Burton's Global Page

Mikhail Gorbachev and the collapse of Communism

2008-05-05T05:07:00.000-07:00

To begin with, the Soviet Union nearly went broke as a result of the Cold War weapons race. Their system could not produce enough ordinary goods, such as clothing or cars in which the Soviet people had given up hope of a better life ahead. This was a very sad thing and was thought to be the end of the world for the Soviets. But In the mid-1980s, a new leader came to power in the Soviet Union. And his name is Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev was determined to improve life in Russia. And In the process, he helped bring the Cold War to an end.
He was known to be the person who called for more freedom for his people. And He and U.S. president Ronald Reagan agreed to destroy many of the weapons their countries had built. Gorbachev encouraged change in Eastern Europe, and he said that Soviet troops would no longer keep communist governments in power there.
I believe that Gorbachev is a person that the Soviet people were really thankful for because without him, communism wouldn't end.
To elaborate more on what he did, he loosen up the Soviet Union's communism political system, which eventually made it a better and improved system by allowing people to suggest and think on how to improve their nation.
One great example of this development was when he advised the owners of the factory to keep producing or make more products in order for the people to buy more or unlimited goods.
By the way, Glasnost was one of his policy of openness where he improved the government's accountability, openness, discussion, and etc. This allowed to improve their economic reorganization.
I believe this is a really good thing for the Soviets because through change and improvement in their economy, a hope of a better life will be given for those people who were suffering and are in need of change in their lifestyle.
Another great policy of Gorbachev was called Perestroika. Perestroika was a Soviet reform policy that allowed the political and economic "restructuring" in the former Soviet Union.
This developments happened in 1986. Meanwhile, Gorbachev's goal on this was to reorganize (decentralize) control of the Soviet's industry and agriculture and some private ownership.
This was the beginning of the time where he tried to let the people speak of what they wanted to speak or to protest on what they would like to protest so that the government can do something about it and might as well fix it for the sake of the country.
And the greatest development soon happened when Russia has finally inched toward democracy. The government no longer tries to control every aspect of Russian life, as it once did. And thankfully a good elected president now leads the country. Factories also have been sold to private companies. And most of all, land has been given to private citizens and businesses.
I believe Mikhail Gorbachev had done a great job. And without his ideas and perspective of improvement and development, the Soviets wouldn't have independence and couldn't have a better life.

Collapse of Communism

2008-05-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

The collapse or the fall down of Communism occurred because of several things. It was more than a political event because it changed a lot of things because the whole world was affected as well. The powerful bond between economics and politics created a situation that was different for the ''successor'' states of the Soviet Union. The communist regime was like the whole idea of the life of the Soviets. And Karl Marx ideas were great but sooner his ideas affected every aspect of the Soviet's life negatively that people in Russia were left with little democratic belief or feelings.
Well first of all, there was no clear idea how it started but some historians say that it started with the people during the Cold War. The Russians saw how the Americans could buy and own lots of cool and nice things that the Russians couldn't because of communism, which prevents them from getting anything they want because everything is equal and all property and wealth is owned in a classless society by all the members of that society.
And the Russians couldn't also have very beautiful houses than the other person because all should have an equal value of what they own. This caused a lot of the soviets to get jealous where everyone started to think deeper on what's going on. The Soviets were also striving to get big income because they we're proving that they were a superpower nation. So they build atomic weapons, which happened because of the nuclear arms race against the U.S.
The space race also created a big impact in their economy that money was declining in their nation.
After days and days went by, people wanted to get rich or increase their income because they thought they were getting behind or were certainly affected by their political system, which is communism.
This are the times were things got really uncertain, difficult, and painful for the Russians or Soviets that they soon faced the seemingly impossible task of a new change in their political system.
And if there would be a new administration then that administration must address human rights issues such as living conditions and the supply of staple goods or other things in this new form of administration. But this makes the expectation of a full democratic switch impossible because the Russians are already having a hard time during those times because of low income.
Another few reasons of the collapse was that, capitalism began to spread into some parts of Russia. And the U.S. supported that country. As a result, Russia was separated in half where the other one is of capitalism and other is of communism. The ones who were in capitalism could eventually look for higher jobs with higher income. But the problem here was that the communist got jealous about this and felt bad that they couldn't have higher jobs with good salary. So eventually the people in the communist side was really mad at this because they thought it's very unfair that they work so hard but still were given the same amount of money with the other person who doesn't work hard.
Lately, large statues were shattered that even people in both countries believed that through doing this, it would be possible that there might be a missiles attack on each other. This however became just a theory of a missile war, called MAD, which is known as mutually assured destruction. Although it is a good thing that this didn't happen because if this happened then everyone might think that this not-so-legitimate-reason led to an utter destruction.
Well to make this event shorter, the countries of Eastern Europe sooner got rid of their communist leaders. In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. And Europe was no longer divided. Finally, parts of the Soviet Union declared their independence.
And thankfully The Cold War ended with the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, and the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

2008-04-18T05:38:00.001-07:00

Apartheid is basically a political system where white South Africans ruled. Just so you know, Apartheid means "apartness" or "separateness" in the Afrikaans language.
This political system allowed the small, white population of South Africa to control the country's large, black population.
However this political system was a bad idea because it made most of the black South Africans poor during apartheid. And it also gave them very few rights. And as a result they couldn't vote or live near the whites, which I believe is a very rascist type of idea. Also the worst thing that happened here was that millions were forced to live in shacks in shantytowns because of this separation.
Although there was a great person who didn't like this political system and made a difference. And that person's name is Nelson Mandela.
When Mandela was living his life as a young man, he faced difficulty in life just like us. But his experiences are worse than us because he was a black young man. And under apartheid, black people couldn’t vote or hold certain jobs during those years. And when the whites controlled the government, the Blacks where separated from them and lived in separate areas and also went to different schools, which are less nicer than the white schools. I believe this is the most worse racism that happened for the blacks, which is really a bad and sad thing for them.
So Mandela on the other hand, opposed this system because it was cruel and unfair. But In 1944, everything changed when Mandela joined a group called the African National Congress (ANC). This Congress opposed the rule of South Africa where the whites alone had the most opportunities. This congress was a great one because they believed that South Africa belonged to everyone, whatever the color of their skin. And I believe that's a good thing.
The reason why people especially the Africans, like Mandela so much and became a hero was because he was a good leader in the ANC and a gifted speaker who encouraged people to break the apartheid laws. However the government saw Mandela as a trouble maker who tried to stop him. But even though he was arrested several times and was put to prison he still believed that the possibility of freedom and independence will happen. So Mandela continued to fight despite he was being slowed down by the government. And after he was released he still fought for an end to apartheid. The people really saw his courage, confidence, and strength that even though the government sentenced him to five years in prison (1962), was accused of working to overthrow the government (1964), and where his sentence-to-life in prison increased, he still never stop fighting.
In fact during his time in prison, he became the world's most famous political prisoner, which as a result leaders around the world demanded Mandela's freedom because they believe in independence and wanted apartheid in South Africa to end.
This then became the beginning of the protest in the streets against apartheid.
Mandela became a truly great leader when the government couldn't stop the trouble, and he was the only one who could. And also for being very popular for winning the support of many South Africans. This became the result of his released in prison in 1990 after spending 27 years there. For this reason, he became the leader of ANC in 1992, which was the time he had all the opportunity of ending apartheid.
Many white people were worried about this at first because they thought they will get in trouble when the blacks will be given equal rights. When Mandela worked with South Africa's president, he was able to promote peaceful relations between blacks and whites in which they both won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
In 1994 the years of excitement and happiness started to happen because for the first time in South Africa's history, men and women of all races could already vote. This was also the time when Mandela became the first black president of South Africa and brought an end to the hated apartheid system.
These are the valuable events and some reasons why people like him so much. And for doing and achieving these great things, he is certainly considered to be a hero.

African Independence

2008-04-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

In the 20 year period from 1955 to 1975, Africa changed so much in many different ways. And that's because of certain events. One specific event that gave change to Africa was the granted independence in 1960 to the Congo. This resulted in a strong and sudden change in Africa's political, social, and living conditions, which became a great development. And also because of this, other more cities or places in Africa started to have independence.
Their nation was led by prime minister Lumumba, who was a great man that ruled a divided country in Africa. However, Lumumba was murdered for having communist connections and for revealing information to the United Nations about Tshombe's rebellion. The worst thing that happened here was that after Lumumba's death, Tshombe became their leader but only ruled for a time that didn't last long because again, Mobutu overthrew him.
This was sad for the Africans because they lost two leaders that gave change to their nation. But this was not the end of the world for the Africans.
After WWII, The Africans began to chase or pursue independence. But it was hard for the Africans to do this since the European colonial powers, France and Britain, were still in control of their nation. So they thought in order to have independence, they should rebel against the Europeans. But this wasn't easy for the Europeans since their main source of raw materials for their factories are located in Africa. So they were thinking and planning on how they will give the nation back to the Africans.
The main reason why France and Britain were having a hard time on giving back the land back to the Africans was because they needed money and raw materials to restore and improve their countries due to the destruction that was resulted by WWII. So The Europeans believe that money should be used to control the colonies they have in Africa.
When things started to be in good shape for the Europeans, they started the Negritude movement. However, this resulted in a revolution because the Europeans endangered the Africans and threatened them as well. Another reason for the revolution was that the Africans were very desperate on having independence and were eager to do anything just to have independence.
When things started to get so rough for the Europeans, they started to let most of the Africans work in the government because they thought it can give change. But it turned out they were mistaken because it wasn't a big change after all. This eventually led to the Mau Mau and Kenya rebellion where the English had seized farmland that was really important for the Africans.
So sooner the Africans find a way to get rid of the Europeans in which they decided to take the land back through fighting the Europeans, and of course with the help of their leader named Jomo Kenyatta, who was a conservative nationalist. Mau Mau thought and believed that the only to achieve control of the high lands is to threat or scare the Europeans, which was also a reason to avoid an "All Out War" that he thought he might use. Although it's a good thing it didn't happen.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

2008-03-31T05:21:00.001-07:00

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a very close hot-war that could possibly happened on the confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviets as well as Cuba during the times of the Cold War.
It was a very close call between these two great nations to start nuking each other, while awaiting for the unspoken signal from the president. But it was a remarkable decision and choice that JFK and the Russians made that saved billions of lives that people were extremely showered with happiness when the bombings were canceled.
The Soviet missiles were already placed in Cuba, which Cuba was very near from Florida and other places near the U.S. And due to the fact that the soviets had great technology and weapons with mass destruction, the U.S. is very easy to be penetrated with the USSR's attack. This was a very terrifying moment not only to the U.S., but also to the whole world as well.
People are even staying in tunnels and undergrounds just to avoid being harmed by the harmful radiation of these nukes that could kill millions if any of it would be launched.
At first the U.S. government wasn't really informed by this disturbing news until the C.I.A. notice the pending attack by the U.S.S.R. that will be launched if the Americans will continue to invade Cuba. President J.F.K., who I believe is a very great and brilliant man, ordered spy planes and airplanes to search and see what was going on. But the Soviets spot one of their spy planes and shot it down.
It was a good thing however that the C.I.A. was able to collect photographs to the America's U-2 spy plane that revealed missile bases being built in Cuba.
I believe this was a very critical moment for the whole world that things were really uncertain, difficult, dangerous, and a worrying time that every decision is crucial because if the Soviets will nuke the U.S. then eventually the U.S. will nuke them back. And then all the radiation will go to the atmosphere, and people will start dying, suffering, and things will get really messy and stuff. This experience that the Soviets and the U.S. are having at that moment makes me think back and remember the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
We all know that the atomic bomb that was dropped on those cities were extremely dangerous and destructive that hundreds of thousands of people died in Japan. And if the U.S. and Soviets will continue to nuke each other, then it feels like they haven't learned anything from the events that happened in Japan and what destruction these weapons can bring.
This attempt on the attack was kept too long because each nation was waiting for every bad move that each of them will do. And if that will happen, nuclear bombs will then be launched.
But suddenly things changed when President J.F.K. made a decision that couldn't be forgotten by the world when he made the agreement with the Soviet Union. It was a deal that if the Soviets will back off, then the United States will no longer invade Cuban territory. And an unexpected answer also saved the world when the Soviets replied by telling the U.S. that they will comply with the agreement if the Americans will take their missiles out of Turkey. It was then the time the war ended when the U.S. did what they said.
These things that happened at that time was considered "the hottest moment in the cold war" because this was the only time that the Cold War was very close to begin into a Nuclear War.
But I'm glad that didn't happen. I know everyone felt the same way.
I believe these events are very valuable in the history of mankind because the decisions made by these two great nations saved the world. And not only that, it also tells us that the decisions they made really proves that they are indeed truly great nations.

NATO and The Warsaw Pact

2008-03-31T05:20:00.002-07:00

NATO was basically formed after the America's policy of isolationism that continued after World War I when European countries created the League of Nations.The purpose of the League of Nations was to establish a collective security system.
But at that time it was believed that the U.S. Senate didn't like to join the league despite the support of President Woodrow Wilson for it.
The policy of isolationism ended or "disappeared" as what most historians say, when Japan attacked US in WWII, which was the event that forced America to join WWII. When the war ended, the Americans were involved on another system. That system was a system of alliances and regional defense associations.
These system or associations included the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). These collective alliances were required when the United States happened to enter 40 years of "mutual distrust" with the USSR, which became a war known as the "Cold War."
So basically, NATO was a treaty signed on April 4, 1949, at the beginning of the Cold War. It served as a regional defense alliance that was created by the North Atlantic Treaty. It allied the United States with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
The real purpose of the treaty was to defend Western Europe against any possible attack by the Communist nations led by the USSR.
But the Soviets saw this as a threat because they felt they were the only country that had little allies at this point on, while the Americans had mutual agreement with a lot of countries.
So as a response, Russia made the "Warsaw Pact" to counter NATO.
This was kind of a Communist military alliance and a treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance that was formed in 1955.
This made the Russia or USSR allied with Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania. This alliance was controlled by the USSR.
But first of all to stick with the point, America started this pact because they were afraid and worried of the USSR that maybe they might attack U.S. anytime. So they thought of having allies, which might serve as a protection if anything bad could possibly happen and to stop communist from spreading throughtout the world since the U.S. and the Soviets have different economies.
The U.S. also thought that the NATO was an effective way of giving a powerful figure for the United Nations as well as to scare the USSR from attacking the U.S. and its allies.
But beneath this whole Cold War, these two strong nations didn't want to fight with each other because they know that if they will, the world will get into trouble because of their technology advances and military weapons such as, nuclear bombs and hydrogen bombs that could easily destroy the whole world if they will drop it on one-another. And of course the result will be extremely horrible. And these two great nations will then disappear from the explosion and impact if anything like that could happen.
But the NATO and Warsaw Pact on the other hand, was basically a defense organization just in case a "Hot-War" might occur.

Film Lesson: "The Right Stuff"

2008-03-31T05:20:00.001-07:00

"The Right Stuff" was a great movie about the Cold War. It was basically a film telling a story about the events that happened on the competition of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. with each other. And the main focus was competing in Space.
First it happened in 1947, when a group of Pilots and determined men gathered at a remote Air Force base in the California high desert. Their mission was to break the sound barrier by using a small rocket-powered test plane called the X-1. The only problem was that others had tried to break it before, and not all had survived, which most of them eventually failed. In fact, some of the people thought of the sound barrier as a "demon that lived in the sky", waiting to destroy and risk any men who dared to confront it, which was also said by the Narrator as the movie was starting. This actually became my favorite scene when Chuck Yeager was able to successfully beat the sound barrier by closing in on the deadly Mach-1. But still no one knew this at that time, except for the Americans because they want to keep this as secret or classified. So this was basically what the Cold War is about. The US and the USSR were keeping secrets away from one-another, and where competing in technology to find out who's the best.
Meanwhile, the Soviets wanted to be first in space. So they had an idea of lunching the first satellite into space called "Sputnik," which became successful. But the Americans were really upset about this because of the Soviet's brilliant idea. They were worried that the Russians might drop bombs to them easily from space. So lately, the Americans wanted to compete and be the best in space.
After this short event, everything was suddenly focused on the race for space. So NASA gathered and looked for the first best American Astronauts, which they called in pilots. So they trained them, especially their body to be able to survive in space.
Meanwhile as NASA were training the pilots, the US were shocked that the Soviets had beaten them again when they launched the first man into space. But it was remarkable that the Americans soon founded a way to compete with them. They made a capsule and John Glenn, who was one of the Astronauts, successfully made it to orbit. And then, this proved the fact that the Americans matched the Russians in the space race.
I believe the Americans won the race not only because of their technology and stuff, but also of their strength and confidence shown on fighting the cold battle.
In addition to the space race, Gordo Cooper finally got his chance and proved he has "the right stuff." This happened when the Americans continued the countdown of the Mercury-7 mission, and Cooper rides the rocket into space, that set records for the longest space flight.

Film Lesson: "Schindler's List"

2008-03-20T05:17:00.003-07:00

The "Schindler's List" movie is a true story about an Austrian industrialist Oskar Schindler, who kept and save some Polish Jews during WWII by using them as workers in his factory. Schindler made one of the most unforgettable experience in his time by saving 1,100 Jews from certain death.
Schindler's List was the best film I saw about the Holocaust. It is very powerful and gratifying about the strength of the Jews despite their knowledge that they will be killed, and also heartrending to be seen.
Director, Steven Spielberg, delivered his message perfectly that made us saw every dept of the experiences and lives of the Jews, and how they had to live during the Holocaust. It illustrated the Holocaust greater than anyone could ever imagine. I believe it's even close to impossible. It's just remarkable and extraordinary by the help of the actors on portraying the lives of the Jews.
Sometimes I couldn't handle the film because of its honesty that made me feel that something like this could happen, and that a chapter this dark is included in the history of mankind.
All of the scenes were powerful to me from the scenes: labor camp, the children, the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto, Auschwitz, and other places. They were all strong and effective to be understand and discovered. But the one image that will stay with me forever is that scene in Auschwitz. Especially the part where the Jews got into the showers expecting to be killed and then nothing happened, but they never knew they will soon be burn in ovens and will never come back. I believe that was the most brilliant scenes for delivering the utter horror of the concentration camps.
Schindler was the person who guided you throughout the story and taught you about how to do the right thing despite the risk and death that could happen anytime. He showed you a powerful message about his conscience and guilt that even viewers are affected as well and are force to examine how vast their conscience are, and also made them think the hardest choice that someone had made. And that was by saving thousands of innocent lives on an extremely dangerous situation.
I thought the black and white idea was great. I think the reason for it was to distract us from the emotions that would go along the film.
On the other hand, Schindler really made a great choice in his life by taking the advantage of his rank and leadership that sometimes we are force to take a truthful look at the cruel act of the Nazis through the eyes of his character.
I believe a lot of scenes in these story will stay in your mind that some will shed tears, some will feel the same way, and some will regret and be heavily disturb by realizing the mistakes done by the Nazis.

Film Lesson: "Night and Fog"

2008-03-20T05:17:00.001-07:00

"Night and Fog" is a brief documentary about the holocaust. It's also one of the most dramatic and moving documentary i've ever seen.
The movie brought a sudden change into the way I view life. And most of all, on the way it captured my heart into a certain way when I saw the events that happened during the holocaust. Some of my reactions to it where emotional because it's very sad and hurting to see how the Jews were killed in a horrible way that words couldn't express how they were killed and persecuted. I really admire the documentary. It's really good because it explained well about the holocaust in detail that it makes you empathize with the Jews in their grief.
I believe I found the film so powerful because it doesn't only give you details about what happened in the holocaust, it also makes you go deeper into thinking about how people treat each other differently due to race-differences. And it as well makes you feel bad because of the horrible rascist and stereotypes that are happening on the time of Hitler.
The documentary, in my own opinion, speaks to you in detail about Auschwitz where the Jews were killed and persecuted, while the actual movie that was directed by Steven Spielberg, shows you something greater, very moving, and heartbreaking to be seen. But still both of them where written and made successfully that people are touch and given a definite perspective on viewing life.

The Treaty of Versailles (Ended WW I)

2008-02-11T05:22:00.001-08:00

The treaty of Versailles, a peace treaty, was famously signed on June 28, 1919 in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles near Paris. It was basically signed at the end of World War I between Germany and the Allies, which also ended the WWI.

The Treaty required Germany to put an end to their military and reduce its army to 100,000. But it wasn't all about doing that. The Treaty did a lot of things to Germany that punished them mostly because Germany was blamed for the huge loss of their allies, which are England and France. It also prohibited German troops presence in all the territory on the left bank of the Rhine River and also on the right bank. It stopped all importation, exportation, and nearly all production of war materials for the Germans.
Mostly the Treaty of Versailles created a huge impact on the military service of Germany because it required a lot military things for the Germans to abandon. It limited its navy to 24 ships, with no submarines, and its naval personnel shouldn't exceed to 15,000. It required to abandon all military and naval aviation by October 1, 1919.
Because of the hurtful damage experienced by France and England during the war, Germany was required by the treaty to make huge financial reparation too. And speaking about financial, payment was made in the form of ships, trains, livestock, and valuable natural resources. Germany was really having a hard time here, which i can tell because they were so badly punished. And I think the Germans deserved to be punished this way or more because they cause a very sad loss and damage on France and England that even words couldn't be express how they affected their allies badly.

Sooner, when Germany was badly punished and couldn't regain its power, Adolf Hitler unexpectedly came to the world of Germany along with his fascist politics. I think the reason why some historians say that the Treaty of Versailles led to the rise of Fascism and Adolf Hitler is because when Germany was in a deep trouble and crisis, they needed a great leader to lead their country in a more revamp and organize way. And Adolf Hitler was that man who can do these things well. Because of that, Adolf Hitler realized how fascism was also needed in Germany, that's why he suggested and acted these politics due to how weak Germany was. And Hitler wanted to have a powerful well-built military that can easily overthrow any form of Government. That made the reason why he used fascism, which favors dictatorial government and extreme nationalism as a way to make Germany stronger.

Mustaf Kemal (Ataturk) and the Modernization of Turkey

2008-02-08T05:08:00.001-08:00

Mustafa Kemal was a Turkish soldier, a nationalist leader, and a statesman. He was also known as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which means father of the Turks. He was born in the year 1881 and died on the year 1938. Mustafa was the first man who founded the republic of Turkey and became its first president at the year 1923 to 1938. Mustafa was just an ordinary man but achieve a lot in his life.
Mustafa was a good and brave soldier who fought in Libya against Italy in 1911 and 1912 in which he was promoted to the rank major, in November 1911. Mustafa had a great leadership that he achieved one of his goal of organizing the defense of the Dardanelles during the Balkan Wars, which was at the year 1912 to 1913. During World War I, Mustafa made a military reputation at Gallipoli in the Gallipoli Campaign in the year 1915 where he also was given command of a special army group and then appointed inspector of the Third Army in Anatolia on May 19. And after that, he was then famous of sta uniting the Turkish national movement and creating an army for defense.
Mustafa became known well for winning decisive battles against Greek forces at Sakarya in August 1921, and Dumlupinar in August 1922. After the great war or WW I, Mustafa led the Turkey. Mustafa felt concerned about Turkey and not only because of its country but also the people living there. Turkey was a very traditional Islamic country before where Mustafa wanted the people in Turkey to be not concerned of religion. And so then because of that, he isolated the country from religion and religous activities by changing the country to a modern figure. This was one of the ways he modernized Turkey.
After that, Mustafa planned and created a secular constitution in Turkey by removing the sultan from its position and power. So then he was able to give the women in Turkey the power and rights. By the way, secular means not religious or concerned with religion.
Moreover, Mustafa inspired the men to give up their 'fez', which is a traditional Muslim hat and wear a brimmed Panama hat.
As months went by, many religious leaders or people in Turkey were stunned and shocked by these changes that happened, which was all about the achievement of this great man named Mustafa Kamal had made.
Mustafa not only did this to women and men and some other parts of Turkey, he modernized the whole country and also attempted and taught the Turks to practice and adopt Western culture.
Mustafa created nationalism in Turkey that built its essence of the way it is now. Turkey couldn't be this country if not for Mustafa Kamal. He was a very successful man, and his name left valuable memories and couldn't be forgotten by the turks.

Film Lesson "Gandhi"

2008-02-07T05:09:00.000-08:00

Around 1946, India was a country that was ruled by the British. The British didn't only rule India before World War II, they also colonized other countries throughout the world including: Australia, Egypt and Africa. They were known for hurting and disciplining the people of the countries they colonized. Before 1947, India was the country they were tired of ruling, but still they didn't stop controlling the Indians because there were a lot of recourses in India that was needed by the British in their own country. The British were producing lots of things, and they needed these recourses for that matter. The Indians wanted to gain freedom from these people badly because they were sick of being controlled, and Mahatma Gandhi was one of those people who was seeking and wanted to gain independence.
Mahatma Gandhi was also known to be called Mohandas Gandhi. Gandhi was a man with great leadership and power. He was very humble, religious and a very nonviolent man. Gandhi, in coincidence, was the kind of man that was needed by the Indians to help them guide their way to freedom and independence.
On those years, Gandhi and the Indians went through a lot of hard times, experiences and events that happened at that time. Meanwhile, with the help of Gandhi, India was free of the rule of the dominating United Kingdom, and was given independence in 1947.
Gandhi was the main reason the Indians got rid of the British. He tried to preserve the essence and the culture of India, and through that he succeeded. Gandhi's main belief that he really valued the most was nonviolence. Gandhi showed this over and over again, and his method of nonviolence was the reason that gave India its independence.
Gandhi had a great leadership. He gathered all the people and talk to them from one place to another telling them about how they should stop the British from controlling their country. He also defended the rights of the poor people in India. In fact, his great leadership led these people into a 200 mile Salt March so that the people of India could make and gather their own salt. His goal at that moment was for the people of India not to buy salt from the British but to make their own salt and sell to their fellow Indians. Gandhi also influenced them and preached at every town he went to.
The British were also so rough on them and kept arresting Gandhi to stall the Indians in which a very sad historical event happened at India at that time. It was known as the Amritsar Massacre. This happened when the head of the British troops ordered 50 soldiers to fire into the Indians, without giving a warning.
At that moment, an Indian was protesting to these people but the soldiers didn't even care in which at around 15 minutes, they shoot these people. And the people were all screaming and very afraid at these soldiers and tried to escape, but still some of them failed to escape including their little children that were also killed at the Massacre. The event killed 379 Indians and over 1,500 of them got wounded.
But still beneath these hardships and pain, Gandhi still never stops fighting the British and led the Indians. He still taught them how to be strong and fight no matter what happens.
Then Gandhi went on a 21 day fast to protest against the war between the Muslims and the Hindus and also to protest against Great Britain by not allowing India to be free.
I think India’s Independence was all about Gandhi because it all happened because of his true leadership and nonviolence to the British and his fellow Indians. And their independence wouldn’t have happened if his goals weren’t accomplished. But it was accomplished and achieved well despite the bad things that happened. And with his original beliefs, it became also one of the reasons that led India to its independence.

Great Britain at 1947 back in their country was also trap in the situation of World War II. The British were still at war at that time when India was trying to gain Independence. But after World War II, the British ended their control over India, and fortunately the happiest moment of the Indians happened. Their country was free at last. This was a very historical event that happened in history and also a great blessing and gift for the Indians.
After all these things that happened, it was just very sad that on January 30, 1948, a Hindu fundamentalist called Nathu Ram Godse shot Gandhi, which in the movie was very sad to see. India lost the man who had taught the Indians to dream of independence and who gave them that independence in reality. And on August 15, 1947, Indians had walked across the bridge carrying the body of Gandhi.

I believe that the greatest accomplishment of Gandhi was his life-long fight for the independence of India. And his dream for his country's independence that finally became a reality on August 15, 1947.

Joseph Stalin and Totalitarianism

2008-01-14T12:21:00.000-08:00

Joseph Stalin was a powerful dictator that was born on 1879 and died in 1953. He was also known to be a very disciplined leader because of the way he controls and treats the Soviet people.
Stalin was the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He was the only man that helped and improved the Soviet regime and also helped organized Europe after the World War II has ended in 1945. When Lenin died, a struggle on the leaders happened in Russia. And when this happened Stalin saw how completely different Russia had become. He saw how people were fighting and struggling on their lives due to poverty and low leadership in their country. When he realized how these things completely changed the way the Russians were and how they lived, he was determined to transform the Soviet Union into a powerful industrial state.
This became a part of the reasons why he started to launched his first five-year plan in 1928. His plan was about two goals.
Stalin wanted rapid growth of heavy industry and increased in farm production through collectivization of agriculture. In these plans he used a lot of the nation's resources into building electric power stations, steel mills, and other industries that were needed. But this caused a major effect on the Soviet agriculture because this plan caused a widespread of food shortage throughout the nation of Russia. And it was very hard for the Russians because they have less food to eat. It also mostly affected the peasants because they were forced to give up their land and work on farms and other large enterprises. And the ones who opposed and did not follow to his orders were eventually killed in which these things are examples of forced communism that had happened because of his plans and strategies.
Stalin still wanted to achieve his goals, so then he created a new kind of government, which is called a totalitarian state. In a totalitarian state, the government is a single-party dictatorship that controls every aspect of the lives of its citizens and that the rights of the people count for nothing. In this kind of government the people in Russia should follow without question and that they are forced to be silenced. Totalitarian state also supports nationalism; and Stalin decided to use propaganda, censorship, and terror to force his commands on the Soviet people. He also used a secret police to spy on the people who refused to follow him and that they will face huge punishment and even death possibly. This was known as The Great Purges.
Stalin and Lenin were mostly the leaders that supported the idea of a world communist revolution.
These years were very hard, uncertain, and difficult for the Soviets because they are forced to obey even if they don't like to. I believe that Stalin was a leader that ruled in a complex way and is very difficult to withstand by the people in Russia at that time. And his ideas and ways are powerful examples on how an unorganized country became a very disciplined country that brought pain and hardships that were forced to faced by the Russians.

Film Lesson: Doctor Zhivago

2008-01-13T14:04:00.000-08:00

Dr. Zhivago was a very intelligent doctor that came from nowhere and in coincidence he witnessed the killing of the soldiers of Russia to the civilians living there. He saw blood on the streets that filled the icy ground on winter.
Those days were very cold and he also felt and understood how the people were feeling on that time. And those people rallied because they knew there was no leadership in Russia anymore and they wanted a new leader. But when they did that, the soldiers suddenly attacked them with their horses and killed those civilians with their swords.
The movie expressed and explained well on what was happening to Russia. People were fighting all the time and killing didn't stop because their country was in a crisis.
Base on the movie, I think Dr. Zhivago depicted the Russian revolution as days of struggle and pain that are very difficult to endure for the people living there before.
Some of the reasons why the Russians wanted a change in their country were because the people were so tired watching other people get killed, and they were sick of fighting with each other. These people wanted peace in their country. And they were annoyed and deeply angry on how their ruler, Czar, was leading their country.
And because of WWI the Russians run out of their financial things were they started to lose food, and starvation increased mostly on the peasants living there at that time because they didn't have a lot of money to buy food for themselves.
The film depicted or described communism in Russia as a result of the revolution. Communism happened in Russia because the Russians didn't like the way they live. And they wanted to get paid the same amount of money on their jobs. That's why communism started in Russia. Vladimir Lenin was the man who led the communist people. And he thought that communism would make the people living in Russia happy and would reduce the war of the Russians with each other, and peace would happen eventually.
When Dr. Zhivago came back to Moscow, communism already started. He realized that he was in a position that even if he is a doctor, no one will look at him on a high level because they were all at the same level, and that they deserved to be treated with the same kind of respect with one another. This was a result of communism.
Dr. Zhivago at first was unaware that his house was being occupied and shared with other different families. And he was shock to know that he had a little share of the house that he used to owned and have all of it before. So then he was forced to lived in one room with his family.
This turned out to be so hard for him, and his life became a bit miserable that even if he is a doctor, he would still have the same amount of money that others have.

Causes of WWI

2008-01-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

World War I was a war that started from August 4, 1914 to November 11, 1918. The war was also known to be called the Great War or World War. The term World War I wasn't called on that name until a second worldwide conflict happened in the year 1939, which was the second World War or World War II. World War I was known to be one of the most violent and destructive wars that happened in the European history.
Basically the war was about military conflict where mostly it happened in Europe but a lot of countries were involved too, including the United States and other nations throughout the world. There were more than 10 million people that were killed and more than 20 million who got wounded on the war.
Once the war began, the countries prepared their military for defenses and offenses of their own countries that involved their entire populations and economic resources for them to succeed victory, which created competition to them. The main countries that were involved in the war were Germany, France, and England. The France and England were the allies that fought against the Germans. But there were also other countries that were involved, they were Italy and Russia.
These countries made trenches and stayed there for a long period of time.
Economic and imperial competition were some of the reasons that brought them into war.
France and Russia were the first countries that began to fight with each other, which was called the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. The reason of their war was because France suffered with pain of the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. And this made the France so angry at the Germans.
And sooner or later, nationalism became a problem for Austria-Hungary and the Balkans in which at that time people were fighting with each other because of the conflict of people with different groups.
Imperialism also became the reason of WWI. When the Industrial Revolution started in Europe, it created an increase in manufacturing for products and goods. And the main countries that needed these new products were France, Great Britain, and Germany. This was the result of the "Scramble-for-Africa." These countries competed to gain territory and natural resources in Africa; and Great Britain and France gained the most products founded in Africa. This caused the Germans to fight with the French and the English people.
World War I was also known to happen because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. Around those years Europe was known to be a mixture of nations with power that a little mistake in these nations can start a war.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy were the allies. And Russia, Britain and France were the countries that were also the allies that fought against them on the war.
These strong countries looked forward on the war and started to build up their military. But when the war began it was very destructive in which a lot of soldiers and civilians were killed due to their modern weapons like tanks, planes, machine guns, cannon, etc. On the war it was believed that the Russians had less weapons that on the end they just happened to quit. They also have low leadership where their armies where fighting with each other and killed their leaders. This caused an impact on their alliance that affected France and Britain.

In the end of World War I, the political order of Europe was falling down. And the Germans, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian empires got weaker. This was the time when the Ottoman Empire soon followed them. The war was unforgettable. And I believe that the people that died left memories that could be remembered and could also never be forgotten.

The Opium Wars

2007-12-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

The Opium Wars is about the two conflicts between China and Britain over trading rights. The Opium Wars are events of two wars that happened in 1839-1842 and 1856-1860. In the Second Opium War, the French military had chosen to joined forces to the British Army. The wars are named as "The Opium Wars" because they centered on the trade of opium. Opium is a powerful drug that the British merchants were smuggling into China. The drug is very dangerous because it could cause a person to be so addicted to it because the effects of the drug makes you feel so better or gives you a type of feeling that makes you feel you're floating or makes you feel that everything is so great around you without knowing the fact that you are already going crazy. This caused a lot of Chinese to be high to the drug. Opium was the last option that the British thought to trade to the Chinese because at that time, China was so rich and had a lot of good products and natural resources in their own country. And on that time, the British were selling attractive or fancy gadgets to the Chinese but Emperor Qianlong declared or said that, “We possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country’s manufactures.” This became the reason why the British thought of trading opium to the Chinese, which turned out that the Chinese liked these products. The British were doing this because they wanted tea from China. And as a result both countries were trading with each other. But sooner the Chinese were so addicted and they wanted more, while the Chinese government wanted to stop the trading due to the effects that caused a lot of people to be high. And since the Chinese were buying more, it caused their country to pay 34 million Mexican silver dollars (the common international currency of the day) to purchase opium in the 1830s. Although the rich were the majority of the Chinese addicts. And many poor Chinese became addicted as well, and all suffered from the economic effects of the loss of silver. This events forced the Chinese emperor to speak to the British to stop the trading. But the British refused, and this lead to the Opium Wars.
The Chinese was known to lost both wars because the Chinese had less technological advances in their country at that time. And the Europeans was rich in technology, which they used their steam ships and dominated the wooden ships of China. And when this happened the Chinese soon realized that they were forced into the world of global trade and international relations with other countries, while the Europeans gained a lot of resources and territory in China.

"The White Man's Burden"

2007-12-10T10:16:00.001-08:00

The White Man's Burden is a great poem that talks about imperialism. It also explains to the reader on how it affected the people who claimed countries, and how much it affected the people who had been claimed or dominated. The poem is originally written by an inspiring author named, Rudyard Kipling. The poem is based on the experiences on how America conquered the country that is around Asia, which is Philippines. It was a burden or problem that they felt and faced on the days when they conquered Philippines. It was on those times when they were helping the Filipinos, and since the Filipinos doesn't know anything yet it was really hard and challenging for them to civilized this people. The Americans believed that their duty was to help the needy ones rather than other things, which are not necessary. They believed that this is a responsibility that should be accomplished in order for the human race to be better, especially the nation in Philippines, which is needed to be improved at that time. They wanted the Filipinos to be like them, which is civilized and disciplined. That's why they thought of creating a government for this people who are in need.
In the poem, it also said that the Americans introduced medicines and other biology stuff for the Filipinos that they thought they never heard before and should be learn by them. And since the White People have more technological advances and other great stuff, they have the advantage to help other cultures but they didn't thought of doing these things on that way. The main thing they were doing this is because they needed more natural resources from other countries, and other raw materials for the sake of their own countries.
The poem tells us that it is a must for these countries to be in a civilized way and be placed in a modern world. This is a fact that i considered to be true and considered to agree with. This is also an example about teaching people and for them to learn and be civilized and be disciplined. And education is the main factor here. And i believe that education is a beautiful thing and learning is the most educational experiences and opportunities you can have in your life no matter what kind of person you are.
But the part that i disagree is how these countries discriminate other people who are in need. I mean its true that they should teach these people, but they shouldn't force them on doing what they wanted them to do. They shouldn't steal and take away the real essence and life of the culture of this countries. Because these countries has a family and people who love their country for being that kind of country. And they are striving themselves to preserve these things, and taking away this precious things from them is something that we should think is wrong. For example, like what happened in Africa of the disaster from the "Scramble for Africa", they took away almost everything from them. And the real or the original Africa before is now different from the modern Africa today. And yes its true that they are more civilized but there is something more important that has been taken away from them besides good and natural resources, it is the essence of their true country that has been taken away and that has been converted to a new and modern one.
It is true that United States is still imperialistic today because they still want to conquer and dominate Iraq to make it more civilized and to make the country a democratic government.

"The Scramble for Africa"

2007-12-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

"Scramble for Africa" is a phrase or a term used to describe the uncontrolled activity by the European countries who needed and wanted to claim the African territory. This resulted in nearly all of Africa to become part of Europe's colonial empires. The scramble slowly started to happen in the 1870s and ended in the early 20th century. The main European nations that were involved in this scramble were these countries which are: Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, Britain, Portugal and Spain. Between 1885 and 1900, it was known that European powers were so strong that the countries in Europe were at times racing each other to claim Africa even they know they'll be at stake. But when this happened, most of the Africans defended themselves or resist being taken over by Europeans because they know that the Europeans wanted to take power over them and they couldn't allow this to happen.
At that time the Europeans had many technological advances made in their own countries. And since they have this advantages, they had the ability and power to use it over the Africans. And since the Africans only have spears to defend themselves it is really obvious that the Europeans could dominate Africa so easily. The Europeans are doing this because they wanted to gain authority over the Africans. And their plan succeeded at the final two decades of the 19th century where the European colonial powers finally took over the whole continent of Africa.
The nations that took over Africa were looking for gold, silver, wood, coal, diamonds, tin, rubber, ivory and etc. They were looking for this stuff because they needed these things for manufacturing goods and for other things that are important and needed for their countries in Europe. And among all these countries that took over Africa, the highest of them that owned most of the supplies were Britain and France. They owned nearly 70% of the supplies they found in Africa. The British were known to have its Cape Colony, which is located at the Southern tip of Africa. And Meanwhile, France also took Algeria in 1834.
The "Scramble for Africa" had created a huge distraction and damage in the History of Africa and affected mostly all of the Africans. It caused a lot of suffering and pain to the people living there, which is so sad. And most of the people there faced through a lot of violence and corruption in their country, which also lead to people fighting with each other. In those years, things were very uncertain, difficult, and painful for each and everyone of the Africans living there. But the Europeans really didn't mind and care for them because they were busy getting the things they needed and wanted for their own countries. And after this happened, all of Africa was owned by Europeans except for Liberia and Ethiopia on 1912.
I believe that "The Scramble for Africa" is really a huge disaster that still couldn't be forgotten by people living today. And it will also affect the people in the future. And most of all, it didn't only affect the Africans living before on those years, it's also a part of the reason why most of the Africans are still suffering today.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

2007-12-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

The movie is a good story about the expeditions of Captain Richard Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke. And above all, it is a moving true story about the strength of the Europeans in Africa despite their experiences of hardships and suffering there when they explored almost every aspect of its country.
In the movie, Richard Burton and his companion first traveled to the northern coast of Somalia (in 1854). And after that they journeyed to the Islamic city-state of Harer, which is now in Ethiopia. It is a destination that is forbidden to non-Muslims. So when people who are not Muslims go there, they will get killed. This was a threat to the Europeans and was also a great challenge for them who were exploring there, but they still continued their expedition despite the hardships that could get on their way.
Richard Burton and his company went through a lot of hardships on their journey to Africa. They walk through a lot of rocky places, including deserts, that they get wounded on their walk. Even their camels were not allowed to be brought with them because the camels cannot walk through those rocky or slippery places. There were also a lot of flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches there that could kill people, especially malaria, which is a deadly disease from mosquitoes. Many of Richard Burton's companion got killed because of that disease. But Richard Burton is believed to have been the first European to enter the ancient walled city and survived. This gave his companions a hope and confident on their journey.
At their first expedition to the Somali interior, some of Richard Burton's companions got killed of the attack because there were strange tribes called Somalis, that appeared from the deserts who suddenly attacked them. And both Richard Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke got wounded. And Richard Burton was also hit with a spear through both of his cheeks, which is so dangerous because it could take out all of his blood due to his excessive bleeding on his both cheeks. But it was a good thing that someone from his companions offered him a cloth to cover up both of his cheeks. So sooner, they planned to go back to England because there was no doctor in Africa at that time who can help him stop the bleeding.
Now this time they came back to East Africa with a more challenging expedition because they were commissioned by the British Royal Geographical Society to identify the source of the Nile.
They found the Lake Tanganyika and thought it was the source of the Nile, but it wasn't. When they were finding the source, they traveled to the desert and most of them really suffered from mosquitoes and died on Malaria. They walk through very hot places and sandstorms and also met wild animals there that could kill them. On that time, Richard Burton was almost killed by a lion and was also very ill to travel. And when the night came, his friend Lt. John Hanning Speke forgot to use a mosquito net, which made the bug or cockroach went inside his ear. He really suffered from that pain, but its a good thing that he killed the cockroach by putting something inside his ear.
Lt. John Hanning Speke was the person who continued to explore on his own because Richard Burton was too ill to travel. And at that time, he found the Lake Victoria, which is the 3rd largest lake in the world. And then, Speke declared that the Lake was the source of the Nile, but Burton didn't believe him at first. And Both of them went back to London to announced their findings.
And Speke killed himself on his hunting while Burton was still announcing. But the Lake Victoria was soon proven to be the source of the Nile.
The Lake Victoria is strangely named after the Queen Victoria of Britain because the British people were the one's who first founded the Lake and explored it, on which they have the power to name the Lake. And by the name itself, it would really be known to people that it was founded by the British because the name is Queen Victoria, which is their Queen.
The primary technological advantage that the Europeans had over the African people was the guns, because African's doesn't have guns. They only have spears to defend their selves. And the gun was also one of the advantage to conquer the Africa so easily because most of the native people or tribes they met, was their first time to see a gun and to hear its loud and terrifying sound. And it scared the Africans. The Europeans also have many gifts to give to the Africans that the Africans have never seen before. And it allowed the Europeans to be able to continue on exploring the country. The European's are also rich in technology at that time because they have steam engine that uses steam power, and coal to power the engine. And England has a lot of Coal, which is a big advantage on their technology. And since their country was rich at that time, they have the advantage to pay the African people.
This experiences is known to be written by Richard Burton in the book called First Footsteps in East Africa.

The Meiji Restoration of Japan

2007-11-27T10:10:00.001-08:00

Japanese had a peaceful life and living until Commodore Perry came to their country. It happened in 1853, when four American war ships came to the bay near Yedo with the purpose of a treaty trade. The Japanese were really shock on what they saw cause it was the first time for them to witness the transformation of technology that was brought by Mathew Perry.
He had a steam ship that uses steam power. And his crew brought large amounts of guns and huge black ships. The ships released a lot of smoke into the air, which terrified and impressed most of the Japanese. Mathew Perry warned the Japanese that if they won't let them in, they will open the country by force.
Mathew Perry came to Japan because they also need water and coal for their ships and crew to regain strength. Most of the Japanese had never seen foreigners from western countries. But Perry surprised them with gifts and other things that the Japanese where really fascinated about.

Karl Marx and Communism

2007-11-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

Try to imagine what if in our world no one is poor and no one is rich? And why would everything won't be fair for people to live? Imagine if valuable things like land and factories belonged to each and everyone. And imagine this world where we live in which everyone is working so hard but not even one is paid. Why? So that everything would be free. These are some of the central ideas of a movement called communism that was invented by Karl Marx.

Karl Marx ideas of this movement of communism became famous in the early 1800's. There were a lot of big factories that were made and rising at that time. And a lot of workers working in factories gained low money or wages from their work. And in the meantime, factory owners were getting rich. This cause a lot workers to be angry.
There were two Germans who turned this anger into political movement and created a big impact on the society. They were Friedrich Engels, and of course Karl Marx. They written a book that was publish in 1848 called, The Communist Manifesto where they written most of the goals of this movement.
Marx and Engels said that all through history, different classes called the proletariat (the working class) and the bourgeoisie (the owning class) had been at war.
The fighting classes of their time were the owners of businesses and the people who worked for them. He viewed the working class as the good guys because they suffered and sacrificed much of their time for their jobs to get paid, for them to be able to eat and live. And he viewed the owning class as the bad guys because they don't really care much about the workers. They just make them work a lot and sometimes they don't even pay them the exact amount of money. And the owning class just keeps getting richer.
So Marx and Engels called all the workers of the world to unite (workers of the world unite!), in which the workers themselves owned all business. They said that if workers were in charge, everybody would get what they needed to live a comfortable and good life. He also wrote this book called Das Kapital. It is were he expanded his explanations of these ideas.
And soon, communism spread throughout Europe where most of the communists in Russia conquered some neighboring countries, too. They called their new empire the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or Soviet Union for short. Joseph Stalin was the man who took control in the USSR. He used cruel force to make the Soviet Union into a communist country. He killed and murdered many people by torturing and putting them in prison. He also made a country where everyone worked for the government. And this government made most of the control and decisions for the people.
Around World War II, the Soviet Union won. And it gained control over most of the countries in Eastern Europe when the war had ended in 1945. During this period in China, they had a communist leader that was rising in power. His name was Mao Zedong. He seized control of his country in 1949. China had a huge population and it became the biggest communist country of all. But communism lose its strength. That was the time when many non communist countries fought to keep communism from spreading because they were afraid that communism would keep expanding, which it will threat non communist countries.
The United States was the country that led the fight against communism, while the Soviet Union supported communist movements around the world.
These days and years of struggle and pain is known as the Cold War. This lasted for more than 40 years.

Karl Marx and the Industrial Revolution

2007-11-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Karl Marx is known to be one of the most influential thinkers of all time. Karl was born on May 5, 1818, and died in 1883. He is a German revolutionary and political philosopher. He was also considered to be one of the most important of all socialist thinkers and creator of a system of thought called Marxism.

Marx was educated at the universities of Berlin, Bonn, and Jenna.
He is a bright man and a great student in which soon he became an editor of the paper after he wrote his first article to the Cologne newspaper Rheinische Zeitung. But his writings were criticizing political and social conditions, which as a result, he was in trouble with the authorities. In 1843 he wanted to resign on being an editor, so the Cologne newspaper Rheinische Zeitung was ordered to discontinue publication.

But Karl Marx inspired and helped a lot of people and changed their perspective of their lives. Karl Marx created the basic ideas of a movement called communism. He imagined a world in which everyone worked, but no one got paid because he believed everyone would be free. And he predicted that the rich would get richer and the poor would be poorer.
Karl Marx spend most of his life in the days of the Industrial Revolution. He didn't like the Industrial Revolution because of the way it is, and the way people work and sacrifice themselves for their living. His vision and perspective of the world where he lived was great and wide. In the Industrial Revolution, he saw and viewed the people who are factory owners as nobles and the people who work in factories as peasants.
But Karl Marx had pity for the workers (proletariat). And he wanted them to take control or to rise up to start a revolution (workers of the world unite!). He and Friedrich Engels wanted the workers themselves to own all businesses because they believe that if workers are in control, everyone would get what they needed and wanted to live good lives (Marx explained these ideas further more in a book called Das Kapital). This system is called Communism.
Karl Marx was inspired to have this idea of Communism because he knows that the working class and the owning class will be at war, and he knows that wouldn't be good at all. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels announced the goals of this movement in their 1848 book called The Communist Manifesto.

Nationalism and the Creation of Italy

2007-10-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

Nationalism is a people's view on how they could help improve their nation's economy and love their nation rather than other countries.
I am Nationalistic because I am thinking only on what I can do for my country, and I'm devoted to it in many ways above all others. I show that I'm a Nationalistic because I respect the flag of our country by singing our "National Anthem" and following its political laws.

Italy was a nation that was built after the nationalism destroyed the empires. And before Italy became Italy, the country was ruled by Austria. But the people who live there started to get bored and tired of their country, so they figured they could make their own nation-state.
And because of that certain idea, the leaders who are; Camille Cavour and Guiseppe Garibaldi, planned to guide their people and make their own nation-state.
Together they had united the South and North Italy after they had took hold of it from Austria. But still people weren't acting like a family or a nation even it became a nation-state. So Massimo d-Azeglio started a parliamentary meeting, on which he had said that, "We should start to make Italians, since we have already made Italy."

Simón Bolívar

2007-10-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

Simón Bolívar was born in July 24, 1783 in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela, (which was the capital of the Spanish colony of Venezuela). And he died in December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Simón Bolívar was a South American revolutionary, a military leader, and a politician. He was also known as the Liberator for leading the role in Spanish American Independence. Bolívar was a successful person. He led the five countries, which are: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. But Bolívar never achieved his goal on creating a federation of Spanish American nations. He died because he attempted to establish strong central governments in the nations he led to independence. Today, most of the Spanish American people could never forget how Bolívar became such a great person and a great leader of independence.

Bolívar was an orphan at the age of nine, when he lost both of his parents. But when he turned fifteen, he was sent to Spain to continue his education. He was a smart kid, and some of his tutors said that he showed early traits of independence and a strong will.
Bolívar was inspired and was really influenced by his tutor named, Simón Rodríguez, of which he became familiar with the works of the Enlightenment.
Simón Rodríguez also became his friend. And his ideas and style of education developed Bolívar to become a successful man.

Later in his life, Bolivar married Maria Teresa Rodriguez, but her wife died with a yellow fever. And Bolivar became so sad, and it affected him so much, so he vowed on not to marry again for the rest of his life.
Bolívar was also greatly impressed by Napoleon. And when he went to Rome he made his famous vow on Monte Sacro to liberate South America.

And soon he used part of the mineral income to finance the South American revolutionary wars.
He was a general in chief. And In August 6, 1824, Bolivar defeated the Spanish army in the Battle of Junín on August 6, 1824.
And lately, Bolivar had accomplished his goal by freeing the South America in December 9. And he was known to be the most powerful man in South America.

Bolivar was such a famous man. And because of that a country in South America was named after him, which is called, The Republic of Bolivia. It is a landlocked country in central South America. This territory now is known to be called as "Upper Peru", which is under the authority of the Viceroy of Lima.

In conclusion, the Civil wars exploded which destroyed the South American unity for which Bolívar had fought. And they said, the place was surrounded with fighting and suffering from tuberculosis. And Simón Bolívar died on December 17, 1830, in Santa Marta, Columbia.
A writer once said that, "Simón Bolívar didn't receive special training in military affairs. He did not represent the will of his country, for his country had no will. His country really did not exist. Bolivar created it. He was not obeying commands but those of his conscience."

Robespierre and The Reign of Terror

2007-09-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is a crisis that the revolutionary leaders turned on each other. "Reign of terror" is a period during French Revolution that happened between September 1793 and July 1784. It was a time of violence when systematic violence is used by the government, person, or group to frighten other people and obtain or maintain control or command over them. This is a period of time on which thousands of people were executed as enemies of the revolution.
Robespierre's view was, constitutional government would have to wait until fear and repression had eliminated the enemies of the Revolution. Robespierre forced the Girondins to leave from the National Convention.
France was in a state of great confusion, commotion, or disturbance, and with the aim of restoring order and reducing the danger of invasion from other countries. Robespierre eliminated all whom he considered to be enemies of the Revolution, both extremist and moderates. This policy led to as what they call, the Reign of Terror and to the execution.

The French Revolution: Social Causes

2007-09-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

Around 20th century until the 1970s the French Revolution was described as the result of the growing economic and social importance of the middle class. They believe that it overthrew the "Old form of Government (Old Regime)" because that form of government had given power and benefit or advantage to other classes, which are: the nobility and the clergy, who prevented the middle class from advancing socially and politically. This establishment of meaning has taken the place by one that depends less on social and economic influences and more on political ones.

And because of the decline in the economic activity on the late 1770s, some of the middle class were frustrated in their wealth and rising power, and the bread prices, which are rising just before the Revolution. It increased dissatisfied unhappiness among the workers and peasants. And now it is believed that because of a crisis in the French state, the revolutionary process started.

On 1789 much of the French people had become disapproving of the monarchy, even though it had been largely successful in militarily who are defending France. They were annoyed at the rising and unequal taxes, the persecution of religious minorities, and the government who interferes in their private lives.
Meanwhile, the developed royal court at Versailles, which impresses the French people and Europe generally, symbolizes the waste and corruption of the entire old form of government (Old Regime).

Copernicus and the Trial of Galileo Galilei

2007-09-16T12:25:00.002-07:00

In the early centuries, Aristotle and Ptolemy had a theory that the Earth is at the center of the universe, and the Sun and other objects go around it, which is called the Geocentric Theory. Early philosophers assumed with a complex idea that the Sun, Moon, Stars, and naked eye planets circle around the Earth. But Lately the Geocentric Theory was proven to be wrong.
Nicolas Copernicus studied and examined the records of motions of heavenly bodies by using the scientific method, and rejected the Geocentric Theory. And had a theory that the sun is at the center of the solar system. And that all the planets revolve around it, which is called the Heliocentric Theory.

The Geocentric theory was the first theory that came first. And the Heliocentric theory was the theory that came out of the scientific revolution. (To be Continued)

Scientific Revolution: Scientific Method

2007-09-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Scientific Revolution happened around 1500 and 1700. Before those years happened; the passion of science never existed than today's modern science. The foundations of modern science were laid in Western Europe.
During its centuries, its experience and knowledge of science has evolved slightly. Churches such as; the catholic church, accepted a set of principles and teachings based on the Romans and Greeks, which legally established as a corporation into religious doctrine. At this period of time, the knowledge and study of science had less inquiry of the facts and information. As well as the scientific experimentation. Somewhat, People and students of sciences committed to read and accepted the works of authorities as truth. But scientific observers and believers were stuned and surprise to know that the conclusions did not always match up with the truths they have accepted.
With this result, others were inspired to dig for information, and study the world further around them.

Aftermath, the study of science quickly made longer and larger into the heavens from the earth.
And Nicolas Copernicus, which studied and examined the records of the motions of heavenly bodies, lately rejected the geocentric theory, which was the belief that the Earth was the center of the solar system. And supersede its theory, and assumed that the sun is at the center of the solar system. And the earth was one of the planets that revolve around it, which was the heliocentric theory. This secret and cunning plan was agreed, that it resulted better with the records of astronomy at that time. But Copernicus had slight evidence to sustain his assertion, which constrained his theory from attaining full acceptance. It awaited the progression of physics and mathematics to sustain his assertion. And happened to be waited not very long.

At the seventeenth century, the mathematics had a great development and progress in algebra, the advance of geometry, trigonometry, and the study of Rene Descartes about the linkage of form and motion with quantifiable numeric values.
Then the science of physics rapidly increased.
At the sixteenth century Galileo Galilei explored the laws of motion, and helped us understand and analyze that the gravity acceleration pulled all objects toward the earth on the same rate.
And soon other physicists studied and explored matter, using the advance understanding of the properties of gases, which lead to the invention of the air pump, thermometer, and the barometer. But physicist try harder to discover the matter on the atomic scale and its structure that most of them were unsuccessful.

On the "Realm of Biology" derived from the advance of physics, one of the first applications of the knowledge where discovered through it. With it, the human body's physiology could be easily understood. But many of the mysteries of the human body disappeared during the seventeenth century. Though the field of astronomy was the most outstanding and famous application of the laws of physics.

Johannes Kepler proved that the orbit of the planets were elliptical, but he was unable to sustain a productive model of our solar system. Perhaps Galileo, published his Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems of the World in 1630 and supported Copernican, or heliocentric theory of the universe. And accuse the Aristotelian system falsely, and preserved the geocentric theory. Galileo sustained his assertion with complex evidence that came from the study of physics.

Sir Isaac Newton was considered as one of the most important scientists of all time. And was considered to have the highest achievement of his work and study on the evolution of science.
Newton combined Galileo's exploration into the laws of gravity and Kepler's laws of planetary motion into a inclusive understanding of the coordination of components of the universe according to the law of universal gravitation. He layed out this inclusive system of organization and established the mathematical field of calculus, which is being seen as the key that can unlocked the mysteries of the universe and the key moment of the struggle of all of the Scientists of the Scientific Revolution.

Evolution vs Creation

2007-09-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Creation and Evolution has been a big issue in our lives, as well as how we understand and analyze the facts of life in the planet we live in.
People are most likely divided to have different beliefs on Evolution and Creation. And Scientist study about Evolution, and how it explains the theoretical process by which all species develop from earlier forms of life.
Charles Darwin, a British scientist is one of the greatest scientist whose theory is based on Evolution, which laid the foundations of modern evolutionary. Darwin's Theory is based on how we evolve through Evolution, and how random genetic mutations occur within an organism’s genetic code written DNA. Darwin believes that we're all connected by similarities or a common source through the life of animals, plants, and fruits or any living thing on earth that have similarities through ourselves. Darwin assumes that every thing that happened through our lives are natural through the slow working process called; “natural selection“, which are passed on to the next generation that results as a different kind of organism by avoiding or ignoring complexities of our ancestors that evolve naturally overtime.
Darwin’s theory of evolution is a slow gradual process. Scientist in the modern day uses scientific tools such as, the microscope, and other tools that are built in order for scientist to go deeper through the human body and discover more about cells and how human body and other organisms evolve. But Darwin, on his days, concluded that "we don't need a microscope to observe irreducible complexity. The eye, the ear and the heart are all examples of irreducible complexity."
Still there were certain amounts of information and technology that was discovered and built today that Darwin didn't know. In addition, "Evolution" still has an absence of a particular thing. And scientist are still studying, experimenting, and researching all the facts of life that may be leading on how life started billions of billions of years ago, which are still considered as a theoretical process.

On the other hand, other people believe in "Creation." Believers on creationism are religious people. they believe that God created the universe. They accept geological findings but rejects evolution. Creationism, covers a broad range of beliefs and interpretation involving to God's miraculous creation. And today, people are divided according to its beliefs, and no one could still justify and correct, which is right.