Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Treaty of Versailles (Ended WWI)


The Treaty of Versailles was thought of as many as what caused WWII. Germany lost WWI and was blamed and punished for it. They were forced to pay millions to other countries and lost many resources and land. When the United States stop loaning Germany money, nearly 30% of Germany got unemployed. All hope seemed lost and the German people were looking for a leader to bring Germany back into power. This is when Adolf Hitler got the attention of the German public, he promised to give Germany more living space and bring them back into power. What the German people did not know was that Hitler had plans of his own to dominate the world. The people were so desperate for a new leader that they looked right through Hitler's true plans. Hitler did make Germany more stable, and helped the economy greatly. The more he helped Germany, the more the German people wanted him to have power. This is when facism got involved, and the Hitler started his rampage which resulted in WWII. This is why many historians thinks that the Treaty of Versailles caused WWII.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) and the modernization of Turkey


Mustafa Kemal was one of the first leaders ever to separate religion from government and educational affairs. Ataturk felt that no person, group, or religion was any better then the other. His goal was to make every citizen equally important and that they should work hard everyday to feel united with their country. Ataturk saw the peasants as the true rulers, so he let woman vote in 1934. Kemalism is much like daily life in the United States. This was a revolution that not only modernized Turkey but let the world see how a country can be ruled with fairness, happiness, and in the best interest of the people. It did not matter what religion or race you were, and it did not matter what you practiced, Ataturk made a society where all could peacefully live together in a free world.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Film Lesson "Gandhi"


Gandhi used many methods to help his nation of India gain independence from India. He was most famous for his non-violence ways. He even fasted when he saw his followers using violence, violence ended almost entirely after he fasted Gandhi believed that if they did not fight back, then the British empire would be the ones who look bad. Gandhi told all his followers to make their own cloth and to burn all British cloth. It became a common sight to see a Indian making their own cloth. Many looked up to Gandhi as a new hope for freedom. Gandhi was not just a politician, he was one of them. Gandhi told his followers to boycott all British goods and to only buy Indian goods. He also marched on the beach collecting salt with his followers. It was very important to have salt in order to live in such heat. The British soldiers used violence and hit the Indians with clubs.

Gandhi was put in jail many times to try to prevent him from leading his followers. This did not stop his followers from making their own salt and cloth and from boycotting the British. Gandhi was taken to the round table conference to discuss the independence of India. Independence was finally rewarded to India and was greatly sue to Gandhi. I believe that the independence of India was greatly due to the actions of Gandhi. I also think that even without Gandhi's help, India would have most likely won it own independence sooner or later because history has proved that when the governed does not agree with the government, the government is usually to fall. In this case one man helped trigger a non-violence fight against the government and helped an entire nation gain independence.