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.