA Prime Minister Ismail Haniya (Gaza - Hamas)
  • Palestinian - PNA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (West Bank - Fatah)
  • Hassan Nasrallah - Hezbollah leader (based in Lebanon)
  • Palestinian - member of Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade (in Gaza)
  • Palestinian - resident of Hebron (West Bank)
  • Palestinian - resident of Jericho (West Bank)
  • Palestinian - mother of three (Gaza)

Representatives of "The Quartet"

  • US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
  • Russia - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
  • United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
  • European Union - High Representative Javier Solana
  • Special Mideast Envoy Tony Blair

Here are the links from the BBC News Special Reports site, Middle East Crisis: Israel and the Palestinians: 


Here are the "Obstacles to Peace" they identified:


Here are thumbnail links to all the maps I used last time. They might again be useful.

un_partition.png



gazastrip.png



HOMEWORK for next session - Tuesday, March 26th

Please begin your reading in Chapter 35 with Section 1, "Democracy" (pp. 1033-1039) The quiz will be matching.

Remember that your final batch of Current Events are due on Monday, June 1st. You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events. (Remember, you are picking stories from particular areas, not according to the AP History themes we had been using.)

Q4 - Lesson #34 - The Arab/Israeli Conflict

By
Mike Vergin
on May 21, 2009 8:00 AM |

Today, we head back to the Middle East and bring the country of Israel into the picture of the post-World War II years. We'll set you up to participate in the Jerusalem 2009 Peace Conference at our next meeting as you'll attempt to resolve decades/centuries/millennia of conflict in this region.

We'll first draw roles for our conference, then we'll do a quick overview of the major events leading up to the current situation in the region.


The "Modern" Middle East Crisis

Here's an Arab/Israeli Note-Taking Guide for these events if you'd like one...

Zionism v. anti-Semitism

World War I - collapse of the Ottoman Empire

  • Balfour Declaration - 1917

World War II - Holocaust

  • United Nations created - 1945
  • Takes up "Jewish Question"

Israel created - May 14, 1948

  • UN Partition of Palestine
  • 1948 Arab-Israeli War
  • 1948 Palestinan exodus - al Nakba
un_partition_1947.png



























Suez Crisis - 1956

Six-Day War - 1967

  • Palestinian Liberation Organization formed - 1967
1967-war.jpg

















Yom Kippur War - 1973

  • Black September - 1973

Camp David Accords signed - 1979

PLO begins intifada against Israel - 1987

  • Intifada II sparked in Jerusalem - 2000           

israel_map.png





















Jerusalem 2009 Peace Conference: You will receive one of the roles below to represent at tomorrow's conference. You won't be expected to give individual introductions, but you should come ready to represent your role from a relatively accurate position. You can expect some of these "big questions" to be on the table.

  • Should an independent Palestinian state be created? If so, where?
  • What should be done with the status of Jerusalem?
  • Should the security barrier/ wall on the West Bank be removed?
  • What should be done to improve conditions in Gaza?
  • What role, if any, does the outside world play in these negotiations?
  • Should Palestinian refugees receive the "right of return?"
  • What can be done to increase the safety of the citizens of Israel?


Representatives of Israel

  • Israel - Tzipi Livni (leader of Kadima)
  • Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister - Likud)
  • Israel - President Shimon Peres
  • Israel - Avigdor Lieberman (leader of Yisraeli Beiteinu)
  • Israel - Ehud Barak (leader of Labour)
  • Israel - soldier serving of Gaza border
  • Israel - settler living on West Bank
  • Israel - mother of three (Jerusalem)

Representatives of the Palestinians

  • Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah)
  • Palestinian -PNA Prime Minister Ismail Haniya (Gaza - Hamas)
  • Palestinian - PNA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (West Bank - Fatah)
  • Hassan Nasrallah - Hezbollah leader (based in Lebanon)
  • Palestinian - member of Al Aksa Martyrs Brigade (in Gaza)
  • Palestinian - resident of Hebron (West Bank)
  • Palestinian - resident of Jericho (West Bank)
  • Palestinian - mother of three (Gaza)

Representatives of "The Quartet"

  • US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton
  • Russia - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
  • United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
  • European Union - High Representative Javier Solana
  • Special Mideast Envoy Tony Blair

You can certainly do much, if not all, of your preparation at the BBC News Special Reports site, Middle East Crisis: Israel and the Palestinians. Here are some specific recommendations for you to check out. 

Israeli Election: Where they stand - must reading for all Israeli politicians
Q & A: Israel's General Election - Confused about the recent election? Read this.
Who are Hamas? - explains the history of this Palestinian group.
Q & A: Gaza Conflict - explains the recent Israeli advance into the Gaza Strip 

They identify some "Obstacles to Peace": Browsing these would help everyone.
Here are maps of Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

jerusalem_67_today.gif













old_city.jpg
westbankwall.jpg





























gaza.png







































HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Friday, May 22nd

Finish your reading in Chapter 34 with Section 5, "Central Asia Struggles" (pp. 1024 - 1027). The quiz will be true/false.

Be ready to represent "your" position at our Jerusalem Conference 2009 tomorrow.



 

Q4 - Lesson #33 - Decolonization and Independence in Africa

By
Mike Vergin
on May 20, 2009 8:00 AM |
We'll return to Africa again today. After we look at the various paths to independence followed across Africa, we'll turn our attention to the Rwandan genocide on 1994. (We'll return to Africa one more time to focus on the apartheid era and its aftermath in South Africa.)


Case Studies: Africa - Let's hear what you learned about the process of decolonization in these African nations.

    • Ghana
    • Kenya
    • Algeria
    • Zaire (Congo)
    • Angola
As a reminder, you were asked to do the following:

    • Describe the way in which independence was achieved in your country.
    • Explain key events and/or people in the move to independence.
    • If applicable, discuss the legacy of colonialism/imperialism in your country.
    • Evaluate the success of decolonization for your country.
    • Mention anything else that you believe to be important.
We'll take a quick look at a couple of additional "stories" that took place in the process of decolonization across Africa. In particular, we should check in on Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and a few others.

BBC: The Story of Africa - This website does a nice job with the independence movements in Africa. You might be interested in browsing around here a bit.


"The Season of Blood" - The Rwandan Genocide - Shortly after you all were born, the tiny nation of Rwanda witnessed some of the most concentrated killing of the 20th century. Your reading for today mentioned the event, but we'll spend some time trying to make sense of these events.

Download this Rwanda - note guide to help you with some of the terms and the chronology of events.

Here are some resources you might find interesting:

These are news articles from the time. What's most interesting is what isn't mentioned in them...


These are the very good websites that accompanied two PBS "Frontline" episodes.

Here are a couple of resources published around April's 15th anniversary of the genocide.


Here's a chart that speaks for itself...
rwanda_population.png















HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Thursday, May 21st

Continue your reading in Chapter 33 with Section 4, "Conflicts in the Middle East" (pp. 1017 - 1023). Tomorrow's quiz will be fill-in-the-blank.




Q4 - Lesson #32 - Independence in Southeast Asia (and Africa)

By
Mike Vergin
on May 19, 2009 8:00 AM | | Comments (0)
We'll just spend a brief time on Southeast Asia today before moving on to begin our look at decolonization in Africa.

Current Events: Here's a quick reminder that you have a set of Current Events due on Monday, June 1st. Notice that you don't stick with those AP History themes that you have been using. Instead, simply choose stories that fit within the given regions listed below.

  • South Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • East Asia (China, Japan, Koreas)
  • Africa
  • Middle East 
  • Latin America
You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events.


"Decolonization and Revolution: 1945 to 1975" DBQ activity - We can briefly discuss points of interest here.


Whirlwind Tour of Southeast Asia: As we did yesterday, we'll focus our attention today on the key aspects of the section you read for class. Here are the things I believe you should be sure to know.

  • People to Know: Ferdinand Marcos, Aung San Suu Kyi, Sukarno, Suharto
  • Places to Know: Philippines, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor

Decolonization and Independence in Africa: We'll take a closer look at the wide variety of paths to decolonization in Africa over the next two days. We'll begin with a quick jigsaw activity designed to look at some of the words that accompanies the move toward independence in Africa.

You'll receive an excerpt, speech or poem from a major figure in Africa's move for independence. Read that selection along with others with that reading. After that, we'll have you share your reading in a jigsaw group.

africa_decolonization.jpg





































Case Studies: Africa - I know, some of you hate the term "case study," but this should be a useful activity here. We'll have you select one of five African nations. (To make it easier, we'll use the five in the book.) Your group will have no more than five minutes tomorrow to "tell" us the story of decolonization and independence in "your" country. (No need for PowerPoint or technology other than the maps I'll have available.)

Here are the countries: (They are all mentioned in Chapter 34:3, but I'd expect your preparation to extend beyond just that.)

    • Ghana
    • Kenya
    • Algeria
    • Zaire (Congo)
    • Angola
For your short presentation, please do on the following.

    • Describe the way in which independence was achieved in your country.
    • Explain key events and/or people in the move to independence.
    • If applicable, discuss the legacy of colonialism/imperialism in your country.
    • Evaluate the success of decolonization for your country.
    • Mention anything else that you believe to be important.

HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Wednesday, May 20th

Continue your reading in Chapter 33 with Section 3, "New Nations in Africa" (pp. 1012 - 1016). Tomorrow's quiz will be multiple choice.

Be ready to tell your African decolonization/independence story with your group.

Q4 - Lesson #31 - Independence on the Indian Sub-Continent

By
Mike Vergin
on May 18, 2009 8:00 AM |
Our major topic for this week will be decolonization in much of the world. Taking a look at a world map from, say, 1945 and comparing it to a recent map will show you just how much has changed in the last 65 years. Here are several questions to ponder:

  • Why does decolonization begin to happen when it does?
  • Why are there so many paths to decolonization around the world?
decolonization_1945.jpg



Independence on the Indian Subcontinent - We'll be covering a lot of ground these next few days. I'll do my best to make sure you understand what I think you need to know and what is mostly background. For now, I'll use some mini-lectures to try and highlight key items and to provide a forum for questions and comments.

"A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance." -Jawarhalal Nehru

  • People you should know: Mohandas Gandhi, Jawarhalal Nehru, Indira Gandhi
  • Terms you should know: Partition, Kashmir, Sikhs, Punjab, Golden Temple
  • Countries to know: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

Here's a Time magazine cover featuring the Partition of India.

partition_time_cover.jpg



































Timeline of key events:
July 16, 1947 - British House of Commons announces partition in one month
August 14, 1947 - Pakistan given independence
August 15, 1947 - India given independence
1947 - estimated 1 million die in resettlement violence
January 30, 1948 - Gandhi killed by Hindu extremist
1947 - 1964 - Jawaharlal Nehru is Indian Prime Minister
1966 - 1984 - Indira Gandhi serves as Prime Minister
1984 - Attack on Sikh Golden Temple at Amritsar
1991 - Rajiv Gandhi assassinated
1998 - India (and Pakistan) successfully test nuclear weapons

We can also chat briefly about the situations in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Resources to check out on the Indian subcontinent:


Some questions for us to consider:

  • After 60 years, should we consider the Partition a success? Why or why not?
  • What have been the main achievements of India so far? Its biggest failures?
  • Do you think India will become a significant economic rival to the United States?
  • Will there be war between India and Pakistan? If so, will it be nuclear?

To wrap up today and segue into tomorrow, I have your FINAL DBQ activity to work on. This one is called, "Decolonization and Revolution: 1945 to 1975," and it provides a nice overview of the period. This should be ready for discussion tomorrow.


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Tuesday, May 19th

Continue your reading in Chapter 33 with Section 2, "Southeast Asian Nations Gain Independence" (pp. 1004 - 1009).

Have the "Decolonization and Revolution: 1945 to 1975" DBQ activity ready to discuss.

Q4 - Lesson #30 - 18th Anniversary - Cold War Retirement Home

By
Mike Vergin
on May 15, 2009 8:00 AM |
Cold Warrior Retirement Home 18th Anniversary Celebration: We'll wrap up our look at the Cold War with a version of our round-table discussions today.

Here are the guests:

China

  • Mao Zedong
  • Zhou Enlai

Europe

  • Lech Walesa
  • Vaclav Havel
  • Margaret Thatcher
  • Erich Honecker
  • Willy Brandt

Korea

  • Syngman Rhee
  • Kim Il Sung

Soviet Union

  • Joseph Stalin
  • Nikita Khrushchev
  • Leonid Brezhnev
  • Mikhail Gorbachev

United States

  • Harry Truman
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • John Kennedy
  • Lyndon Johnson
  • Richard Nixon
  • Ronald Reagan

Vietnam

  • Ngo Dinh Diem
  • Ho Chi Minh
You'll be expected to look into "your" role in the Cold War. We don't need to know a bunch more about other aspects of your life. Keep it simple and straight-forward. We're talking introductions of about a minute or two. Your roles were selected from the list at the Cold War International History Project's Cold War Files (a great site) page cleverly entitled, "People." 

Questions for Discussion: We've already been talking about Cold War events, but I want to take a step back here and consider the broader picture. Here are a couple of questions for you:

  • Was the Cold War inevitable? Why or why not?
  • Where, if anywhere, do you place blame for the start of the Cold War?
  • From the perspective of 1945, do you think either side conceived that this conflict would last for more than 40 years?
  • From the perspective of 1945, do you think either side could realistically have predicted victory?
  • What do you believe were the most important events of the Cold War? Why?
  • Who was most to blame for the Cuban Missile Crisis? The United States, the Soviet Union, Cuba?
  • Was the nuclear arms race inevitable? What might have been done differently?
  • What brought the Cold War to an end?
  • Is the United States justified in claiming to have "won" the Cold War? Why or why not?

Cold War Time Capsules - Assume that you've been put in charge of compiling a time capsule of the Cold War. It will be opened in 2041, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Cold War. You've got room for ten items. What do you put in the capsule?  Why?

Cold War Photo Album - A slightly different version. You're limited to ten photographs to capture the essence of the Cold War. Which do you select? Why?

Cold War "Heroes and Villains" - Who are they? Why?


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Tuesday, February 24th

If you didn't already take it, the quiz Chapter 34, Section 1, "The Indian Subcontinent Achieves Freedom" (pp. 997-1003) will be on MONDAY. The quiz will be true/false. CONGRATULATIONS! When was the last time you read one thousand pages in a book???

 

Q4 - Lesson #29.5 - The Cold War Ends

By
Mike Vergin
on May 14, 2009 8:00 AM |
With over a quarter of the class being gone today, we'll slow things down a bit. I'll also introduce a number of things to you that pertain to the rest of the quarter.

First, you can take the quiz today if you want, OR you can wait until Monday. That will align us perfectly for the rest of the year. This schedule might help with your planning...

Friday (May 15th) - 18th Anniversary - Cold War Retirement Home Discussion

Monday (May 18th) - Quiz on 34.1 - Independence in India
Tuesday (May 19th) - Quiz on 34.2 - Decolonization in Southeast Asia
Wednesday (May 20th) - Quiz on 34.3 - Independence in Africa
Thursday (May 21st) - Quiz on 34.4 - Arab/Israeli Conflict
Friday (May 22nd) - Quiz on 34.5 - Jerusalem Conference 2009

Tuesday (May 26th) - Quiz on 35.1 - Latin America
Wednesday (May 27th) - Quiz on 35.2 - South Africa and Apartheid
Thursday (May 28th) - Quiz on 35.3 - Fall of Soviet Union
Friday (May 29th) - Quiz on 35.4 - Changes after Communism in Europe

Monday (June 1st) - Quiz on 35.5 - China after Tiananmen - Current Events due
Tuesday (June 2nd) - Unit #8 Review - Chapter 36 Quizzes due
Thursday (June 4th) - Social Studies Final Exam


Current Events: Due to popular request (seriously, a couple people asked last quarter if we could do them), you'll have one more batch of Current Events. We'll make these due on Monday, June 1st, although I'd certainly take them earlier. We'll have the topics be related to our current studies, so they will need to come from specific regions of the world. Notice that you don't stick with those AP History themes that you have been using. Instead, simply choose stories that fit within the given regions listed below.

  • South Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • East Asia (China, Japan, Koreas)
  • Africa
  • Middle East 
  • Latin America
You can download this template for your Final Set of Current Events.


Cnn: Cold War Reports: Let's try to finish these up today:

19. Freeze - http://tinyurl.com/64k2a6
20. Soldiers of God - http://tinyurl.com/69fz4s
21. Spies - http://tinyurl.com/5wojfh
22. Star Wars - http://tinyurl.com/4eae95
23. The Wall Comes Down - http://tinyurl.com/6m2b6y
24. Conclusions - http://tinyurl.com/6cbcgn

Fighting the "Cold War": We've already been talking about Cold War events, but I think it makes sense to take a step back here and consider the broader picture. Here are a couple of questions for you:

  • Was the Cold War inevitable? Why or why not?
  • From the perspective of 1945, do you think either side conceived that this conflict would last for more than 40 years?
  • From the perspective of 1945, do you think either side could realistically have predicted victory?
While fought on a variety of fronts with a wide variety of tactics, here are some of what historians generally agree where the "strategies" of the Cold War. (A slightly different list appears on page 983 in your text...) It would be good if we can think of some examples of each of these strategies.

  • Espionage
  • Propaganda
  • Foreign assistance
  • Weapons development / arms race
  • Multinational alliances
  • Technological development
  • Brinkmanship
  • Proxy wars

Play around with one or more of these Cold War prompts...

Cold War Time Capsules - Assume that you've been put in charge of compiling a time capsule of the Cold War. It will be opened in 2041, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Cold War. You've got room for ten items. What do you (and a partner if you want) put in the capsule?  Why?

Cold War Photo Album - A slightly different version. You're limited to eight photographs to capture the essence of the Cold War. Which do you select? Why? Collect them to show others.

Cold War "Heroes and Villains" - Who are they? Why?


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Friday, May 15th

IF YOU CHOSE NOT TO TAKE THE QUIZ TODAY, be sure you've read Chapter 34's Section 1, "The Indian Subcontinent Achieves Freedom" (pp. 997-1003). The quiz will now be on MONDAY and it will be true/false. (CONGRATULATIONS! When was the last time you read one thousand pages in a book???)

"Your" Cold Warrior should be ready to present at tomorrow's Cold Warrior Retirement Home 18th Anniversary Celebration. You'll be expected to look into "your" role in the Cold War. We don't need to know a bunch more about other aspects of your life. Keep it simple and straight-forward. We're talking introductions of about a minute or two. Following that, there will be some questions for the group to discuss. Your roles were selected from the list at the Cold War International History Project's Cold War Files (a great site) page cleverly entitled, "People." I'd recommend starting your research there.

Q4 - Lesson #29 - The Cold War Continues

By
Mike Vergin
on May 13, 2009 8:00 AM | | Comments (4)
We'll keep going with our overview of the Cold War today...

Cnn: Cold War Reports: I'd like to continue hearing from our "reporters" on their episodes from this series. Let's try to finish them up today:

11. Vietnam - http://tinyurl.com/66t9o6
12. MAD - http://tinyurl.com/57rjbb

13. Make Love, Not War - http://tinyurl.com/5mexsb
14. Red Spring - http://tinyurl.com/5egq2h
15. China - http://tinyurl.com/6hagn8
16. Détente - http://tinyurl.com/5ggezb
17. Good Guys, Bad Guys - http://tinyurl.com/6d3ux
18. Backyard - http://tinyurl.com/54tfp2
19. Freeze - http://tinyurl.com/64k2a6
20. Soldiers of God - http://tinyurl.com/69fz4s
21. Spies - http://tinyurl.com/5wojfh
22. Star Wars - http://tinyurl.com/4eae95
23. The Wall Comes Down - http://tinyurl.com/6m2b6y
24. Conclusions - http://tinyurl.com/6cbcgn
When you have finished summarizing, please post your blog entry on the CNN: Cold War Reports page. It should contain the following.

  1. Provide the title of your episode, along with a several sentence summary of what it was about.
  2. Identify and key terms or people about which people should know.
  3. List the three main conclusions/points/ideas that people should take away from this episode. (We'll share these verbally in class as well.)
  4. Your reaction to the events you saw. Were there particular people or nations who acted in ways you found praiseworthy, dangerous, etc.?
  5. Your recommendation as to whether this is a worthwhile episode for others to watch.


Fighting the "Cold War": We've already been talking about Cold War events, but I think it makes sense to take a step back here and consider the broader picture. Here are a couple of questions for you:

  • Was the Cold War inevitable? Why or why not?
  • From the perspective of 1945, do you think either side conceived that this conflict would last for more than 40 years?
  • From the perspective of 1945, do you think either side could realistically have predicted victory?
While fought on a variety of fronts with a wide variety of tactics, here are some of what historians generally agree where the "strategies" of the Cold War. (A slightly different list appears on page 983 in your text...) It would be good if we can think of some examples of each of these strategies.

  • Espionage
  • Propaganda
  • Foreign assistance
  • Weapons development / arms race
  • Multinational alliances
  • Technological development
  • Brinkmanship
  • Proxy wars

Cold War Time Capsules - Assume that you've been put in charge of compiling a time capsule of the Cold War. It will be opened in 2041, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Cold War. You've got room for ten items. What do you (and a partner if you want) put in the capsule?  Why?


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Thursday, May 14th

Please start reading in Chapter 34 with Section 1, "The Indian Subcontinent Achieves Freedom" (pp. 997-1003). The quiz will be true/false. CONGRATULATIONS! When was the last time you read one thousand pages in a book???

"Your" Cold Warrior should be ready to present at tomorrow's Cold Warrior Retirement Home 18th Anniversary Celebration. You'll be expected to look into "your" role in the Cold War. We don't need to know a bunch more about other aspects of your life. Keep it simple and straight-forward. We're talking introductions of about a minute or two. Following that, there will be some questions for the group to discuss. Your roles were selected from the list at the Cold War International History Project's Cold War Files (a great site) page cleverly entitled, "People." I'd recommend starting your research there.

Q4 - Lesson #28 - Fighting the Cold War

By
Mike Vergin
on May 12, 2009 8:00 AM |
Sounds like things went well yesterday. Thank you.


Cnn: Cold War Reports: Today, I'd like to quickly hear from our first dozen "reporters" on their episodes from this series. Nothing fancy here, just give us a quick summary of what you saw. Let's try to do:

1. Comrades - http://tinyurl.com/54bnx5
2. Iron Curtain - http://tinyurl.com/3rmsyv
3. Marshall Plan - http://tinyurl.com/45ojyr
4. Berlin - http://tinyurl.com/4s5w47
5. Korea - http://tinyurl.com/6c4hre
6. Reds - http://tinyurl.com/5ae9qg
7. After Stalin - http://tinyurl.com/6hltrc
8. Sputnik - http://tinyurl.com/66byuq
9. The Wall - http://tinyurl.com/5acfkz
10. Cuba - http://tinyurl.com/6xnyzw
11. Vietnam - http://tinyurl.com/66t9o6
12. MAD - http://tinyurl.com/57rjbb

When you have finished summarizing, please post your blog entry on the CNN: Cold War Reports page. It should contain the following.

  1. Provide the title of your episode, along with a several sentence summary of what it was about.
  2. Identify and key terms or people about which people should know.
  3. List the three main conclusions/points/ideas that people should take away from this episode. (We'll share these verbally in class as well.)
  4. Your reaction to the events you saw. Were there particular people or nations who acted in ways you found praiseworthy, dangerous, etc.?
  5. Your recommendation as to whether this is a worthwhile episode for others to watch.
We'll do the second batch of twelve episodes tomorrow.


The Doomsday Clock - Since 1947, the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists have kept the "Doomsday Clock." Originally set to reflect the dangers of a thermonuclear way, it now also represents the danger of other forms of "catastrophic destruction" as well. It is an interesting way to look at the tensions of the Cold War.
(Click on the image to get to to enlarge and show the right edge in a new window...)
doomsday_clock.png


Cold Warriors - Thursday, we will celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the End of the Cold War at the Cold Warrior Retirement Home. (1991 is generally considered to mark the end of the Cold War.) You'll be expected to look into "your" role in the Cold War. We don't need to know a bunch more about other aspects of your life. Keep it simple and straight-forward. We're talking introductions of about a minute or two. Following that, there will be some questions for the group to discuss.

Your roles were selected from the list at the Cold War International History Project's Cold War Files (a great site) page cleverly entitled, "People." I'd recommend starting your research there.


Wars in Korea and Vietnam - Your reading that was assigned for yesterday is certainly territory that you will cover next year as well, but we can take a couple minutes to look at the "big picture" of these two conflicts if you have specific questions...


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Wednesday, May 13th

Please finish reading in Chapter 33 with Section 5, "The Cold War Thaws" (pp. 988-991). The quiz will be fill-in-the-blank.

"Your" Cold Warrior should be ready to present at Thursday's Cold Warrior Retirement Home 18th Anniversary Celebration.

Q4 - Lesson #27 - The Beginnings of the Cold War

By
Mike Vergin
on May 11, 2009 8:00 AM |
You'll probably notice that I am out today. I've got three things related to the Cold War to keep you occupied today. On Tuesday, we'll start going over the episodes you watched from the CNN:  Cold War series. Notice that you also DO have a reading assignment for tonight.

Following the reading quiz, you've got three options to work on during the hour:
  • Your "CNN: Cold War" episode and blog entry should be ready for tomorrow's class.
  • You will select a "Cold Warrior" for Thursday's group discussion. You can research that person.
  • You can work on the DBQ Activity that you will receive.
Make good use of your time...

Cnn: Cold War Assignment: Last week, you received "your" episode from this series. You should have the episode watched before class time Tuesday, and you should be ready to post your blog entry on a page I will have available then. (Don't post in advance for two reasons. First, the page is not created. Second, I want you to post in order so that things make sense for the "reader.")

Here's what you should have ready to post. (I'd suggest saving it as a Microsoft Word document.) You'll post them on the Q4 - CNN: Cold War "Reports" page.

  1. Provide the title of your episode, along with a several sentence summary of what it was about.
  2. Identify and key terms or people about which people should know.
  3. List the three main conclusions/points/ideas that people should take away from this episode. (We'll share these verbally in class as well.)
  4. Your reaction to the events you saw. Were there particular people or nations who acted in ways you found praiseworthy, dangerous, etc.?
  5. Your recommendation as to whether this is a worthwhile episode for others to watch.
Here are the links to the various episodes.


Cold Warriors - Pick One: Here's your chance to take on the persona of your favorite "Cold Warrior." Thursday, we will celebrate the 18th Anniversary of the End of the Cold War at the Cold Warrior Retirement Home. (1991 is generally considered to mark the end of the Cold War.) You will select from the list of participants below. BE SURE TO SIGN UP "YOUR" FIGURE ON THE SHEET. You'll be expected to look into "your" role in the Cold War. We don't need to know a bunch more about other aspects of your life. Keep it simple and straight-forward. We're talking introductions of about a minute or two. Following that, there will be some questions for the group to discuss.

Your roles were selected from the list at the Cold War International History Project's Cold War Files (a great site) page cleverly entitled, "People." I'd recommend starting your research there.

China

  • Mao Zedong
  • Zhou Enlai

Europe

  • Lech Walesa
  • Vaclav Havel
  • Margaret Thatcher
  • Erich Honecker
  • Willy Brandt

Korea

  • Syngman Rhee
  • Kim Il Sung

Soviet Union

  • Joseph Stalin
  • Nikita Khrushchev
  • Leonid Brezhnev
  • Mikhail Gorbachev

United States

  • Harry Truman
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower
  • John Kennedy
  • Lyndon Johnson
  • Richard Nixon
  • Ronald Reagan

Vietnam

  • Ngo Dinh Diem
  • Ho Chi Minh

DBQ Activity - Please work through "The Beginning of the Cold War" DBQ activity for tomorrow's class. It's got useful background information.


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Tuesday, May 12th

Please continue reading in Chapter 33 with Section 4, "The Cold War Divides the World" (pp. 982-987). The quiz will be multiple choice.

"Your" Cold Warrior should be ready to present at Thursday's Cold Warrior Retirement Home 18th Anniversary Celebration.


Q4 - Lesson #26 - China under Communism and Mao Zedong

By
Mike Vergin
on May 8, 2009 8:00 AM |
Today's main focus will be on the rise to power of the Communist Party in China under Mao Zedong's leadership. We'll also go over the requirements for the Cnn: Cold War episode you need to watch.) I've got some images from a book, The Chinese Century, that may also help you make sense of some of this.


Cnn: Cold War Assignment: Yesterday, you received "your" episode from this series. I haven't checked all the links (nor have I seen all the episodes), so I am hoping this all works. You should have the episode watched before class time Tuesday, and you should be ready to post your blog entry on a page I will have available then. (Don't post in advance for two reasons. First, the page is not created. Second, I want you to post in order so that things make sense for the "reader.")

Here's what you should have ready to post. (I'd suggest saving it as a Microsoft Word document.)

  1. Provide the title of your episode, along with a several sentence summary of what it was about.
  2. Identify and key terms or people about which people should know.
  3. List the three main conclusions/points/ideas that people should take away from this episode. (We'll share these verbally in class as well.)
  4. Your reaction to the events you saw. Were there particular people or nations who acted in ways you found praiseworthy, dangerous, etc.?
  5. Your recommendation as to whether this is a worthwhile episode for others to watch.
As with any project of this magnitude, there will be critics of particular conclusions, interpretations, etc. The recent nature of many of these events, as well as the continuing process of declassifying government documents about them, makes the Cold War more controversial than most historical events. If you want to check out a (long) essay by someone who wasn't too impressed with this series, check out Gabriel Schoenfeld's "Twenty-Four Lies About the Cold War."


Back to the Chinese Civil War: Remember this one? When we last left our Nationalist and Communists, they were suspending their own conflict to resist Japan's invasion in World War II. Let's make sure you all have a good understanding of the answers to these questions:

  • What advantages did the Communists have at the end of World War II?
  • What issues and weaknesses led to the defeat of Jiang Jeishi's Nationalist forces?
  • How did the outcome of the Chinese Civil War shape world events in the years to follow?

China Under Mao's Leadership: Let's be sure you understand these events and questions...

  • How did Mao consolidate power in China?
  • What was the "Hundred Flowers" campaign? Can you think of parallels in other countries?
  • What was the Great Leap Forward? How did it affect China?
Take a look at Mao Zedong's "Ten Principles of War." How relevant are these for guerrilla campaigns in the more modern world?


The Cultural Revolution: Morning Sun is a website that accompanies a film made about the Cultural Revolution. After some brief introductory comments, we'll have you take a look at a number of interesting links here.

  • Why did Mao call for a "Cultural Revolution?"
  • What were the goals and tactics of the Cultural Revolution?
  • What was the legacy of the Cultural Revolution for China?
Check out these links at the "Morning Sun" website: (There's a lot more there, but I think you'll find these interesting.)



China's Communist Revolution - A Glossary: This is from a BBC site marking the 50th anniversary of the Communist takeover of China. You can scroll down the links on the left for good definitions of some key people and concepts. (Note the "old" spelling on Jiang Jeishi / Chaing Kai-Shek.)


China's Economy - Looking Back at 50: Take a look at the three graphs below. Match changes with your understanding of China's history under Communist Party rule. (We'll return to China one more time to finish off the story.)

Pair up with a partner and examine the graphs. Be sure you understand what they are showing.

china_economy1.gif




















china_economy_2.gif


china_economy3.gif






















Stefan Landsberger's Chinese Propaganda Poster Pages: This is a really cool site. Scroll down to the bottom to find the different categories of posters. Browse around and share interesting images with your neighbors.

 
HOMEWORK for next session - Monday, May 11th

Please continue reading in Chapter 33 with Section 3, "Wars in Korea and Vietnam" (pp. 976-981). The quiz will be matching.

"Your" episode of the Cnn: Cold War series should be watched before Tuesday's class. You should also have your blog summary ready to post during class. (We'll do it that way so they are in order, rather than all jumbled up...)

Q4 - Lesson #25.5 - From World Wars to Cold War (Again)

By
Mike Vergin
on May 7, 2009 8:00 AM |
OK, between the registration, test review, movie talk and current events, we didn't get much new history done. I've simply recopied yesterday's lesson below. (The homework is new.)

Extra Credit: There's a "page" for this on the blog, but here's a link for the option to watch a film for extra credit.


From World Wars to Cold War: I've got a variety of activities for you to work on today. We'll have you sort of bridge the gap between the end of World War II and the onset of what comes to be called the Cold War.

CNN - Cold War: First, you're going to draw to select an episode of the highly regarded CNN - Cold War series to watch online. You're just doing the drawing today. It's nothing major, but you'll basically be asked to post a brief summary and respond to a couple of questions. Here are the various episode titles and URLs to them if you want to get started watching after you complete the tasks below. (I'll expect that you have watched your episode by Tuesday.)


Today's activities: Please work on the next few activities in groups of four (or as close to five as you can get...) One member of each group should serve as a recorder of what the group discusses and/or comes up with for answers. Names of the group members should go on that sheet, and this "report" should be turned in at the end of the class.



The "Rules of War": Think back on everything we learned about the two world wars. Imagine that you are a part of a committee drafting the "rules" for warfare. What are three rules that you each would insist on being a part of any such document? Your group should list no more than five on your "report" of the discussion.

Nuremberg: (You'll need a copy of the Student Handout 1.3 - Nuremberg) Recall that the Nuremberg War Crimes trials took place from 1945 to 1949. Read through the acts considered "illegal" by the Allies. Then, discuss the following questions. Your group should briefly summarize key points of discussion in your "report."

  • Look at the "war crimes" list. Are there additions or deletions you would suggest?
  • Look at the "crimes against humanity" list. Are there additions or deletions you would suggest?
  • Is a defense of "following orders" justifiable against any of these charges?
  • Can individuals be held responsible for the crimes of a nation?
  • Do you think it was possible for the Nuremberg defendants to receive "fair" trials? Why or why not?
  • Do you think documents like this have had a lasting impact on the conduct of warfare? Why or why not?

Geneva Convention: (This is the other side of that sheet - Transparency 1.2) Take a look at the statement from the Geneva Convention on 1949. Briefly summarize your discussion in your "report."

  • Do you think this document adequately protects prisoners and noncombatants in military conflicts?  Why or why not?

Bringing "Order" to the Post-War World: Here, we'll have you take a look at two significant efforts to bring order to the world after the effects of two world wars. 

  • The United Nations: (You'll need the Student Handout 5.2 and 5.3 here.) As you read through the "purposes" of the United Nations consider both how important and how realistic these purposes are. Your group should discuss and identify the three goals of the UN that you find most important AND the three goals that you believe are most difficult to attain.

  • Take a look at 5.3- The Security Council. As you read Article 23.1, take note of the membership of the Security Council. Your group should decide if any of the five members should be replaced. Whether or not you think any should be replaced, present a list of the three nations you believe are most worthy of getting a permanent seat on the Security Council in addition to the five permanent members.

The Marshall Plan: (You'll need a copy of the five "slips" with excerpts from Secretary of State George Marshall delivered to Harvard graduates in 1947 outlining his rationale for a plan to rebuild Europe.) Each group member should read one of the excerpts. Then, discuss the following questions.

  • What are the main points Marshall is making in your excerpt?
  • If you had been in the audience, how would you have reacted?
  • How relevant is Marshall's argument in today's world?

The group should briefly discuss and report on the following question: Looking back from today, what are three reasons why you could consider the Marshall Plan a success? A failure?

If your group completes all these tasks, you should turn in your report. (All groups should do that at the hour's end even if not completed.)


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Friday, May 8th

Please continue reading in Chapter 33 with Section 2, "Communists Take Power in China" (pp. 972-975). The quiz will be true / false.

Q4 - Lesson #25 - From World Wars to Cold War

By
Mike Vergin
on May 6, 2009 8:00 AM |
Extra Credit: There's a "page" for this on the blog, but remind me to tell you about the option to watch a film for extra credit.

From World Wars to Cold War: I've got a variety of activities for you to work on today. We'll have you sort of bridge the gap between the end of World War II and the onset of what comes to be called the Cold War.

Today's activities: Please work on the next few activities in groups of four (or as close to five as you can get...) One member of each group should serve as a recorder of what the group discusses and/or comes up with for answers. Names of the group members should go on that sheet, and this "report" should be turned in at the end of the class.



The "Rules of War": Think back on everything we learned about the two world wars. Imagine that you are a part of a committee drafting the "rules" for warfare. What are three rules that you each would insist on being a part of any such document? Your group should list no more than five on your "report" of the discussion.

Nuremberg: (You'll need a copy of the Student Handout 1.3 - Nuremberg) Recall that the Nuremberg War Crimes trials took place from 1945 to 1949. Read through the acts considered "illegal" by the Allies. Then, discuss the following questions. Your group should briefly summarize key points of discussion in your "report."

  • Look at the "war crimes" list. Are there additions or deletions you would suggest?
  • Look at the "crimes against humanity" list. Are there additions or deletions you would suggest?
  • Is a defense of "following orders" justifiable against any of these charges?
  • Can individuals be held responsible for the crimes of a nation?
  • Do you think it was possible for the Nuremberg defendants to receive "fair" trials? Why or why not?
  • Do you think documents like this have had a lasting impact on the conduct of warfare? Why or why not?

Geneva Convention: (This is the other side of that sheet - Transparency 1.2) Take a look at the statement from the Geneva Convention on 1949. Briefly summarize your discussion in your "report."

  • Do you think this document adequately protects prisoners and noncombatants in military conflicts?  Why or why not?

Bringing "Order" to the Post-War World: Here, we'll have you take a look at two significant efforts to bring order to the world after the effects of two world wars. 

  • The United Nations: (You'll need the Student Handout 5.2 and 5.3 here.) As you read through the "purposes" of the United Nations consider both how important and how realistic these purposes are. Your group should discuss and identify the three goals of the UN that you find most important AND the three goals that you believe are most difficult to attain.

  • Take a look at 5.3- The Security Council. As you read Article 23.1, take note of the membership of the Security Council. Your group should decide if any of the five members should be replaced. Whether or not you think any should be replaced, present a list of the three nations you believe are most worthy of getting a permanent seat on the Security Council in addition to the five permanent members.

The Marshall Plan: (You'll need a copy of the five "slips" with excerpts from Secretary of State George Marshall delivered to Harvard graduates in 1947 outlining his rationale for a plan to rebuild Europe.) Each group member should read one of the excerpts. Then, discuss the following questions.

  • What are the main points Marshall is making in your excerpt?
  • If you had been in the audience, how would you have reacted?
  • How relevant is Marshall's argument in today's world?

The group should briefly discuss and report on the following question: Looking back from today, what are three reasons why you could consider the Marshall Plan a success? A failure?

If your group completes all these tasks, you should turn in your report. (All groups should do that at the hour's end even if not completed.)


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Thursday, May 7th

Please read the first section in Chapter 33, "Cold War:  Superpowers Face Off" (pp. 965 - 970), for tomorrow's class. The quiz will be fill-in-the-blank. 


 

Q4 - Lesson #24 - Unit #7 Objective Exam

By
Mike Vergin
on May 5, 2009 8:00 AM |
It is the usual plan for today. You'll take the objective portion of the Unit #7 Exam. It is just the 60 multiple choice questions since you already did the 5 DBQs. 

Remember that your essay should be printed out and turned in to me before you leave school today if possible. Please double-space, or at least space and a half. Double-sided is fine with me. If you're not done at the end of the day, I should get it from you as an email attachment by the end of the evening. (Otherwise, without prior arrangement, it will then be considered late.)

Also, I need to be sure to get back your packet of reading quizzes that I returned for you to review.


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Wednesday, May 6th

You can take the evening off.


 

Q4 - Lesson #23 - Unit #7 Identifications and DBQs

By
Mike Vergin
on May 4, 2009 8:00 AM |
Not much to say here. You'll do the identifications and the DBQs today. If you would like to type your answers, you should download a Unit #7 Identifications template. I will give you all a paper copy of the DBQs, but you may type your answers to those if you would prefer. (You can just do that at the "bottom" of the ID template.)

If you are typing, please print out your exam when you are done. (Double-sided is just fine.)


HOMEWORK for tomorrow - Tuesday, May 5th

The multiple choice portion of the Unit #7 Objective Exam will take place on Tuesday. Your essay is also due to me by the end of that day.

Q4 - Lesson #22 - Unit #7 "Two-Minute" Reviews

By
Mike Vergin
on May 1, 2009 8:00 AM | | Comments (1)
Nothing fancy today. We'll do our Unit #7 review... If you would like to post your notes or anything as a comment, you can do that on this entry.

MONDAY, MAY 4th - Unit #7 Identifications and DBQs
TUESDAY, MAY 5th - Unit #7 Objective Exam and Unit #7 Essay is due

UNIT 7:  The World at War (1900 - 1945)    
                
Chapter 29    The Great War (1914 - 1918)   
    1    Marching Toward War   
    2    Europe Plunges into War   
    3    A Global Conflict   
    4    A Flawed Peace   
               
Chapter 30    Revolution and Nationalism (1900 - 1939)
    1    Revolutions in Russia   
    2    Totalitarianism   
    3    Imperial China Collapses   
    4    Nationalism in India and Southwest Asia
               
Chapter 31    Years of Crisis (1919 - 1939)   
    1    Postwar Uncertainty   
    2    A Worldwide Depression   
    3    Fascism Rises in Europe   
    4    Aggressors Invade Nations
               
Chapter 32    World War II (1939 - 1945)   
    1    Hitler's Lightning War   
    2    Japan's Pacific Campaign   
    3    The Holocaust   
    4    The Allied Victory   
    5    Europe and Japan in Ruins


HOMEWORK for next session - Monday, May 4th

Remember that the Unit #7 Identifications Exam and DBQs will now be on Monday. Here is the link to the Unit #7 Identifications and Essay Exam Questions. On Tuesday, we'll do the Objective Exam's multiple choice questions. Your essays are due no later than the end of class on Tuesday. (I'll gladly take them earlier.)

 
 
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