http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,553900,00.html
I found this article on the fox news site to be very intersting becuase of the statment that it is illegal to deny the Holocaust happened in Germany. This seems to be put into place because the German governmment doens't want to let the past evaporate the startling truths in their history. It's a lesson to be still learned for all humanity. Including Iran, during the UN conferance the German representives will walk out if President Ahmadinejad denies that the Holocauset happened. Germany is trying to get more people to walk out because they feel like it against their moral if they walk out and against ethical morals to deny such an atrocity never happening. It is iggnorant and naive to ignore such a huge part of history and for the Germans it's like a slap in the face. Many Europeans, especially Germany that the President of Iran was a digrace to his country for being so ignorant to the past history of this world that had such a huge impact on many groups throughout the world. My question about this article is i would wonder why the President denies such a thing ever happened, there is direct evidence staring him in the face and yet he choses to ignore it, maybe because it involves Jewish states of matter. The limitations to this source are limited because wew don't know the outcome to the events and the "threat" This relates to the Weimer Republic and it's downfall to what Hitler took over and later led to the event of the Holocaust. This adds value to the things we are learning in class because it shows how an event such as the Holocaust can be overlooked and denied by one person. Something so drastic and wrenching as the Holocaust can be denied.
Friday, January 15, 2010
IRL/TOK
Can history provide a guide to understanding contemporary affairs? Can it provide a guide to the future? What might be “the lessons of history” for future generations?
Yes history can provide a guide to a a better understanding of contemporary affairs. For instance with it we can "predict" the future since history often repeats itself and can be seen throughout time. For example in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqG_ltj3CrQ propaganda can be seen as a ploy for the future generations to take hold of and can still be seen today. By being able to use propaganda in daily life many political issues are able to be furthered, contemporary affairs that use propaganda are elections into the government or even in other countries to make sure they understand the countries viewpoints. This topic of campaigns today can be seen in China in the past, lessons of history and how it repeats itself can be seen in the parallel with www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CbWq6-dQSM and the contemporary affairs today. It helps us better understand the concept that in fact "history is a lesson" in which many chose not to learn. Bribery and and manipulation can be seen in order to get power in China but on a lower scale it can be seen in a recent governor who bribed and manipulated people in order to get more money and power. Lobbyists can be seen in politics today and shows how manipulation and money is still part of affairs. Lessons that can be learned from the past usually come up when we get in the same crisis again and look back, the value of being able to foreshadow from the history and bring it to the future and what might happen if for example we have an economic crisis as we are right now, examples in history such as the Great Depression and www.voanews.com/english/archive (Russian inflation). These example are on a much larger scale but can still help out the contemporary politicians and citizens so that it might be a lesser impact. By reading the past history we can look for trends and parallels so that reoccurring atrocities might not happen again but as many historians said in the past and present that denying history can lead to an ignorant future and reoccurring atrocities.
Yes history can provide a guide to a a better understanding of contemporary affairs. For instance with it we can "predict" the future since history often repeats itself and can be seen throughout time. For example in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqG_ltj3CrQ propaganda can be seen as a ploy for the future generations to take hold of and can still be seen today. By being able to use propaganda in daily life many political issues are able to be furthered, contemporary affairs that use propaganda are elections into the government or even in other countries to make sure they understand the countries viewpoints. This topic of campaigns today can be seen in China in the past, lessons of history and how it repeats itself can be seen in the parallel with www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CbWq6-dQSM and the contemporary affairs today. It helps us better understand the concept that in fact "history is a lesson" in which many chose not to learn. Bribery and and manipulation can be seen in order to get power in China but on a lower scale it can be seen in a recent governor who bribed and manipulated people in order to get more money and power. Lobbyists can be seen in politics today and shows how manipulation and money is still part of affairs. Lessons that can be learned from the past usually come up when we get in the same crisis again and look back, the value of being able to foreshadow from the history and bring it to the future and what might happen if for example we have an economic crisis as we are right now, examples in history such as the Great Depression and www.voanews.com/english/archive (Russian inflation). These example are on a much larger scale but can still help out the contemporary politicians and citizens so that it might be a lesser impact. By reading the past history we can look for trends and parallels so that reoccurring atrocities might not happen again but as many historians said in the past and present that denying history can lead to an ignorant future and reoccurring atrocities.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
SGQ12
IBHL1 SGQ12
Guiding question:
Analyse the origin of East-West rivalry and explain why it developed into the Cold War.
How did the Cold War develop?
MWH p. 117-140
1. What were the effects of WWII?
a. evidence of enormous destruction?
almost 40 mil. people where killed, 21 mil. uprooted from their homes,& the Holocaust
b. no all-inclusive peace settlement - what was there?
number of separate treaties where signed: Italy lost African colonies and gave up claims to Albania and Ethiopia. The USSR took the eastern sect. of Czech, the Petsamo district and the area around Lake Ladoga from Finland, and held onto Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Triest claimed that both Italy and Yugoslavia, was declared a free territory protected but the UN org.. Romania recovered northern Transylvannia, which the Hungarians had occupied during the war. Later at San Fransisco, Japan agreed to surrender all territory acquired during the previous 90 year, which included a complete withdraw from China.
c. examples social changes?
Many people where forced out of their homes, the worst cases where in the areas taken from Germany by Russia and Poland, and in the German speaking areas in Hungary, Romania, and Czech. About 10 mil. Ger. were forced to leave and make their way to W. Germany so that no future Ger. govn't would be able to claim those territories. In some countries (Ger. and USSR) extensive urban redevelopment occurred.
d. nuclear weapons - so what?
After the US bombed Japan the threat of a nuclear war was reality and the whole planet was able to be destroyed. This affected some people during the Cold War because both sides where so frightened of the consequences that they were deterred discouraged from fighting each other.
e. European domination of the world ended - why?
The four western European countries that played a leading role in world affairs was much weaker than before. Germany was devastated and divided. Italy and France were on the verge of bankruptcy; although Britain seemed to be strong and victories, w/ their empire intact, the cost of the war had been ruinous. Britain had tremendous debt and much of the exports was reduced, forced to ask for another loan from US, therefore Britain was closely dependent on the US.
f. emergence of the superpowers - who?
The US and USSR appeared as the new superpowers who strayed away from isolationism. Us had great prosperity throughout the war from supplying their allies with war materials and food. The USSR had the largest army in the world the US had the largest nay and air force and controlled the atomic bomb.
- g. decolonization - what happened to the territories?
War encouraged movement to occur. This destroyed European superiority and invincibility. Asian people gained full independence, though not without a struggle. This intensified and turned the want for independence from the Africa's and Middle East, and this gave forth new states in 1960s. These new states stated that they were third world (wished to remain neutral or non-aligned) between capitalism and communism.
h. the United Nations - so what?
Successor of League of Nations, its main aim was to try and maintain world peace, and on the whole was more successful.
2. What caused the Cold War?
a. what are the differences of principle?
communist(collectively owned) vs. capitalist(privately owned)
everybody is needed and equal vs. wealthy powerful upper class
b. what were Stalin's foreign policies?
take advantage of military situation to strengthen Russian influence in Europe. As Nazi armies collapse, tried to acquire as much as possible in terms of territory. Did this with other countries as well.
c. what were US and British policies?
Lend-Lease to Russia so USSR could have war materials. Truman once in office was more suspicious towards the communists. Britain wanted to destroy communism and above all the west had the atomic bomb and the USSR didn't
3. How did the Cold War develop between 1945 and 1953?
a. what four things were agreed upon at the Yalta Conference?
i. UN set up
ii. Germany to be divided into zones (similar arrangements were made for Austria)
iii. free elections were to be allowed in the states of eastern Europe
iv. Stalin promised to join the war against Japan on condition that Russia received the whole Sakhalin Island and some territory in Manchuria.
b. why were Germany and Poland the major concerns at the Potsdam Conference?
This war was over with Germany but no long-term goal was reached about their future. The big question for Germany was whether, or when the four zones would be allowed to join together to a form a united country again. Reparations were chosen to put upon Germany (mostly payed to USSR, which would be allowed to take non-food goods out of their zone and from the other zones as well, provided the Russians sent food supplies to the western zones of Germany in return. Poland was the main disagreement. Truman and Churchill were annoyed bc Germany east of the Oder-Neisse Line had been occupied by Russian troops and was being run by the pro-Communist Polish govn't, which expelled some 5 million Germans in the area which hadn't been agreed at the Yalta Conference.
c. how was Communism established in eastern Europe?
In the following months after Potsdam Russia systematically interfered in the countries of Eastern Europe to set in pro-communist governments. In some cases their opponents were imprisoned or murdered. In Hungary for example, the Russians allowed free elections; but although the communists won less than 20% of the votes, they saw to it that a majority of the cabinet was communist. Stalin frightened the west further bu a widely reported speech in which he said that communism and capitalism could never live peacefully together, and that future wars were inevitable until the final victory of communism was achieved.
d. how did Russia exert its influence in eastern Europe?
Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition governments were expelled, many were arrested and executed, and eventually all other political parties were dissolved. All of this happened under the watchful eyes of the Russian secret police and Russian troops. Also Stalin treated the Russian zone of Germany as if it were Russian territory, allowing only the communist party and draining it of vital resources. Yugoslavia was the only exception, with Tito their leader leading them to victory against Germany and not Russia.
e. what were the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan?
This sprang from events in Greece, where communists were trying to overthrow the monarchy. British troops which helped free Greece from the Germans were now feeling the strain of trying to support them against the communists. The Truman Doctrine was a policy trying to contain communism. It stated that the USA 'would support free people who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure' The Truman Doctrine made it clear that the USA had no intention of returning to isolation and was committed to their policy of containing communism not just in Europe but throughout the world, including Korea and Vietnam. The Marshall Plan was an economic extensions of the Truman Doctrine produced by Sec. of State George Marshal. This plan offered economic and financial help wherever it was needed, European Recovery Program (ERP). He stated that his policy wasn't directed against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. One of his aims was to promote the economic recovery of Europe, thus ensuring markets for America exports; but his main goal was probably political; communism was less likely to gain control in a prosperous western Europe. The next four years millions of dollars went into western Europe. , fostering the recovery of agriculture and industry, which many countries were in chaos over due to war devastation. Russia was aware that there was more to the Marshall Plan than let on so they denounced the whole idea as 'dollar imperialism'. They saw it as a blatant device to gain control of western Europe and worse still for interfering in eastern Europe, which Stalin considered to be Russia's sphere of influence. The USSR rejected the offer and neither did her satellite states nor Czech.
f. what was Cominform?
The communist information bureau, was the Soviet response to the Marshall Plan set up by Stalin in 1947. It was an org. to draw together the various European communist parties . Stalin's aims was was to tighten his grip on the satellites; to be communist wasn't enough-it must be Russian style communism . Eastern Europe was to be industrialized and collectivized and centralized; states were expected to trade primarily w/ Comiform members and all contacts with non-communist members was discouraged.The Molotov Plan was introduced to offer aid to the Russian satellites. Another org. was set up Comecon ( council of mutual economic assistance0 to co-ordinate their economic policies.
g. what happened to Czechoslovakia?
A crissi arose early in 1948. Elections were due in May, and all signs were that the communists would lose ground; they were blamed for the Czech rejection of Marshall aid, which might have eased the continuing food shortages. The communists decided to act before the election; already in control of the unions and the police, they seized power in an armed coup. All non-communists ministers with the exception of a few resigned. The foreign minister Masaryks died due to murder. The western powers and the UN protested but felt unable to take action bc they couldn't;t prove Russian involvement -the coup was purely an internal affair. However there is little doubt that Stalin had prodded the Czech communists into action. This caused the bridge between west and east to be gone, the iron curtain was complete.
h. what happened in Berlin?
This event occur ed because their was a disagreement over the treatment of Germany. At the end of the war it was agreed at Yalta and Potsdam that Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones. The western powers did their best to organize the economic and political recovery of their zones Stalin, determined to make Germany pay for all the damages inflicted on Russia, treated the zone as a satellite, draining its resources away to Russia. Early in 1948 the three western zones were mered to form a single economic unit whose prosperity, thanks to Marshall Aid, was marked in contrast to the poverty of the Russian zone. The west wanted all 4 zones to be re-united and given self-government as soon as possible. Stalin however disagreed. In June 1948 the west introduced a new currency and ended price controls in their zones and in West Berlin. The Russiands decided that the situtation in Berlin had become impossible. Already irrated by what they saw as the island of capitlaism inside a communist zone they felt it impossible to have two different curriencies in one city. They were membaraassed by the prospierty of west berlin. Therefore all road, rail, and canal links between west gerany an dwest berlin were cut off. Their aim was to force the west to withdraw from the west berlin by reducing it to staravation point. Truman sent in planes to give aid and food. The outcome gave a great psychological boost to the western powers, though it brought russia relations worst than ever. Ity caused the western powers to co-coordinate their defences by the formation of NATO. It meant that since no compromise was possible, Germany was doomed to remain divided for the foreseeable future.
i. what is NATO?
This stated that an attack on any country who joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization fought the resat of the coutnreis as well. This gave an organization to defence that would co-coordinate the defence of the west. This was significant because the Americans had abondanoed their tradiotal policy of 'no entaggling alliances' and for the first time pledged themeselves to the adavande of military action. Stalin took this as a challenge.
j. what happened to Germany?
The western countries set up the German Federal Republic, known as west Germany. Germany remained divided util the collapse of communism in Eastern Germany . 1990 the two sides re-united.
h. what developed with nuclear weapons?
An arms race began to develop bc Russia had blown up anatomi bomb.Truman therfore gave the okay to produce a hydrogen bomb,(bigger) The US thought this could be a way to defeat communism. The USS ssigned an agreement with communist CHina which made the US fear of the spread of communism.
4. To what extent was there a thaw after 1953?
a. why was there a thaw?
i.death of Stalin. Because it brought it to the forefront new Russian leaders who wanted to improve USA relations.
ii. McCarthy discredited because he was so anti-communist. Eisenhower however stated he wanted to be friendly with the Soviet people.
b. how do we know there was a thaw?
i. signing of the peace agreement at Panmunjom ended the Korean Qar
ii. the following year the Indo-CHina ended
1.they agreed to give up their military bases in Finland
2. they lifted their veto on the admission of 16 new member states to the Un
3. the quarrel w/ Yugoslaviawas healed when Khrushchev paid a vist to Tito
4. The Comniform was abonded, suggesting more freedom for the satellite states.
c. what evidence suggests only a partial thaw?
i.The Warsaw Pact was signed between Russia and her satellite states shortly after West Germany was admitted to NATO. The Pact was a mutual defence agreement, which the west took asa a gesture against West Germanys membership of NATO.
ii. Russians continued to buiild up their nuclear armaments
iii. situtaion in Berlin caused more tension
iv. the most provative action of all was when Khruschev installed Soviet missiles in Cuba (very near US)
v. rising in Budapest against the COmmunist govn't was ruthlessly crushed by Russian tanks
5. The nuclear arms race and the Cuban missile crisis
a. how did the arms race accelerate?
This accelerated after the Russians produced their own atomic bomb. When the Americans made am uch more powerful hydrogen bomb the Russians did the same the following year. The Russians got ahead when they produced their inter-contitental ballistic mislle. ut the US soon made them and more of them. However Sputnik the AMericas felt they dared not be left behid so they launched a satellite later on as well.
b. what happened in Cuba? how was it resolved?
The US broke off diplomatic realtions w/ Cuba while the USSR strenghtened theirs. Kennedy now was convinced that Cuba was a communist state. Castyro announced after the Bay of pigs invasion that he was a Marxist and that Cuba was a socialist country. Khruschev decided to set up missiles in Cuba aimed the US . He did this to seize back the initiative back again from the US in the lead of missiles and it would place Americans under the same threat that they felt, being so close to the missiles in Turkey. Also it would be agesture of solidarity with his ally Castro who was under constant threat from the US. It would test the reolve of the new youn President Kennedy and perphaps Khruschev intended to use the missiles for baragining with the west over the removal of US missiles from Europe, ora withdrawel from Berlin by the west. Kennedy acted cautiosuly. He enacted American troops to create a blocaked on Cuba for Russians ships carrying missiles and demanded a dsimanteling of the missile sites and the removal of missiles there. Khruschev made the first move by ordering his Russian ships to turn back and eventually compromise solution was reached. he removed the missiles from Cuba while the US rpomised not to invade CUba again , and took out missiles in Turkey. Both sides realized that if a nuclear war occured it would be devastating and bopth relaxed on the tension. Due to the telophone link Moscow and Washington could have swift consultions and they soon signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
c. what happened to the arms race in the 1970s?
The Russians failed and the US had new misslies that could be launched form the subs in the Meditterean sea. The USSR had a goal to become eqaul w/ the US and they soon caught up and created a weapon that could destry missiles coming into attack. The US created a low altitude missile as well so that Russian radar couldn't detect them.
d. how effective were anti-nuclear protests?
Very ineffective because disarming your nation only meant vulnerability to your country to attack. However this movement did bring both sides to the negotiating table.
Guiding question:
Analyse the origin of East-West rivalry and explain why it developed into the Cold War.
How did the Cold War develop?
MWH p. 117-140
1. What were the effects of WWII?
a. evidence of enormous destruction?
almost 40 mil. people where killed, 21 mil. uprooted from their homes,& the Holocaust
b. no all-inclusive peace settlement - what was there?
number of separate treaties where signed: Italy lost African colonies and gave up claims to Albania and Ethiopia. The USSR took the eastern sect. of Czech, the Petsamo district and the area around Lake Ladoga from Finland, and held onto Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Triest claimed that both Italy and Yugoslavia, was declared a free territory protected but the UN org.. Romania recovered northern Transylvannia, which the Hungarians had occupied during the war. Later at San Fransisco, Japan agreed to surrender all territory acquired during the previous 90 year, which included a complete withdraw from China.
c. examples social changes?
Many people where forced out of their homes, the worst cases where in the areas taken from Germany by Russia and Poland, and in the German speaking areas in Hungary, Romania, and Czech. About 10 mil. Ger. were forced to leave and make their way to W. Germany so that no future Ger. govn't would be able to claim those territories. In some countries (Ger. and USSR) extensive urban redevelopment occurred.
d. nuclear weapons - so what?
After the US bombed Japan the threat of a nuclear war was reality and the whole planet was able to be destroyed. This affected some people during the Cold War because both sides where so frightened of the consequences that they were deterred discouraged from fighting each other.
e. European domination of the world ended - why?
The four western European countries that played a leading role in world affairs was much weaker than before. Germany was devastated and divided. Italy and France were on the verge of bankruptcy; although Britain seemed to be strong and victories, w/ their empire intact, the cost of the war had been ruinous. Britain had tremendous debt and much of the exports was reduced, forced to ask for another loan from US, therefore Britain was closely dependent on the US.
f. emergence of the superpowers - who?
The US and USSR appeared as the new superpowers who strayed away from isolationism. Us had great prosperity throughout the war from supplying their allies with war materials and food. The USSR had the largest army in the world the US had the largest nay and air force and controlled the atomic bomb.
- g. decolonization - what happened to the territories?
War encouraged movement to occur. This destroyed European superiority and invincibility. Asian people gained full independence, though not without a struggle. This intensified and turned the want for independence from the Africa's and Middle East, and this gave forth new states in 1960s. These new states stated that they were third world (wished to remain neutral or non-aligned) between capitalism and communism.
h. the United Nations - so what?
Successor of League of Nations, its main aim was to try and maintain world peace, and on the whole was more successful.
2. What caused the Cold War?
a. what are the differences of principle?
communist(collectively owned) vs. capitalist(privately owned)
everybody is needed and equal vs. wealthy powerful upper class
b. what were Stalin's foreign policies?
take advantage of military situation to strengthen Russian influence in Europe. As Nazi armies collapse, tried to acquire as much as possible in terms of territory. Did this with other countries as well.
c. what were US and British policies?
Lend-Lease to Russia so USSR could have war materials. Truman once in office was more suspicious towards the communists. Britain wanted to destroy communism and above all the west had the atomic bomb and the USSR didn't
3. How did the Cold War develop between 1945 and 1953?
a. what four things were agreed upon at the Yalta Conference?
i. UN set up
ii. Germany to be divided into zones (similar arrangements were made for Austria)
iii. free elections were to be allowed in the states of eastern Europe
iv. Stalin promised to join the war against Japan on condition that Russia received the whole Sakhalin Island and some territory in Manchuria.
b. why were Germany and Poland the major concerns at the Potsdam Conference?
This war was over with Germany but no long-term goal was reached about their future. The big question for Germany was whether, or when the four zones would be allowed to join together to a form a united country again. Reparations were chosen to put upon Germany (mostly payed to USSR, which would be allowed to take non-food goods out of their zone and from the other zones as well, provided the Russians sent food supplies to the western zones of Germany in return. Poland was the main disagreement. Truman and Churchill were annoyed bc Germany east of the Oder-Neisse Line had been occupied by Russian troops and was being run by the pro-Communist Polish govn't, which expelled some 5 million Germans in the area which hadn't been agreed at the Yalta Conference.
c. how was Communism established in eastern Europe?
In the following months after Potsdam Russia systematically interfered in the countries of Eastern Europe to set in pro-communist governments. In some cases their opponents were imprisoned or murdered. In Hungary for example, the Russians allowed free elections; but although the communists won less than 20% of the votes, they saw to it that a majority of the cabinet was communist. Stalin frightened the west further bu a widely reported speech in which he said that communism and capitalism could never live peacefully together, and that future wars were inevitable until the final victory of communism was achieved.
d. how did Russia exert its influence in eastern Europe?
Elections were rigged, non-communist members of coalition governments were expelled, many were arrested and executed, and eventually all other political parties were dissolved. All of this happened under the watchful eyes of the Russian secret police and Russian troops. Also Stalin treated the Russian zone of Germany as if it were Russian territory, allowing only the communist party and draining it of vital resources. Yugoslavia was the only exception, with Tito their leader leading them to victory against Germany and not Russia.
e. what were the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan?
This sprang from events in Greece, where communists were trying to overthrow the monarchy. British troops which helped free Greece from the Germans were now feeling the strain of trying to support them against the communists. The Truman Doctrine was a policy trying to contain communism. It stated that the USA 'would support free people who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressure' The Truman Doctrine made it clear that the USA had no intention of returning to isolation and was committed to their policy of containing communism not just in Europe but throughout the world, including Korea and Vietnam. The Marshall Plan was an economic extensions of the Truman Doctrine produced by Sec. of State George Marshal. This plan offered economic and financial help wherever it was needed, European Recovery Program (ERP). He stated that his policy wasn't directed against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. One of his aims was to promote the economic recovery of Europe, thus ensuring markets for America exports; but his main goal was probably political; communism was less likely to gain control in a prosperous western Europe. The next four years millions of dollars went into western Europe. , fostering the recovery of agriculture and industry, which many countries were in chaos over due to war devastation. Russia was aware that there was more to the Marshall Plan than let on so they denounced the whole idea as 'dollar imperialism'. They saw it as a blatant device to gain control of western Europe and worse still for interfering in eastern Europe, which Stalin considered to be Russia's sphere of influence. The USSR rejected the offer and neither did her satellite states nor Czech.
f. what was Cominform?
The communist information bureau, was the Soviet response to the Marshall Plan set up by Stalin in 1947. It was an org. to draw together the various European communist parties . Stalin's aims was was to tighten his grip on the satellites; to be communist wasn't enough-it must be Russian style communism . Eastern Europe was to be industrialized and collectivized and centralized; states were expected to trade primarily w/ Comiform members and all contacts with non-communist members was discouraged.The Molotov Plan was introduced to offer aid to the Russian satellites. Another org. was set up Comecon ( council of mutual economic assistance0 to co-ordinate their economic policies.
g. what happened to Czechoslovakia?
A crissi arose early in 1948. Elections were due in May, and all signs were that the communists would lose ground; they were blamed for the Czech rejection of Marshall aid, which might have eased the continuing food shortages. The communists decided to act before the election; already in control of the unions and the police, they seized power in an armed coup. All non-communists ministers with the exception of a few resigned. The foreign minister Masaryks died due to murder. The western powers and the UN protested but felt unable to take action bc they couldn't;t prove Russian involvement -the coup was purely an internal affair. However there is little doubt that Stalin had prodded the Czech communists into action. This caused the bridge between west and east to be gone, the iron curtain was complete.
h. what happened in Berlin?
This event occur ed because their was a disagreement over the treatment of Germany. At the end of the war it was agreed at Yalta and Potsdam that Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones. The western powers did their best to organize the economic and political recovery of their zones Stalin, determined to make Germany pay for all the damages inflicted on Russia, treated the zone as a satellite, draining its resources away to Russia. Early in 1948 the three western zones were mered to form a single economic unit whose prosperity, thanks to Marshall Aid, was marked in contrast to the poverty of the Russian zone. The west wanted all 4 zones to be re-united and given self-government as soon as possible. Stalin however disagreed. In June 1948 the west introduced a new currency and ended price controls in their zones and in West Berlin. The Russiands decided that the situtation in Berlin had become impossible. Already irrated by what they saw as the island of capitlaism inside a communist zone they felt it impossible to have two different curriencies in one city. They were membaraassed by the prospierty of west berlin. Therefore all road, rail, and canal links between west gerany an dwest berlin were cut off. Their aim was to force the west to withdraw from the west berlin by reducing it to staravation point. Truman sent in planes to give aid and food. The outcome gave a great psychological boost to the western powers, though it brought russia relations worst than ever. Ity caused the western powers to co-coordinate their defences by the formation of NATO. It meant that since no compromise was possible, Germany was doomed to remain divided for the foreseeable future.
i. what is NATO?
This stated that an attack on any country who joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization fought the resat of the coutnreis as well. This gave an organization to defence that would co-coordinate the defence of the west. This was significant because the Americans had abondanoed their tradiotal policy of 'no entaggling alliances' and for the first time pledged themeselves to the adavande of military action. Stalin took this as a challenge.
j. what happened to Germany?
The western countries set up the German Federal Republic, known as west Germany. Germany remained divided util the collapse of communism in Eastern Germany . 1990 the two sides re-united.
h. what developed with nuclear weapons?
An arms race began to develop bc Russia had blown up anatomi bomb.Truman therfore gave the okay to produce a hydrogen bomb,(bigger) The US thought this could be a way to defeat communism. The USS ssigned an agreement with communist CHina which made the US fear of the spread of communism.
4. To what extent was there a thaw after 1953?
a. why was there a thaw?
i.death of Stalin. Because it brought it to the forefront new Russian leaders who wanted to improve USA relations.
ii. McCarthy discredited because he was so anti-communist. Eisenhower however stated he wanted to be friendly with the Soviet people.
b. how do we know there was a thaw?
i. signing of the peace agreement at Panmunjom ended the Korean Qar
ii. the following year the Indo-CHina ended
1.they agreed to give up their military bases in Finland
2. they lifted their veto on the admission of 16 new member states to the Un
3. the quarrel w/ Yugoslaviawas healed when Khrushchev paid a vist to Tito
4. The Comniform was abonded, suggesting more freedom for the satellite states.
c. what evidence suggests only a partial thaw?
i.The Warsaw Pact was signed between Russia and her satellite states shortly after West Germany was admitted to NATO. The Pact was a mutual defence agreement, which the west took asa a gesture against West Germanys membership of NATO.
ii. Russians continued to buiild up their nuclear armaments
iii. situtaion in Berlin caused more tension
iv. the most provative action of all was when Khruschev installed Soviet missiles in Cuba (very near US)
v. rising in Budapest against the COmmunist govn't was ruthlessly crushed by Russian tanks
5. The nuclear arms race and the Cuban missile crisis
a. how did the arms race accelerate?
This accelerated after the Russians produced their own atomic bomb. When the Americans made am uch more powerful hydrogen bomb the Russians did the same the following year. The Russians got ahead when they produced their inter-contitental ballistic mislle. ut the US soon made them and more of them. However Sputnik the AMericas felt they dared not be left behid so they launched a satellite later on as well.
b. what happened in Cuba? how was it resolved?
The US broke off diplomatic realtions w/ Cuba while the USSR strenghtened theirs. Kennedy now was convinced that Cuba was a communist state. Castyro announced after the Bay of pigs invasion that he was a Marxist and that Cuba was a socialist country. Khruschev decided to set up missiles in Cuba aimed the US . He did this to seize back the initiative back again from the US in the lead of missiles and it would place Americans under the same threat that they felt, being so close to the missiles in Turkey. Also it would be agesture of solidarity with his ally Castro who was under constant threat from the US. It would test the reolve of the new youn President Kennedy and perphaps Khruschev intended to use the missiles for baragining with the west over the removal of US missiles from Europe, ora withdrawel from Berlin by the west. Kennedy acted cautiosuly. He enacted American troops to create a blocaked on Cuba for Russians ships carrying missiles and demanded a dsimanteling of the missile sites and the removal of missiles there. Khruschev made the first move by ordering his Russian ships to turn back and eventually compromise solution was reached. he removed the missiles from Cuba while the US rpomised not to invade CUba again , and took out missiles in Turkey. Both sides realized that if a nuclear war occured it would be devastating and bopth relaxed on the tension. Due to the telophone link Moscow and Washington could have swift consultions and they soon signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
c. what happened to the arms race in the 1970s?
The Russians failed and the US had new misslies that could be launched form the subs in the Meditterean sea. The USSR had a goal to become eqaul w/ the US and they soon caught up and created a weapon that could destry missiles coming into attack. The US created a low altitude missile as well so that Russian radar couldn't detect them.
d. how effective were anti-nuclear protests?
Very ineffective because disarming your nation only meant vulnerability to your country to attack. However this movement did bring both sides to the negotiating table.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
IRL 11
http://www-tc.pbs.org/independentlens/politicaldrseuss/images/08.jpg
This is a political cartoon drawn by Dr.Seuss, he drew many political cartoons that depicted global issues during his time. This cartoon is showing the alliance of Japan and Germany since Hitler and Japan's leader are shown in the cartoon. This relates to what we're learning now because both Japan and Germany two of the most agressive countries during the beginning of WW2 and they both joined the Anit-Comintern Pact or anti-communist pact with Italy. A man shown below them is a regular civilian, the message is that something should be done about these men who are slowly overtaking Europe due to the inadequate reprucsions of the league of nations and other countries (Britian and France). This shows that later on the war that a rising to fight these agressive countries was at hand and no condemning was at work and the next stop was intalling after all the mess had occured. The limitations of this cartoon is that Dr. Seuss is an American and during the beginning stages of the war Americans were bent on isolation and the actual date isn't on this document so we cant fully know the standting of the US during that time. Also the US was an outside country, not in Europe and not a civilian in Germany or Japan, what was being done there to try and stop these men from taking over land?
This is a political cartoon drawn by Dr.Seuss, he drew many political cartoons that depicted global issues during his time. This cartoon is showing the alliance of Japan and Germany since Hitler and Japan's leader are shown in the cartoon. This relates to what we're learning now because both Japan and Germany two of the most agressive countries during the beginning of WW2 and they both joined the Anit-Comintern Pact or anti-communist pact with Italy. A man shown below them is a regular civilian, the message is that something should be done about these men who are slowly overtaking Europe due to the inadequate reprucsions of the league of nations and other countries (Britian and France). This shows that later on the war that a rising to fight these agressive countries was at hand and no condemning was at work and the next stop was intalling after all the mess had occured. The limitations of this cartoon is that Dr. Seuss is an American and during the beginning stages of the war Americans were bent on isolation and the actual date isn't on this document so we cant fully know the standting of the US during that time. Also the US was an outside country, not in Europe and not a civilian in Germany or Japan, what was being done there to try and stop these men from taking over land?
Monday, January 4, 2010
SGQ 11
IBHL1 SGQ11
Why was the time period 1933 to 1939 such a crucial era in world history?
MWH p.69-84
1. Relations between Japan and China
a. Japanese invasion of Manchuria
i. why?
valuable trade outlet that they didn't want to miss out on due to exclusion of trade because of Chiang's dominant ruling. Also the Japanese felt that they deserved to stay there because they invested so much in terms of Manchuria's devolopment.
ii. who supported them? who was opposed?
The British Foreign secretary agreed with Japan ont he fact that they deserved to be there, along with Hitler in Germany. However China strongly disagreed along with Japans's Primie minister.
iii. what was done?
The League of Nations condemened Japan's actions but was powerless to act. Britian and France were too busy dealing with Germany to deal with Japan and China and Russia didn't want to have a full scale war against Japan at the time. The US was bent on isolation and therefore left it alone.
b. Japanese advance from Manchuria
i. explain -
In 1933 Japan started to advance into north-eastern China, to which they had no claim whatsoever. By 1935 a large area of China as far as Beijing was controlled by Japan (poltical and commercial). China was too distracted to deal with them because they were in the midst of a civil war between Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang government and the communists led by Mao Zedong.
c. Further invasions
i. explain -
After signing the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany the Japanese seized the excuse provided by an icident between Chinese and Japanese troops in Peking to begin an invasion on other parts of China. By 1938 the Japanese had seized many cities and civilians. They soon went to southern China and captured Canton. By this time Russia was involved in helping China and the Chinese came to an understanding that they must work together to get these invaders out.
ii. what did the League of Nations do?
The League of Nations did nothing but condemn them, they were powerless to act.
2. Mussolini's foreign policy
a. 1923-1934 (summarize)
i. attented the Locarno Conferance but was dissapointed when the documents signed didn't gurantee the Italian frontier of Austria
ii. He was friendly towards Greece, Hungary, and especially Albania. Economic and defence agreements were signed with the result that Albania was virtually controlled by Italy
iii. He cultivited good relations with Britian and supported the demands that Turkey should hand over Mosul province to Iraq, and in return the British gave Italy a small part of Somaliland.
iv. Italy became the first state after Britian to regonize the USSR; a non-agression pact was signed between italy and the USSR in Sept. 1933
v.He tried to bolster up Austria against the threat from Germany by supporting the anti-Nazi governemnt and by signing trade agreements with Austria and Hungrary. After the murder from the Nazi Austrians, Italy sent in troops to stop Germany from seizing Austria. This stand improved relations between France and Italy.
b. after 1934 - how had Mussolini's attitude changed? examples:
i. Mussolini joined the British and French in condemning the Greman action and guranteeing Austria( Stresa Front). Mussolini took this as a blind eye from these countries so he could invade Abyssinian.
ii. The actual invasion of Abyssinian (Ethiopia) was the turning point in Mussolini's career. It was important to invade because it would provide economic domination, divert from the internal troubles of the depression and provide exports. Also it would boost Mussolini's popularity. its real importance was that it demonstrated the ineffctivness of collective security.
1. what did the League of Nations do?
iii. attended the Lacarno Conferance
iv. friendly towards greece, albania, and hungrary
v. cultivited good realtions w/ britian
vi.became one of the first states to regonize the USSR
vii.stopped Germany from invading Austrria
3. Hitler's foreign policy
a. aims
i.destroy the Treaty of versaille settlement
ii. building up the army
iii. recovering lost territory such as Saar and the Polish Corridor
iv. bring all German speakers together, inside the Reich( Austri, Poland, Czech)
b. successes
i.withdrew Gemany from the World Disarmment Confernace and from the League of Nations, on the grounds that France wouldn't agree to Germany having equality of armants
ii. signed a non-agression pact w/ the Poles. This soothed Britian and it guranteed Polish neutrality if Germany ever wanted to attack Austria and Czech,
iii. a non-sucess was that Itlay forced a German revolt to die in Austria, proved Germany wasn't ready to force issues
iv. The Saar was returned to Germany and so Hitler announced that now all causes of greivences between France and Germany had been removed
v.reintroduced conscritption( breach in T of V) boosted German army
vi.Anglo-German Naval Agreement: boosted German navy and airforce
vii.sent troops into the Rhineland and France did nothing (another breach in the T of V and the Lacarno)
viii. Rome-Berlin Axis w/ Italy and the Anti-Comintern Pact w/ Japan: most agressive countries are together and in Spain work on military stragety
ix. The Anschluss with Austria and this was a staging of events including, staged riots, demonstrations, looks like the government can't control it so Germany takes over
4. Appeasement: the policy followed by the British and later by the French of avoiding all war w/ agressive powers aka Japan, Italy, and Germany by giving way to their demands, provided they weren't unreasonable
a. what is appeasement? summarize the two phases:
i.mid-1920s until 1937 there was a vague feeling that war must be avoided at all costs, adn sometimes Britian and France drifted along, accepting the various acts of agression and the breaches of the Versailles ( Manchuria, Abyssinia, German rearmment, the Rhineland occupation)
ii. When neville Chamberlin became prime Minister of Britian on May 19137, he gave appeasement new drive; he believed in taking the initiative- he would find out what Hitler wanted and show him that reasonable claims could be met by negotating rather than force
b. how was it justified?
i. it was thought essential to avoid war( there was a strong Pacifist opinion due to WW1)
ii. many felt that Germany and Italy had genuine greivences( italy had been cheated at Versaille and Germany had been treated too harshley)
iii. Personal contact w/ these agressive leades would better the situtations since the L of N did nothing
iv.economic coperation between Germany and Britian would be good for both because if Britian helped the germany economy recover, Germany's internal violence would die down
v. fear of communist Russia was great especially among British conservatives, danger of communism is greater than Hitler( buffer against communist expansion westward)
vi. no full scale was wanted since Britian would be unprepared so these actions were taken
c. what was the role of appeasement leading up to WWII?
i.no action was taken to check the obvious German rearmament
ii.the Anglo-German Naval Agreement(broke the Stressa Front)
iii. only half-hearted British action against the italian invasion of Ethiopia
iv. the french did nothing when Germany invaded the Rhineland and Britian didn't care because of the promised 25 years pact. Meanwhile division occured between france and britian.
v. neither britian or france intervened in the Spanish Civil War
vi. germany adding austria was another "the natural union of one german group to another."
5. Munich to the outbreak of war
a. Czechoslovakia - what were the three steps to the conquest of Czechoslovakia?
i.propagenda campaign in Sudetenlands
ii.Munich conferance
iii.destruction of Czechslovakia
b. Poland - what were the two steps to the conquest of Poland?
i.Hitler demands the return of Danzing
ii.Ther Germans invade Poland
Why was the time period 1933 to 1939 such a crucial era in world history?
MWH p.69-84
1. Relations between Japan and China
a. Japanese invasion of Manchuria
i. why?
valuable trade outlet that they didn't want to miss out on due to exclusion of trade because of Chiang's dominant ruling. Also the Japanese felt that they deserved to stay there because they invested so much in terms of Manchuria's devolopment.
ii. who supported them? who was opposed?
The British Foreign secretary agreed with Japan ont he fact that they deserved to be there, along with Hitler in Germany. However China strongly disagreed along with Japans's Primie minister.
iii. what was done?
The League of Nations condemened Japan's actions but was powerless to act. Britian and France were too busy dealing with Germany to deal with Japan and China and Russia didn't want to have a full scale war against Japan at the time. The US was bent on isolation and therefore left it alone.
b. Japanese advance from Manchuria
i. explain -
In 1933 Japan started to advance into north-eastern China, to which they had no claim whatsoever. By 1935 a large area of China as far as Beijing was controlled by Japan (poltical and commercial). China was too distracted to deal with them because they were in the midst of a civil war between Chiang Kai-Shek and the Kuomintang government and the communists led by Mao Zedong.
c. Further invasions
i. explain -
After signing the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany the Japanese seized the excuse provided by an icident between Chinese and Japanese troops in Peking to begin an invasion on other parts of China. By 1938 the Japanese had seized many cities and civilians. They soon went to southern China and captured Canton. By this time Russia was involved in helping China and the Chinese came to an understanding that they must work together to get these invaders out.
ii. what did the League of Nations do?
The League of Nations did nothing but condemn them, they were powerless to act.
2. Mussolini's foreign policy
a. 1923-1934 (summarize)
i. attented the Locarno Conferance but was dissapointed when the documents signed didn't gurantee the Italian frontier of Austria
ii. He was friendly towards Greece, Hungary, and especially Albania. Economic and defence agreements were signed with the result that Albania was virtually controlled by Italy
iii. He cultivited good relations with Britian and supported the demands that Turkey should hand over Mosul province to Iraq, and in return the British gave Italy a small part of Somaliland.
iv. Italy became the first state after Britian to regonize the USSR; a non-agression pact was signed between italy and the USSR in Sept. 1933
v.He tried to bolster up Austria against the threat from Germany by supporting the anti-Nazi governemnt and by signing trade agreements with Austria and Hungrary. After the murder from the Nazi Austrians, Italy sent in troops to stop Germany from seizing Austria. This stand improved relations between France and Italy.
b. after 1934 - how had Mussolini's attitude changed? examples:
i. Mussolini joined the British and French in condemning the Greman action and guranteeing Austria( Stresa Front). Mussolini took this as a blind eye from these countries so he could invade Abyssinian.
ii. The actual invasion of Abyssinian (Ethiopia) was the turning point in Mussolini's career. It was important to invade because it would provide economic domination, divert from the internal troubles of the depression and provide exports. Also it would boost Mussolini's popularity. its real importance was that it demonstrated the ineffctivness of collective security.
1. what did the League of Nations do?
iii. attended the Lacarno Conferance
iv. friendly towards greece, albania, and hungrary
v. cultivited good realtions w/ britian
vi.became one of the first states to regonize the USSR
vii.stopped Germany from invading Austrria
3. Hitler's foreign policy
a. aims
i.destroy the Treaty of versaille settlement
ii. building up the army
iii. recovering lost territory such as Saar and the Polish Corridor
iv. bring all German speakers together, inside the Reich( Austri, Poland, Czech)
b. successes
i.withdrew Gemany from the World Disarmment Confernace and from the League of Nations, on the grounds that France wouldn't agree to Germany having equality of armants
ii. signed a non-agression pact w/ the Poles. This soothed Britian and it guranteed Polish neutrality if Germany ever wanted to attack Austria and Czech,
iii. a non-sucess was that Itlay forced a German revolt to die in Austria, proved Germany wasn't ready to force issues
iv. The Saar was returned to Germany and so Hitler announced that now all causes of greivences between France and Germany had been removed
v.reintroduced conscritption( breach in T of V) boosted German army
vi.Anglo-German Naval Agreement: boosted German navy and airforce
vii.sent troops into the Rhineland and France did nothing (another breach in the T of V and the Lacarno)
viii. Rome-Berlin Axis w/ Italy and the Anti-Comintern Pact w/ Japan: most agressive countries are together and in Spain work on military stragety
ix. The Anschluss with Austria and this was a staging of events including, staged riots, demonstrations, looks like the government can't control it so Germany takes over
4. Appeasement: the policy followed by the British and later by the French of avoiding all war w/ agressive powers aka Japan, Italy, and Germany by giving way to their demands, provided they weren't unreasonable
a. what is appeasement? summarize the two phases:
i.mid-1920s until 1937 there was a vague feeling that war must be avoided at all costs, adn sometimes Britian and France drifted along, accepting the various acts of agression and the breaches of the Versailles ( Manchuria, Abyssinia, German rearmment, the Rhineland occupation)
ii. When neville Chamberlin became prime Minister of Britian on May 19137, he gave appeasement new drive; he believed in taking the initiative- he would find out what Hitler wanted and show him that reasonable claims could be met by negotating rather than force
b. how was it justified?
i. it was thought essential to avoid war( there was a strong Pacifist opinion due to WW1)
ii. many felt that Germany and Italy had genuine greivences( italy had been cheated at Versaille and Germany had been treated too harshley)
iii. Personal contact w/ these agressive leades would better the situtations since the L of N did nothing
iv.economic coperation between Germany and Britian would be good for both because if Britian helped the germany economy recover, Germany's internal violence would die down
v. fear of communist Russia was great especially among British conservatives, danger of communism is greater than Hitler( buffer against communist expansion westward)
vi. no full scale was wanted since Britian would be unprepared so these actions were taken
c. what was the role of appeasement leading up to WWII?
i.no action was taken to check the obvious German rearmament
ii.the Anglo-German Naval Agreement(broke the Stressa Front)
iii. only half-hearted British action against the italian invasion of Ethiopia
iv. the french did nothing when Germany invaded the Rhineland and Britian didn't care because of the promised 25 years pact. Meanwhile division occured between france and britian.
v. neither britian or france intervened in the Spanish Civil War
vi. germany adding austria was another "the natural union of one german group to another."
5. Munich to the outbreak of war
a. Czechoslovakia - what were the three steps to the conquest of Czechoslovakia?
i.propagenda campaign in Sudetenlands
ii.Munich conferance
iii.destruction of Czechslovakia
b. Poland - what were the two steps to the conquest of Poland?
i.Hitler demands the return of Danzing
ii.Ther Germans invade Poland
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