Project Plan

I will mostly likely be writing a standard essay for this project.

Demonstrate the evolution of the concepts of personal freedom, individual responsibility, and respect for human dignity.

USIL.17 Explain important events that took place during WWII.(Chapters 24 and 25)

USIL.25 Analyze the origins, goals, and key events of the civil rights movement.(Chapter 29)

USIL.27 Analyze the cause and course of the womens rights movement.(Chapter 31)

USIL.29 Analyze the presidency of Ronald Reagan. (Chapter 33)

Current Events Summery 5!

Foreign Relations

In recent news china has come to new developments in its situation with India due to the claiming of Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian State as it's own. China has decided to allow a visa to be given to Marpe Sora, a professor from Arunachal's capital Itanagar. Many are hopeful that this is the beginning of China finally accepting Arunachal as part of Indian and not possessed by China itself.
China has also faced even more problems with the need to recall cans of toxic meat. This event is just one in a long line it seems of products that have needed to be recalled. These products are being exported to countries in Europe and the United states and this year large amounts of toys, tyers, and food have been recalled from the American Market. The government is now facing much pressure to insure safety in these Chinese made products due to increasing international concern. This has lead to steps such as trying to introduce a product recall system similar to the kind that the United States and many other countries currently have. Speculation still remains if a real deference can be archived in this matter. In more favorable news a planed bridge from Vietnam to China is now planed to be built with hopes to be up in 2012. This highway is set up to allow drivers to be able to make the journey from Hanoi, Vietnam to China in only one day. This extreme cut down in time will hopefully yield a resulting boast in the struggling economy in the north-west region in Vietnam. This bridge will show an increase in Vietnam ability to export goods like agricultural products to China. This bridge show be mutually beneficial as Chinese exporters will then experience a faster route to global markets. China is also remembering the Nanjing massacre. This occurred 70 years ago when Japanese soldiers killed 300,000 Chinese civilians, if Chinese this particular number is to believed, though the Japanese government claims that this figure is untrue. This has brought up some on going conflict between the citizens of the two counties. Some citizens wish for Japan to admit what they did while some citizens are frustrated with the dragging up of past events. Trade between the United states and China has suffered tension recently due to talks about how to lower Chinas trade surplus and stop the countries growing interdependence. Talks would center around China keeping the value on the yuan undervalued giving Chinese exports an unfair advantage. Both sides seem to still be deal with what to do with the China-US trade imbalance. China and Vietnam's dispute about the ownership of the Spartly and Paracel islands lead to a protest by several hundred Vietnamese citizens out side the Chinese Embassy. This tension is caused by the two countries both claiming ownership of these two islands that are quite valuable due to there large amount of oil and natural gas reserves. Other countries such as Taiwan and the Philippians also claim sovereignty over the islands. This had been an ongoing source of conflict for several years and is the driving force of many protest.

Critical Thinking 23-3!

Some critics have charged that the New Deal was antibusiness and anti-free enterprise. Explain why you agree or disagree with this charge.

When looking at the New Deal I have to agree that many aspects of it were anti business and anti-enterprise. This is because the New Deals supported and showed a growth in federal power and that didn't go well with bushinesses and enterprises. Roosevelt was said to have made the federal government too large and too powerful and that it completely overpowered free enterprise and individuals business. Roosevelt need to create a strong federal government to try and help the economy but this had a negative effect on smaller enterprises.

Critical Thinking 23-4!

How successful do you think Franklin Roosevelt was as a president? Support your answer with details from the text.

Roosevelt was giving a very difficult challenge when he became president to try and lead the country through one of its most dark and difficult times, the Great Depression, and for the most part he handled his leadership with much success. Roosevelt became quite a popular president due to his leadership and one the popularity vote every term that he was elected and reelected. He was popular despite that his New Deals dragged up talks of him giving to much power to the federal government it was necessary for his plans to help the nation and though he did receive criticisms many people saw the positive effects of the New Deal such as the returned faith in the banking systems and the improvement that Roosevelt had made to them, the jobs that Roosevelt had created for people, jobs that not only gave work to many people but help the environment as well like planting trees, and there was his help in really trying to reach out to people in this time of need witch was a much differnt approch then the distance created form the much less successful in my opinion, Hoover.

Critical Thinking 23-3!

What type of movies do you think might have been produced if the government had supported movie making as part of the New Deal? Use evidence from the chapter to support you response.

If the government had supported movies for the New Deals then it could have opened up the opportunities for the production of many movies. There would have been movies made about things and topics that were lighter and that many people could find away to connect to. The movies could have offered support for people going through the tough times of the depression. People would want to see movies that help inspiration and a happy ending for the viewer to help them feel better. Movies had become a fascinating and uplifting form of connection between people and stories and feelings and if movie making had been had been part of the New Deal then it could have offered many ways for the government to reach out to the everyday people who were struggling.

Critical Thinking 23-3!

Of the New Deal programs discussed in this section, which do you consider the most important? Explain your choice.

As a plan to help fix the countries state of depression Roosevelt created the New Deals. This was a program that focused on three goals, relief for the needy, economic recovery, and financial reform. Of these the most important was and most dealt with was financial reform and its effects of trying to rebuild the banks and peoples views on them. To help the banking system congress passed the Glass-Steagall Act that established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This provided federal insurance for individual bank accounts reassuring that banks were safe. Then the Federal Securities Act was passed to help with the stock market. This Act made it so that big corporations had to share all information about stocks offerings.

Critical Thinking 22-3!

How did Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shape his polities during the Great Depression?

Hoover faced many challenges being the president of the time for the Great Depression. He need to figure out a way to try and pull America out of the situation that it had fallen in to. His policies became to be focused around his idea of rugged individualism were people should succeed through there own efforts. He thought that families should take care of themselves during this trying period and that they should not become so dependent on the governments help. He had a belief that hand outs would weaken peoples self respect and because of that he did not support any form of welfare or direct relief to those that were in need. Hoovers response to everything that was going on was infuriating to the many people that did not what to be strengthened moral but just wanted to survive the day. The depression seem to take hold of the country and people grew more and more frustrated with Hoovers refusal to really ge t out there and help them. He did try ways to help the economy, such as calling together leaders of big businesses, banking, and labor to try and encourage them in ways to improve the nation with less pay cuts and lay offs and other cautious approaches of that sort. It turned out though that these approaches still might have leaned a little too much on the " rugged individual" idea and were still to mild.

Critical Thinking 22-3!

How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? Children?

The Great Depression yielded a different effect on men then on women and on children. Though in the times of the Great Depression, many families tried to stay together and become united during the hard times, they still felt a huge amount of pressure and tension from the economic hardships and families would begin to come undone under the strain. On one hand there was the men who felt a great amount of depression while trying to cope with unemployment while they were so used to being the ones to go out and bring home the money and the food and support there families. Men would wander the streets searching for work, but this proved a difficult feat and many gave up altogether and just left there families. These men would not really go on to find much better wandering the streets and showing up at homeless shelters. Then there was the women who to were forced to work extremely hard. The focused on trying to keep there families from falling apart and help them survive. There was also the working women who were still trying to support with jobs. These women though became the targets of much resentment from people who believed that women did not have the right to work in a time were it was so crucial for men to find work and that the women were stealing the jobs that should have been given to the man. A major difference between the hardships of men and women in this time period was that mens struggles were much more publicly known the the ones women were having. People assumed that because they saw more men out on the streets that must mean that more men were suffering then women but that was not true, women were suffering and starving to death but were just more ashamed to show it so they ended up freezing and starving to death in there own homes were they received less public recognition. Children were also suffering with a lack of money and health care they were facing serious health problems. Many boys left home in search of work. Even though they were in some danger and had no idea what to expect they were differnt then men in away because they were sometimes able to see the more adventurous side of the whole thing explaining that, "There was no feeling in the world like sitting in a side-door Pullman ans watching the world go by..."( George Phillips P.682)

Critical Thinking 22-4!

Judging from the events of the late 1920s and early 1930s, how important do you think public confidence is to the health of the economy?

Public confidence was something that really influence the health of the economy. In the late 1920s and early 1930s it was shown that the United States citizens were showing a over confidence in the stock market. As the stock market grew to be a symbol of a prosperous American economy, more and more people stated to show confidence and a desire to invest in the stock market. The market was growing fast and people wanted to take advantage of this situation called a "bull market" were they would buy the stocks while the stocks were rising. So many wealthy or wealthy hopefuls had bought stock at this point that around out 4 million people held shares in 1929. Most of these people were living in the now and only thinking about what they were buying in speculation terms, were you would buy money for quick profit instead of taking in to account the possible negative ramifications. Americans showed such a confidence in the market that it lead to irresponsible activities like buying on margin, where you pay some for the stock and then take out a loan for the rest. This was a bad idea because if the people lost money in the stock market then how would they be able to pay off the money that they had been loaned in the first place. All this buying lead to a peak in prices and then a recession where the prices would start to fall. This then lead to much panic as people tried to pull out to trying and save there money, but it was useless for many when the bottom of the market fell out and prices plunged so low that many lots all they had. With the decline in prices came a decline in people confidence. This overwhelming confidence that they could make money now and forget the future lead to some serious peoples that the Americans would have to face through the 1930s.

Current Events Summery 4

Forign Relations
China

China is a nation that is a growing in its prsuit of new technologies. This has caused some tension between with the united states who have presented to congress that china has to be watched and that more protection has to be taken. It has been disscused that China has been growing in bussiness and technology both legally and illigally through spying but reps from Beijing have denied this. Congress has been avised to take more security meassures to prevent a possiblity military techonolgy theft. These reports have also chosen to report unfavorable things about Chinese miltary, economy, as well as there media. Another concern with China is the pressure that the nation is reciving from other countries such as the united states and other europen countries, to revalue to try and reduce its huge trade surplus. They belive that the yuan(Chinese currency) should become higher causing Chinese goods to decrease in price and therefore causing a less extreme trade surplus. This pressure is coming expecially now from the united states, whose money has reach a very low point, because they belive that the Chinese curency creates a unfair balance. This is has now also lead to European leaders joing this critisim for the first time as well. It has also been reported that China will be willing to join these talks and try to adjust there economy for advancement, though comments of what have been going on have benn vague. China has been a part of negotiations with France including french industrialist and the President Sarkozy. This has lead to a trade deal woth around 20bn euros. This trip was also used to try and persuade Chinas veiws on things such as currency and the death penalty. IN other news dealing with the talks between China and Sarkozy, he warned China that they could be penalized for the cheap goods that they were importing from high Carbon emmiting countries because they were not up to the strict environmental stadards. China has also been involved in relations with rebelas in Darfur. China had sent over peacekeepers into the dagorus nation but soon after people started to arrive they weredemanded to pull out. Many belived that Chinas involvement in the Darfur and Sudanese region are having more to do with the politics of oil then anything else.

Critical Thinking 21-4!

What did the Harlem Renaissance contribute to both black and general American history?

The Harlem Renaissance was a literary and artistic movement celebrating African American culture. One main movement was in writing where African Americans could express the struggles and trials of being black in a white world. Also they could use writing to celebrate who they were and what they had become and what there heritage was. These writings would also go on to have a effect of American history because they could encourage future African Americans to fight against prejudice and discrimination. Not only was writing important but entertainment such as music and plays were also now used to show case the talents of many black performers like in the black musical comedy Shuffle along. Music and dancing is important to American histories society and it was something that was really brought out in the 20s. Jazz and blues artist showcased there talents and brought many people out to listen and dance and enjoy this fresh kind of entertainment. The Harlem Renaissance real help the 20s become open to expressing different cultural views, which is something that is very important in American history.

Critical Thinking 21-5!

Do you think that the passage of the Volstead Act and the ruling in the Scopes trial represented genuine triumphs for traditional values.

In the end i think that the Volstead Act and prohibition and the the ruling of the scopes trial all represented triumphs for traditional values. As the world and society life was changing rapidly in urban areas with the inventions, drinking, party, and other self indulgences some were still holding tight to traditional more simple values. Two ways in witch traditional values generally triumphed was with the prohibition act, where alcohol was deemed illegal. Though many people decided not to fallow this law and live above while smuggling alcohol and opening up secret clubs in the end when you look at the law it generally did have a decreasing effect on peoples consumption of alcohol and that is what the act set out to do even though it did also lead more people to find ways around the law. Then there was the ruling of the Scopes trial witch was also a very important traditional values win. Religion is more predominate in traditional values where as newer values might have looked towards newer theories such as evolution. When a school teacher in Tenn. named Scopes tried to teach the theory of evolution in his class room, he was prosecuted for it. This trial lead to a triumph in religious values because the man was ultimately found guilty and fined for teaching evolution rather then creation.

Critical Thinking 20-3!

Do you think Americans were justified in their fear of radicals and foreigners in the decade following world war 1?

No, I do not think that the Americans were justified in there fear of radicals and foreigners fallowing world war 1. Many people were suffering after the war because no more war supples needed to produced and so the economy was not as big which meant it was yielding less jobs. This was made even worse by the fact of all the soilders that were know returning home looking for work who needed work and could not afford to lose jobs to foreign workers. This along with Russia declaring to spread communism lead to much irrational fear of foreigners leading to such acts to try and keep "America for America" like the quota system that established the maximum number of immigrants that could enter from a nation into our country. Then there was the Americans fear of radical groups with in America such as communism and the KKK. These groups did not completely justify American fear. Especially in the case of the communism red scare, where people would fear acts from communism groups like mailed bombs, even though it tuned out that these bombs might not have even been sent by communist groups. Then there was the fact that peoples fear lead to the Palmer Raids, witch were unjust because Palmer was a hopeful for running for president and he was probably only having these raids of "suspected" communists to try and gain public support, peoples fear was irrational because they found very little to fear and only ended up breaking a lot of peoples civil rights.

Critical Thinking 19-5!

Predict Germany's reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? Give reasons for your predictions.

I think that Germany would have a very unsettling and unjust feeling towards the Treaty and just fully so. First of all there was the unfair war-guilt clause that pretty much forced the Germans to admit full responsibility for stating the war. Though Germany had been a big driving force in the construction of this war they were not alone and other European countries were just as guilty as fueling the war and provoking diplomatic crisis as the Germans were. I think that the Germans would feel wronged by being the only country forced to take the blame when in truth it was not all there fault.

Then there would be a reaction of outrage about the huge amount of money that the Germans now owed the Allies and the land that they were being made to give away or back. These two things went hand in hand because there was no way that the Germans were going to be able to pay that sum of money and one of the ways to help raise that money that they could never fully pay was to use the land they possessed in the pacific, but they couldn't because that land had been taken away.

Critical Thinking 19-3!

Why didn't the Treaty of Versailles lay the foundations for lasting peace?

When the war was finally reaching its final end, the leaders of the nations, including the defeated ones met in Versailles to sign a treaty. This Treaty established nine new nations that included Poland, Czechoslovakia, and later Yugoslavia. It also lead to shift in the boundaries of other countries. It created separate territories and land was distributed to other nations. Also Germany was banned from having a maintained army, made them return land to France and they were also expected to pay for damages in the war take would amount to somewhere around 33 billion dollars for the Allies. This treaty was not going to lay down a foundation for lasting peace. First, the obvious treatment of Germany as the wrong doing party would create tension between it and other countries in Europe. The treaty pretty much forced Germany to take full responsibility for the war even though it was not they only driving force in the war. Also there was the statement in the treaty of where land should be given or who should own it, this to would lead to much tension because countries were losing land and territories. Also this treaty was ignoring others such as the claims of colonized people fro the same rights as the people in the western nations.

Critical Thinking 19-5!

Do you think that the war had a positive or negative effect on American society?

I believe that the war held a positive effect for American society. One major improvement in society was the new opportunities that would become available for African Americans and women because of the war. This happened when Great Migration, where thousands of African Americans moved from the south to northern cities, started. Because of the war, there was a huge dip in European immigration which lead to an increase in job opportunities for the large number of African Americans now in the north.

During this time, women saw there roles expanding as well. They started to take jobs such as cooks, railrod workers, and dockworkers that before had been only really available for men. Women were showed support for there work and were starting to get more reconiazation in the public. This lead to congress finally passing the Nineteenth Amendment , where women were given the right to vote. This had been something that women had been fighting for for so long and to have finally archived it was a huge positive step in American society and for women suffrage.

Critical Thinking 19-3!

How did the war affect government power?

The war saw a affect of greater government power and control. The government was given more control in the economy. This was because companys had to really focus on the war, so they went from making mostly consumer products to was supplies. This was a very complex and impoertant responsiblilty and was to much for private industries to handle so the government steped in. Wilson was given the power of direct control over the economy and his powers included fixing prices and regulating war related industries. This control lead to federal board like the The war Industries Board being created to help giude companys and regulate the economy as well as improve work condidtions. The wilson was given the powed to set up the Food Administartion as well. The government also spent so much on the war that taxes, such as the income taxes, were used frequently to help relive debt. The government who feared negitive propaganda went on to exercise even more power by passing the Espionage and Sedition Act. This act really deminstrated government power because it went aganst free speech because the act would prosacute anybody for interfering with the war effort or saying anyting disloyal or abbusive about the government and the war effort.

Critical Thinking 19-3!

In what ways did WWI represent a frightening new kind of warfare?

WWI in general was a terrifying war. This war was one of the bloodiest of all time. 22 million people died and half of them were civilians. This meant that war was not only causing death to troops but was reaching civilians. This would cause a general feeling of terror and paranoia in the general public because it was a very real thing that any day the war could reach you. The numbers of refugees and wounded were incredibly high, 10 million and 20 million respectively.

This war brought with military weapons that were very frighting. Machine guns, tanks, and poison gas allowed for there to be mass killings in a battle. These attack took the place of people just shooting at one another, now an attack could come from anywhere or anyone and so many people were dying in these attacks that it was having horrible lasting effects on the surviving people. The conditions were so bad that it was leaving many shell shocked and with mental and physical problems.

Critical Thinking 19-5!

Why do you think Germany escalated its U-Boat attacks in 1917?

Germany was in a competition with Britain and for nationalistic reasons they wanted to be superior, especially in military, to Britain so it would cause them to try and create a strong superior navy, one made with U Boats. Also Germany would want a better navy to have an easier time with imperialism. Germany started to escalate its u boat attacks because of the blockade put upon them by Britain. Britain had a strong naval strength and decided to use it to block the coast of Germany to keep weapons, food, and other supplies from being transfered. This in effect caused famine that lead to around 750,000 Germans starving to death. Germany had to retaliate this blockade and so they upped there U Boat attacks. The boats had the authority to attack any boat in British waters. The favoring of submarines was due to the fact that it was a more stealth form of attack.

Critical Thinking 19-4!

Why were Americans ties with the Allies stronger than its ties with the Central Powers?

Americas ties with the Allies were stronger than its ties with the central powers. The central powers consisted of Germany while the Allies were countries like France and Britain. The ties to Britain were stronger because many more Americans felt close to Britain. Britain and America had a common ancestry and they both had a similar language. There were even further similarities like both having similar legal systems and democratic institutions. Democracy also turned more Americans against Germany when President Wilson stated that the German Empire could become a treat to democracy.

Also Americans sympathy towards Britain was far superior then for Germany. When Americans heard of the Germans attacks of Britain civilians, destroying towns and other horrid acts, they grew to consider German as some form of a war "bully". Even though some of these attacks were just propaganda to swing favor towards Britain there was enough of it to really draw out sympathy from the untied States.

Lastly, America had economic ties that were much stronger with the Allies then with the Central Powers. It had always been that way with trade but with the war it became even greater. It was becoming increasingly difficult to trade with Germany because of the British blockade. Also trade with the Allies was growing due to the demand of war supplies being manufacturing in the United Sates.

Critical Thinking 18-4!

In your opinion should the United States have become involved in the affairs of Colombia, Nicaragua, and Mexico during the early 1900s?

Though interfering with these countries had great benefits for America, I dont think that it was the right thing for Americans to become involved in there affairs. The panama canal, built in a providence in Columbia, was a huge engineering and economic success for our country but the united states had to help organize an entire panama rebellion just to force Columbia to give up there land.
Before the presidency of Wilson, the United States mostly fallowed the policy of staying out of other countries affairs and recognized the country for the policy they had. Wilson on the other hand had a much different idea, he wanted to expanding united states control and spread the idea that all countries should have democracy. Mexico was one country that housed a form of government Wilson despised even calling it a "government of butchers"(p. 569)When Mexico arrested a small group of Americans and then later set them free, Wilson took this as an opportunity to get involved with Mexico in a war. Americans invaded Mexico and battles were fought but there would later have to be peace becuase the US was facing go on to another war. This invasion of Mexico show the idea of how the us government found theres supior and could do and invade anything they wanted because of it and that was just not right.

Critical Thinking 18-3!

What do you think were the similarities and differences of Roosevelts big stick policy and Wilson's missionary diplomacy?

Roosevelt and Wilson both had a different policy on approaching conflicts with other countries. Roosevelt's policy was to always be straightforward and inform other counties what there plans were and what they intended to do. If the other county was not supportive of what was said then the United States would threaten violence, this way countries would obey to avoid the looming conflict and violence that would happen if they didn't. This policy seemed to conclude with a mostly peaceful result and no real violence ever surfaced. With Wilson's diplomacy policy, he believed that he should be spreading his ideas peacefully around the world and trying to impose democracy on other countries. This however would sometimes end up with violence coming from opposing nations. These two policy's had different approaches that lead to oppiste and different results but still the two ideas shared one similar goal, which was to help the growth of the US as an imperialist power and to give the growing nation more control and influence on other countries.

Critical Thinking 18-4!

How was U.S. policy toward China different form U.S policy toward the Philippines?

The US policy towards the Philippines was that they had more control over it then after a while they started to give more independence in ruling there own government untill the Phillipines finelly became independent of the United states. With China it was a country with freedom but other countrys were having there own share of it. The US wanted to benefit from china so they decided to have an open door policy, where all imperalist nations had to share trade in China so that no single nation would have a monopoly trade anywhere in China. This policy was agrree by on the other nations though very reluctantly.

Critical Thinking 18-3!

How did American rule of Puerto Rico harm Puerto Ricans? How did it help Puerto Ricans? Do you think the benefits outweighed the harmful effects?

When America took rule over Puerto Rico it caused harm to the Puerto Ricans. American government could not promise Puerto Ricans independence after the war. Also the American military was stilled station on the island and would remain so until congress said other wise. Many Puerto Ricans wanted to have independence and statehood but the Us government continued to have military forces and control over the island because it was very strategic land for the US to have. The island would secure a Us presence in the Caribbean and was important for protecting the future canal that the untied States was planning on building. Another harmful thing was the small amount of power the Puerto Ricans were given. Though congress vote out military control with the Foraker Act, it gave the president the right to elect the Puerto Ricans govern, The Puerto Ricans themselves only had the power to elect one representative.

There was also benefits for the Puerto Ricans after he Spanish-American war. Congress had the right to grant US citizenship and they were also given the right to elect there two houses of their legislature. In the end I think that the benefits do not outweigh the harmful effects. The Puerto Ricans had gained a measure of independence under the rule of Spain and when they were taking over by the US it seemed like they were actually losing more power then they were gaining. The Puerto Ricans were being used to benefit the united stats and because of it they lost some of there freedom.

Critical Thinking 18-3!

What do you think were the unstated editorial polices of yellow journalism?

Yellow journalism was a writing tactic used by exaggerating news to get more peoples attention. Articles with an editorial touch are written with the authors views clearly shown, they are articles with bias. The editorial polices in yellow journalism were that an author could use there own views to exaggerate a store and swing peoples views around to there way of seeing a story. Also writers of yellow journalism would try to create the most interesting story to get more people to buy the newspaper. Writers such as Pulitzer and Hearst were two writer that were competing in newspaper sales. They would both try to write the most intense, compelling stories to grape the more readers attention. They would write about poisoned wells and other horrible things that people wanted to red about. Hearst also new that if he add pictures to his stories then if would spark even more peoples interest and even help propel a war between American and sprain. Along with pictures a simple attention graping headline could become a rally cry for people reading the newspapers and push for war with Spain. Even if there was no substantial proof that Spain blew up the ship, headlines and pictures were a convincing enough lure for many people to join in on supporting American ans Spanish warfare.

Current Events 3 West Africa!

Foreign Relations

Recently it has seemed that due to West Africas recourses, that many countries have expressed interest in trading, which would really boost West Africa as a growing economic power. Countries like Brazil and India have had meetings to help establish trade with WA. These countries, who have seen a surge in there economy over the last years and now can invest in other developing countries, can form alliances with WA where they both benefit. Brazil, India and WA have all had there share of power problems and that has caused them to form a strong alliance in the past. They are all together in producing biofuels and both have seen it has an strong economic booster. Also these non-industrialized countries that are showing interest in WA are also benefiting with more influence in the U.N. This strong interest is always endanger of faltering though because it is fairly new interest and WA is yet to fully establish themselves. West African country Liberia is now starting to see help from the United States fallowing its long civil war. The country that suffered during that time has a new elected leader and is trying to further progress. The united states wants to be a part in helping the progress by trying to relive debt and support education and health care. Also the peace core will be traveling into that county to help after many years of staying away due to the violet war. Though progress is moving in a hopeful direction for Liberia, it is still facing many challenges and problems. One of them is Ivorian refugees that fled from Cote d'Ivorie and are now seeking refuge in Liberian camps. Kids from these countries have been attending special schools there but it has been upsetting to many of the hopefuls that one day wish to return to there native French speaking country. They are upset with the Liberian based texts that children have been learning from because they are mostly in English, not French. These people feel that if they ever return to there native country that they wont be a part of it and wont feel like the belong because they have learned the wrong curriculum. Some effort has been made for the children though to give hope that one day they might finally return home. Another problem plaguing Liberia after 14 years of war is its health care situation. Many years of war has left a large part of Liberia poor and unemployed and cannot pay heath care fees. The Liberian government had put fees of hospitals but have now stopped them because barley anyone was able to pay them and so many needed health care. The world bank has been working within Liberia to try and find a way to help Liberia when money for free health care from donors runs out. Liberia has been using funding to pay doctors and health care but it will not last without significant funding and another plan needs to be set in motion Ideas like payment schemes, and taxes have been brought up with other ideas. To further these ideas, Save the Children UK and UN Children's Fund plan to collect data that will hopefully help lead them to the most feasible solution.

Critical Thinking 18-5!

In the fallowing passage, how does Indiana Senator Albert J. Beveridge explain the need for the the U.S to accuire new territories?
" Fate has written our policy for us; the trade of the world must and shall be ours... we will establish trading posts throughout the world as distributing points for American products... Great colonies governing themselves, flying our flag and trading with us, will grow about our post of trade."

In this quote Beveridge explains why it is a very important thing for america to keep expanding. He states that it is fate for america to keep growing and that the trade of the world must be ours. He thinks that we are supposed to be this strong and it is not right to question if we should have this much control because it is our fate. America has to set up trades post all over the world so that they will have control of trade all over the world in these new territoies, this way american trade and products can be distributed everywhere. He states that if we keep expanding and creating colonies all over the world, it will unite the different counties the colonies are in. All the coloines would be self governed but will trade the same way and fly our flag and be united with us and help stengthen us as we help streghen them. Not only will this trade control bring unity but it will also stregthen the other countrys and they will grow and florish due to our tading posts.

Critical Thinking 18-3!

Manifest Destiny influenced American policy during the first half of the 19th century. How do you think manifest destiny set the stage for American imperialism at the end of the century?

Manifest destiny emerged when the americans wanted control of the native americans land in the west. They decided that the land was rightfully theirs and that they were supposed to have the land becuase it was there god given right. This lead to the settlers taking the majority of the Natives land and leaving the Natives with a very small amount of land for reservations. This policy was the bases for an imperialism policy, where a strong nation expand their economic, political, and military control over weaker territories. In manifest destiny this was obviously the case because the American settlers overpowered the native Americans so they took there land and spread there economic, military, and political control on the Natives in the west. Since the Americans felt that they were intiltled to this land and they got it, it would set the stage for them wanting to keep taking land and expanding. Also now that the American nation was even stronger then when it was an new nation taking native lands, they would feel more then ever that there strength as a country should entitle them to more land because they felt even more superior. In manifest destiny the Americans wanted to take land with natural recourses that they would greatly benefit from and the idea carried on when the nation was expanding when they acquired Alaska, a state rich in natural reasorces like timber and oil(p. 550). Also there is the idea of assimilation and Americans trying to make Native Americans more civilized. They thought that they were doing the right thing by bringing religion and culture to uncivilized people and that is then same thing they wanted to do in the future to other lands that they were trying to take control of. One major thing about the people spreading democracy in manifest destiny and during this time period was that they would both use it as an reason to feel better about what they were doing and use that idea that they were doing the right thing to let the government take come in and take control of land. This happed during the end of the century when the government overthrew Hawaii's monarchy. It would have seem like a good thing becuase the governmnt was getting rid of a monarchy and giving democracy, but in reality the government was just useing that so that they could take there land.

Critical Thinking 17-4!

Why do you think Wilson failed to push for equality for African Americans, despite Progressive reform?

When Wilson was elected president he supported many Progressive ideas, but one idea that he did not show support for was for African American rights and equality. Though he favored progressive ideals, his presidential role, his background and his primary people targets all help shove the importance of Black rights out of Wilson's mind.

Wilson was the president following Roosevelt and like before him he and Roosevelt had many similar progressive ideas(p. 538). One main idea that they did share was there views on Black rights. Wilson may have tried to fallow in the footsteps of this previous president when he to also decided that he would not get involved in black rights and that they should not be focused on or given the same rights as whites.

Wilson's background of growing up in the south could have played the biggest part in why he was not concerned with blacks rights. He grew up in the south during the civil war and the prejudice that he would have against African Americans while living there could have effected him in a way where he could never be able to see blacks and whites as equals(p. 539).

Wilson was also thinking about the primary group of people his Progressive reform ideas targeted and how he would need to support the ideas of those people. The progressive movement was mostly targeted towards white citizens and business owners and Wilson would have wanted to appeal to them instead of black civil rights and equality.

Critical Thinking 17-5!

Why did W.EB Du Bois oppose Booker T. Washington's views on racial discrimination?

W.E.B opposed Booker because W.E.B was angered that Roosevelt invited him to dinner as a symbol of blacks and whites sharing together because Booker viewed black poverty as being blamed on blacks and thought that discrimination was something that should just be accepted(p. 531). W.E.B Du Bois saw that blacks were just a worthy as whites and that they deserved the same rights and that discriminating against them was wrong and a deep injustice. He wanted to fight and tried very hard to make black rights an important part of the Progressive movement, even though it still got very little support outside of its group members.

Critical Thinking 17-5!

Imagine you are a women during the Progressive Era. Explain how you might recruit other women to support the fallowing causes: improving education, housing reform, food and drug laws, the right to vote.

If I were living during the Progressive Era, I would need ways to recruit other women to support my beliefs. I would find the issues happening around be important and worth fighting for and would try very hard to bring around a change for myself and other women.
To convince others that women deserve higher education, I would show others the success and the growing number of women who were now attending colleges or even just finishing high school, I would point out the large number of women who are living happy successful lives with out the support of men because they have a good education to try and inspire others to attend higher learning.
I would also encourage the attending of reform groups, these groups would be good place to discuss and try to change food and drug laws and improve the poor conditions of the existing ones. The food and drugs out there were highly unhealthy and people would need to know what they were putting into there body and had the right to decide if they did not what to use them or not. I would show that with better food and drugs, it would help create a much healthier environment and improve life.
One of the most important causes that would need recruiting would be fighting for the right to vote. You could use conventions like the Seneca Falls convention to discuss this problem, also you would have to get the word out by going to places like the government to try and show that women and man should be considered equal and that idea should be reconized. I would state that women should have the same rights as men and that women are humans just like men and our on the same intellectual level and are completely capable of making a decision like voting.

Critical Thinking 17-4!

This cartoon shows Carry Nation inside a saloon that she has attacked. Do you think the cartoonist had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of this prohibitionist?

The cartoonist had a negative view of Carry Nation and what she stood for. Carry was all for prohibition and that alcoholic beverages should be banned(p. 513). She went around enforcing these beliefs by entering saloons and bars and destroying liquor with weapons and singing and praying and trying to scold people out of drinking. The cartoonist did not view this favorably when he drew this comic of her. In the cartoon Cary is this big intimidating old women with a hatchet, she enters the bar and completely destroys it, while this has happened many people in the bar are now cowering behind furniture and she looks very mean and unapologetic towards them and the ruin she has caused. She has not only done damage to the drinks but has completely destroyed the place including the glass, dishes, and pictures. The cartoon depicts her of being an uncaring villain and all the people in the bar around her as defenseless victims.

Critical Thinking 17-3!

In what ways might Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oregon all be trailblazers in progressive reform?

These three states all played important influential parts in progressive reform to try and make there state a better social and economic place to live. Wisconsin led the way in trying to regulate big business. Wisconsin's republican leader Robert Follette wanted the big businesses, like railroads, to stop living above the law. He gave the railroads the same tax rate as other property's, set up commission to regulate rates, and put a stop to railroads hanging free passes to state officials(p. 516). Illinois was a first in passing laws that limited child labor and the amount of hours women could work. Other states soon fallowed in what Illinois was doing. Oregon was were advance for the womens workday were made. Many cases were brought to courts of women working too much, this lead to the courts passing a reduced 10 hours work day for women. Other states fallowed suit and started strengthening there women work day laws as well and soon men were also facing the benifits of reciving a shorter work day(p. 517).

Current Events 2 West Africa!

Foreign Relations

Nigeria has been facing recent problems from three foreign suspects being accused of spying acts of esponage and terrorism. The tree people, one a Us aid worker and two German companions were caught filming youths in the Ijaw in the Niger Delta. This is a place of much controversy because it is a place rich in oil, still it is incredibly poverty ridden. They were arrested on account of having no permission to be filming the people of the Niger Delta and that they were going to be using the film to exploit the situation there and try to do damage to Nigeria by showing the embarrassing footage. The damage of the footage taken by the foreigners would be considered terrorism. Nigeria has also been facing trouble with the Netherlands. The Ivory Coast is just now receiving 200 millions dollars from an oil trading company based in the Netherlands who owe this large sum of money for illegally dumping toxic waste in Abidjan last year. The company, Trafigura, dumped toxin on the coast of heavily populated areas causing the deaths of ten people and for many thousands to become sick. It has become quite contraversal that somehow toxic waste ended up dumped on the shores of poorer countries. Geography has also played an important part in West Africa's relation with foreign Aid. Because of a drastic climate change in West Africa over the last 40 years or so, it has forced many nomads who travel all over the region to settle down. This change in geography had a dramatic effect on West Africa's foreign affairs because now that these people need to settle down, they no longer can live of the supplies that they had received from the land and now mush live off foreign aid and charity coming in from other countries. Liberia is also facing another contraversal problem with trading with the united nations, that have now renewed its ban on exporting diamonds from Liberia. This act was reinstated to try and stop blood diamonds from making there way it to mainstream marketplaces. The decision to stop exporting diamonds from Liberia is a heavily debated one because selling the diamonds would generate large sums of much needed money.

Critical Thinking 15-5!

What effects did the migration from rural areas to the cities in the late 19th century have on urban society?

In the late 19 century the migration from rural country areas effected the urban cities. Many cities were already very crowed. There was whole over crowded sections of cities that housed people of certain cultures or religions. Then the crowding of cities greatly increased with the arrival of many people migrating from the country. With the invention of new technology including the McCormick reaper and the steel plow, farm labor became much easier(p.469). This meant that farm labor called for fewer workers. With less and less jobs many people had to leave the country and head to cities.

Many African-American workers were also coming in from the south and moving north and west to escape from racial violence, economic hardship, and political oppression(p.469). The conditions in the cities though were not much better. There was much segregation and discrimination in the northern cities and racial tension was also increased by the job competition found between the races, including black and white immigrants.

The overpopulation of these cities also lead to many problems(p.470).Because there was so many more people in the cities now, there was problems concerning housing and were everybody was going to find a place to live, transportation and how the large masses of people were going to be transported around, water and the lack of supply there was for people, sanitation and the accumulated trash of so many, the increase in crime and fire that large populations brought.

Critical Thinking 15-4!

Which solution to an urban problem discussed in this section do you think had the most impact?

With the population of the cities in the United States rising quickly so were the problems that were cropping up. The city government had to deal with problems with housing, transportation, water supply, sanitation, crime. and fire.

The government had to struggle to create solutions to these demanding problems. One solution that had the most impact on improvement was the sanitation polices that were brought to the grimy smoky unclean cities(p. 470). With the growth of cities the problem of trying to keep them clean was also growing. Many cites grew to become dirty and grimy and had streets littered with trash and air that was filled with smoke. The cities went on to developed sewer lines and were opening sanitation departments. These things did not bring about an end to the sanitation problem, but they were steps in the right direction, leading to improvements in the cities and the lives of the people who inhabited them.

Criticle Thinking 15-4!

What were the effects of the massive influx of immigrants to the US in the late 1800s?

Due to the massive influx of immigrants to the US in the late 1800s many different races and religions and people so different from one another were brought together and coexisted with one another, though this mix of different religions and race led to bad anti-immigration views and feeling.

The united States became known as a "melting pot" of a country(p. 464). This was because the united states was supposed to be a place were all different religions, race and cultures would come together and mix in one place. This was due to the fact that there was so many people of these different backgrounds being pushed out of the there country and feeling the pull to come over to ours. They would all come to live and hopefully find work here and in that way they were bring parts of there culture to come and "mix" with the cultures of others from other places doing the same thing. The mix did not go over well because many immigrates showed reluctance to mix and rid themselves of there culture, they did not want to get rid of that part of themselves.

The fact that so many different cultures were clashing with one another did no turn out entirely well. It lead to the rising of Nativsm(p.464). This was a belief that native born Americans(not to be confused with Native Americans) were superior to the immigrates that were entering the country and that they had rights that were above the ones that should be given to immigrates. This group of people help contribute to many negative anti-immigration feelings. They wanted less immigrates and so they went to the government. Eventually this helped lead to stricter immigration laws and the banning of some races all together. Many immigrates felt the effects of the blatant prejudice that was put upon them.

Critical Thinking 15-3!

Which group pf immigrants do you think faced the greatest challenges in the United States?

When immigrating into the United States, many people faced much hardships and had to endure many challenges. The group of immigrates that suffered that greatest challenges were most likely Chinese immigrants.

Like many other groups of immigrates entering the United States, The Chinese often came over looking for work. The Nativest feared this. They saw these immigrates as below them and they did not want them coming into there country and talking jobs because they were willing to preform the jobs for lower wages.

This lead the Nativest groups to go to the government. Congress finely decide to put an end to Chinese immigration. In 1882 congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act(p. 465). This act prevented a majority of Chinese immigrates from entering the united states. All of them were banned with the exception of students, teachers, merchants, tourist, and government officials. The immigrates that were poor and desperate for work though were not allowed in the country anymore and strict rules were set that insured that they would not be able to enter the country for many years.

Because of this strict act placed upon Chinese immigrates, they were not even allowed to enter the country. This was a major challenge for Chinese immigrates hoping to find work in America.

Current Events Summery Themes!

My articels about forign relations in west africa tie into the themes of the growth and spread of free markets and industrial economies and the effect of geography on the history of civilzations and nations.

West africa is seeing a huge growth in the spreading on its economy. West africa is creating new deals with America and with China that could really benifit its economy. In America they are forming new deals that will help stengthen comercial trading between the two countrys. Also in China deals benifiting oil trade between the two country could really benifit both countries.

Geography has also played a part in the relation of africa with other countries....

Current Events 1 West Africa!

Foreign Relations

Through these articles we learn the different relations that West Africa has with other countries, including ones with in its own region. West Africa is a region that has had its share of warring between countries. In 1989 a war that broke out in Liberia moved into Sierra Leone and back, then fighting continued its way into Guinea. In 2001 the war branched out into Cote d'Ivoire and fighting continued there as well. The war has sense ended in Liberia and Sierra Leone but peace between these countries is not ideal and still considered very fragile. There is even more trouble in Cote d'Ivoire, where there is an unstable state between war and peace. Also the situation left in Guinea is no better with ex-combatants from the Liberian war are still living in the Guinea forest region. The relation between these countries are not benifical but west Africa also has relations with other countries that benefit it. West Africa has been making deals with China that could be beneficial to the both of them. China is looking into west Africa for its oil and gas as well as looking into lumber. China is a fast growing country in need of resources and west Africa is a struggling region that has the resources and in need of countries to exploit them. China may be blazing a trial that the United States and Europe might soon find themselves following in to try and distance themselves from there dependence on middle eastern oil. The US has actually took steps to try and form stronger commercial trading ties between them. The US signed a deal with eight west African countries who are part of the West African Economic Monetary Union that would hopefully increase trade and create many new jobs and investments that would benefit West Africa. The hunting of bush meat in Africa is also something that is effected by other countries. This is because the consumption of bush meat(like antelope, African wild dog, hyenas and other species) rises when the amount of fish declines. The fish amount declines due to the overfishing from Europe on the West African coast. Though campaigner's have argued that Europe has been pressuring West Africa into handing them these generous fishing licenses by tying them in with aid packages and loans, Europe has strongly denied it. There are other issues that also could have influence an increase in hunting instead of fishing and progress on these issues could help resolve this hunting problem.

Critical Thinking 14-3!

Do you think that the tycoons of the late 19th century are best described as ruthless robber barons or as effective captains of industry?

The Tycoons of the late 19 century are best described as being robber barons. They unfairly worked there employees and exploited there costumers, giving back was an unfair way to try and justify what they did, and they felt like they lived above the rule of the government.

These tycoons included companies like the Rockefeller standard oil company, who controlled 90 percent of the oil refining and processed 3 percent of the countries crud oil. Companies like this one are robber barons first of all for the way that they overworked there employees. They would make them work extremely hard and then they would save money by paying them very little. Also they were robber barons for the way they manipulated and mistreated there customers. The oil companies would sell there oil at a low price, lower then it took to produce it, and wait until the consumers were only buying from there company, so they were dependent on them. This meant they controlled the market(p. 449). At that time they would raise the prices so that the costumers would have to pay so much more for a low priced product that they had grown dependent on.

Though Rockefeller did donate a lot of his money to various foundations and universities(p. 450), this did not justify what he was doing because the only reason that he had the money to do things like that was because he was unfairly charging people for his oil products. Also companies like RSOC were ruthless because they thought that they lived above the rules of the government. Evidently, they did in fact live above the law because the government passed the Sherman Antitrust Act to try and stop expanding corporations stifling the competition, but the larger companies found loopholes and ways around it. The government just decided to give up and let the major companies continue to do what they wanted to.

In the late 19 century tycoons and major companies were in control. From abusing their employees and consumers to living above the governments rules these tycoons showed themselves to be ruthless baron robber consumed with making money.

Critical Thinking 14-4!

The Federal government gave land and made loans to the railroad companies. Why was the government so eager to promote the growth of railroads?

The government was very eager to promote the growth of railroads because they had given a lot of money and land grants to the railroad companies and they wanted to insure that all that endorsement they had given would help unite the country and help it prosper.

The government wanted to see all the different parts of the country unite and become one strong nation and the railroads helped them try and accomplish that. First of all the railroads offered a link between many different towns and cities all over the nation. This link helped have towns that were hundreds of miles away stay united with each other. Also the railroads helped unite the people because it brought around a unifying of time in America. With all the traveling between distant place there was a need to set time zones. Four time zones were created for four different regions. Even though this way of telling time was not the real official way, in a very unifying gesture people across the country synchronized there watches on November 18, 1883(p. 443)

The government wanted to promote railroad growth because railroads really helped the nations iron, coal, steel, lumber, and gas industries grow and prosper at a rapid pace(p. 443). Many companies that supplied these materials had to work extremely hard to try and keep up with the demand that they were receiving from the railroads to produce them. Also railroads helped open new markets and opened up many new possibilitys for people looking to make there way and find new work opportunities and find business success in America.

Railroads were also important to our government because they helped the growth of many small isolated towns into big influences on the trading market(p. 444). Towns could even grow to have there own specialty product or industry for instance Chicago had a stockyard specialty. The railroad line not only gave new life to smaller towns but it also created many new cities. There cities started to appear near the line of tracks and greatly prospered in trade due to the fact of there close existence to the railroads.

The government saw the success that railroads were having in increasing the countries economy and trading market and was eager to promote the growth of something that was opening up new worlds of business and economic opportunities.

Critical Thinking 14-5!

Which invention or development described in this section had the greatest impact on society?

The development that had the greatest impact on society was the invention of electricity. Electricity changed many aspects about the nature of everyday American life as well as American business.

In the business world Electricity became a way to power many different kinds of machinery. Electricity also allowed the running of huge factories and operations because they could be helped run by the power of electricity. Power plants were also changed because they could now be built and run in areas free of a water source instead of needing to be built by a river because they could run sufficiently of electricity. The invention of electricity's impact did not stop just at business but also was found in everyday life. It could be used inside house holds and was used to help build many time saving devices for everyday use. Electricity was convenient and inexpensive so it really influenced a great number of everyday peoples lives.

Critical Thinking 13-3!

What do you think were the most significant factors in bringing an end to the populist party?

The populist party was a political party that represented what the people wanted and tried to create a movement for changes like lifting debt from farmers and giving people a bigger voice in what goes on in the government. At first the party had lots of people(mostly struggling farmers and desperate laborers) supporting it. Many factors though led to the downfall of this party including the fact that they had had to chose a monetary or money system to support, that they were a smaller third party, and that they lost some of there supporters. All these things lead to bring around an end to the populist party.

During the race between the parties, one of the most important discussions for debate that was extremely important for our country future was the one about what kind of monetary system our country should use(p. 428). This meant what kind of metal our country should exchange money for; the more stable yet less abundant gold or the more plentiful silver with gold. This debate lead to the down fall of the populist party because they were not sure what side to join and what ever they chose could alienate their voters because most of there supporters were farmers and the farmers needed to be able to trade in there money so it was very important to them and if the populist party chose the wrong side to support it could cause them to lose support and the election.

The fact that the populist party was of third party status really effected them. The other two parties had more resources then them and therefore were at an advantage(p. 429). The other major parties had more money for campaigning and getting there word out. The smaller populist party did not have as much and had to work twice as hard traveling to 27 different states and giving up to 20 speeches a day just to try and compete with what the other parties could do like sending hired people out to the different states to make there speeches for them.

Also the populist popular supporters were mostly farmers and laborers. This lead to the parties downfall when the populist alienated a lot of these supporters(p. 429). They did this when they decided to support sliver in the monetary plan instead of just gold. Consumer did not like this idea because having silver would make goods more expensive. Consumers feared the possible inflation and so they decided to stop supporting the populist party. Also the populist lost the support of democrats that supported them because there were democrats that were also supportive of gold. This lead for the democrats to nominate their own candidate and stop supporting the populist party. The growing amount of lost support only added more to bring down the populist party

Critical Thinking 13-2!

How successful were the governments efforts to promote settlement of the great plains?

The governments efforts in promoting the settlement of the great plains were very successful ones. These efforts included giving land grants to railroad companies and creating the tempting Homestead Act that offered free land. These two ideas to promote the land were successful in creating a fast growing population in the west.

One part of the governments plan to promote settlement in the west was to try and lead the settlers westward by giving land grants to the railroads.(p. 420-421) This meant that from 1850 to 1871 the government gave 170 acres of land to the railroads for laying down tracks. The railroad companies would get a certain amount of land for the amount and place that they laid down tracks, like for example a company would receive 10 square miles of public land for every mile of track laid down in a state in the west. This lead to lots of settlement because the railroad companies would take the public land that they received and sell it to farmers. The farmers would want to come and settle the land and use the railroads stationed there and in turn the railroads would get a lot of business out of the settled farmers that they sold there land to. Also it created a lot of settlement from immigration because the work of putting down the track created many jobs that many Irish and Chinese immigrants came over to the great plains to do.

The government saw that a powerful attraction of the west was the land that it offered. This realization lead to the congress passing the Homestead Act in 1862(p. 421). This Act offered 160 acres of free land to citizens that were the heads of there household. This lead to up to 600,00 families taking advantage of the option from 1862 to 1900 even though the land was not always used fairly, given out properly or even land that was good for farming. The problems with the land thought eventually lead to the government making changes in the act to give settlers even more land. Then the government increased this act even more to cause even more encouragement for the settlers. The government decided to give away the much convented land of Oklahoma. This land was wanted by so many settlers that people even got head starts in settling the state.

The government used its offering of land to the railroads and its offering of free land in the Homestead Act to help propel the settlement of the Great Plains and greatly increase its population.