Mikhail Gorbachev and the end of Communism

Explain how Mikhail Gorbachev opened up the Soviet Union and paved the way for the end of Communism. Also define the words "Glasnost" and "Peristrokia".

The was Mikhail Gorbachev opened up the Soviet Union was by adding more churches. Gorbachev wanted more people to start talking about their society. Basically how they can make it better. One of his ideas was called glasnost. Glasnost was made in 1985. Glasnost is when the people talked about Soviet Union's issues, such as economy and political problems. Mikhail wanted his people to come together and be open about their society, he wanted to hear their opinions too. Another one of Mikhail Gorbachev's ideas which was created was called peristrokia. Peristrokia was an idea to reform the economic system, and also the political system. This is how Mikhail Gorbachev paved the way to the end of communism for the Soviet Union.

Collapse of Communism

Why did Communism collapse in Eastern Europe and the USSR? Why did people tear down the Berlin Wall? What happened to the Soviet Union and how did the collapse of the Soviet Union change the world?

Communism collapsed because communism just wasnt working. This was for the USSR. and Eastern Europe. These countries started to run out of money. The reason the people tore down the Berlin Wall, was because they were shocked that they weren't able to go to the other side of their own country Germany. The Berlin Wall would separate Germany into two. East germany was communist, while West Germany wasn't. The Berlin Wall stoped people from crossing the border for 28 years. The people who did attempt to cross killed, either shot or were put threw gas. Then after the countries got their own independence, people were getting higher paying jobs because the government wasnt involed with the economy. Then when the USSR was no longer communist everyone felt more relaxed (world). No one had to no longer fear that the Soviet Union would attack their country because they weren't communist.

Creation of Israel

Zionism was a Jewish movement. This movement development of the state of Israel. But there was a conflict when this occured. The Arabs did not like them and did not want Jews near them. So therefore they attacked the Israel, and kept attacking it continuesly. The Aribs divided up Palestine and Israek. In 1947, 700,000 Arab moved to a camp, which this caused more problems. Basically Israel was a holy site for 3 different religions, or cultures, where it has grown from, Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Apartheid means to separate. So basically it was separating races from each other. It was a racial term in South Africa. Nelson Mandela was a fighter. Then he was chosen to be South Africa's leader. He did not have a government system. He also was a leader in an underground political movement. This movement was known as the African National Congress (ANC). He was against the white-ruled government. But this didn't last long when he was sentenced to life in prison. In prison he was determined to be a support of hope for his people who went on with their lives with the Apartheid while Mandela was in prison. He was finally set free in 1990. The day of his release was the beginning of the end of the Apartheid. After this he was rewarded with the Nobel Prize, and also elected to be the President in South Africa. Mandela was admired by the authors because he never gave up he was a true fighter.

African Independence

Read the link below. Study the map on page three. Explain how and why Africa changed so much in the 20 year period from 1955 t0 1975. Who were some of the leaders of African Independence and what nations did they lead?

African changed so much from 1955 to 1975 because it gained more independent countries in 1975. And in 1955, Africa only had 5 independent countries.

Neolithic Revolution

Explain the Neolithic Revolution and its significance. (You learned this over a year ago and it will probably be on the Regents Exam).

The neolithic revolution was very significant because the nomads settles down from hunting and gathering. Yes of course they would still hunt and everything but would stay in one place, where they liked it. They then knew how to farm crops. They notice that when they were hunters and gathers when they threw the seeds in the floor and walked pass that same spot a month after the same plant grew. They used this technique and made farm. This was the Neolithic Revolution.

The European Union

Europe has always been a place for a conflict. But, these conflicts werent that major until the middle 1800s. After around World War II they finally made up. The European Union was first made basically as a way to maintain an economic relationship. This relationship would be between the coal and steel producers of Europe. The European Union became a "spiritual" clone of the US. Because of this the European Union was extremely similar with the US. Europe also got the concept with the pqassports from the US. Because in the US itis not required to have a passport to go from state to stgate, unless you leave the country. Another similarity is the nonexistence of restrictive laws. There are other similarity too. Now that there is an amazing growths in economy, they’ve become powerful(a world power).
The European Union has made Euro which is now higher then the American Dollar, and it is used most widely today. This is basically another challenge for the U.S.
Europe has stoped the caos that was within Europe for many centries. It brought together the nations of Europe, under a secure place, somehow like the U.S. has. Europe today has its very own military, that all the nations participate in, from the European Union. Europe was successful in stoping the conflict that it had within itself.

Film Lesson -"The Right Stuff"

The US and the USSR were competing in the film "The Right Stuff". The USSR was winning this competition. They way they were winning the competition because they sent a human up to space first, before the US. The scene that would help me remember the Cold War would have to be when the man ran into the presidents office, and trips, and they said your late again. I think this scene would help me remember the cold war best.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was an large event, even if there wasn't any major war. It was an event that led close to being a start of a nuclear war. Khrushchev had built missiles in Cuba secretly. By him doing this the United States saw it as a threat to them. The missiles were only spotted because of an American spy plane. Once president John F. Kennedy found out about the missiles in Cuba he demanded for them to be removed by the Soviet Union. Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba, but only if the United States promised to not invade Cuba itself. Then came along a letter which read, that the United States are to remove the missiles in Turkey. The reason for doing this is for the exchange of the Soviets removing the missiles in Cuba. John F. Kennedy told the Soviets to remove the missiles in Cuba first. The Soviets agreed to this and removed their missiles. This was the hottest point of the Cold war. The reason for this being because, everyone was so scared that there would be a nuclear war. The people were more alert then ever before in history. Everybody wanted to know what would happen next. Everyone knew that there was a very small amount between what was going on, and a start to a nuclear war. To calm everything down John F. Kennedy made an extremely smart choice, so that the nuclear war would be prevented. John F. Kennedy's choice was to put the missiles away, instead of attacking one another.

Nato and the Warsaw Pact

The NATO was known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The NATO was formed in North America, and in Europe. NATO was established on April 4th of 1949. The main reason for this treaty was so they could have defense if one of the countries got attacked. Also it was a defense of communism. Basically if one of the countries was getting attacked the other countries would come and help them out. The NATO would provide each other with economies aid, and also support for the countries. The Warsaw Pact was also another sort of group that originated from European communist states. This was the Soviet Union developing there "response" to NATO. Warsaw Pact was established on May 1st of 1955.These states were from central and eastern Europe. The reason for the Warsaw Pact was so that can counter the alliance made by the NATO treaty. These alliances were both strong. Even though these two different alliances had opposite goals, both of them were able to avoid major conflict

Film Lesson: "Night and Fog"

Most of my reactions to "Night and Fog" i can not explain. I can not believe that people actually went through this, and people sat there and watched others die like that, or even kill them that was horrible. I think i found this film more powerful then "Schindler's List" because this actually showed you everything. You seen the people, their skin the cuts, them starving. I think this is going to be in my mind for a long time, that should have never been able to get that far. How can someone watch another suffer that badly? That itself is disgust.

Film Lesson: "Schindler's List"

Schindler List showed us about the Holocaust. I would have to say the most powerful scene for me, was when they killed the children, and when they show the dead bodies. I would also have to say the corpse's they burned. I basically think that the concentration camps were horrible. The concentration camps mistreat the people, and all those images were extremely strong.

US Atomic Bombing of Japan 1945

I think that the Atomic Bombing of Japan, was the top news of the century. I do think this because there were a lot of deaths in the event. Also the Bombing created a huge debate, that people still argue up until today, if dropping the Atomic Bomb was a good idea, or if it was a bad one. This event basically influenced the world. This is because during this time, was the time were things were getting updated ex: such as better weapons. The use of the bomb told the Japanese that they had technology that they could not have matched.The US Atomic Bomb killed many innocent people. Not only did it kill the people but it destroded of two mayor cities which were Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Before the bombing some people couldn't decided whether to use the bombs or not to use them, but at the end the president made the final call. Personally I don't think that there was a bigger event then the dropping of the bomb.

One thing I would change in the places of the top 100 new stories, would be the placement of the Cuban missile crisis, which was number 35. I do believe that this is much more important because it could have caused another World War. Throughfore i think that this should be placed higher up.

Germany at WW II

Then - explain the poster. What does it say? How are Germany and other nations at war illustrated? What is going on in the poster?
Explain the poster and its symbols.

Propoaganda is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation. The poster says "Europas Sieq dein Wohlstand" which means"Europe's Victory is Your Prosperity". This means if Europe wins the war, it gives the people benefits. It also brings good fortune to their countries. Great Britain would be another nation involved in getting defeated by Germany. The churchhill symbol i think represents Great Britian's defeat by Germany. Then the huge iron fist is showing how its punching Stalin and the Soviet Union.

The Treaty of Versailles (ended WWI)

Explain how the Treaty of Versailles affected Germany at the end of WW I. Some historians say that the Treaty of Versailles led to the rise of Fascism and Adolph Hitler. Why do you think historians say this?

The Treaty of Versailles affected Germany at the end of WWI. It affected Germany because they didn't have enough money to play for the damage of the war. Also some historians say that the Treaty of Versailles led to the rise of Fascism and Adolph Hitler. They say this because Germany was in a depression and they needed a leader. So then Hitler came along and took advantage, and became the leader. This is why historians say this.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the Modernization of Turkey.

Explain how Mustafa Kemal (aka: Ataturk) modernized Turkey and made it more secular. What changes did he make? Also define secular.

Mustafa Kemal aka. Ataturk modernized Turkey in many ways. One specific way was but changing the hat, also clothes. Secular is not pertaining to or connected with religion.

Film Lesson: "Gandhi"

Using specific examples from the film: Explain how Gandhi helped his nation of India gain Independence from Great Britain. What were some of the things that he did? Explain his philosophy of non-violence; and explain how he used it effectively.


Gandhi helped many people. His theory was not to use violence, but to have a peaceful country. Gandhi helped India gain their Independence from Great Britain. Gandhi told the Indian people to burn their clothes that were bought from the British, so that they can show that they don't need the British help. Gandhi would weave his own clothes and expected others to do the same. Gandhi also went for the Salt Act. He wanted the British to know that India did not need there help. Basically Gandhi wanted the British to know that India wanted to be its own Independent Country. Gandhi did not believe in violence, so he would never fight back.