Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Mikhail Gorbachev and the end of Communism


Glasnost -- the declared public policy within the Soviet Union of openly and frankly discussing economic and political realities: initiated under Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985.

Peristrokia -- the program of economic and political reform in the Soviet Union initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986.

Mikhail Gorbachev open the Soviet union because he wanted to open public policy about economice and political realities which was also known as glasnost. He allowed authors to write books, he open churches and he free dissendents prisoners from jail. He made it a more free for the people to be able to open private business. People were able to speak up for their right and about political and economice problems and they voice were heard. Also people were able to vote for the country's candidates. They had more privilege in the country and they also had a better way of living. Mikhail Gorbachev paved the end of communism because he didn't like the idea of having the government to take control of everything and people to not have the right to speak up. His way of governing was different from other Soviet Union leaders before the didn't want to have control over everything in the country, he think citizens should have certain right in their country and able to do things.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Collapse of Communism



Communism was a major turning point in history.Communism was created from the time of World war, especially from World War II and ended after the cold war. It all started when Russia was trying to keep up with the US in the nuclear arms race and the space race. They were trying to gain more power and build more advanced technology to go against the US. They were popular at first but after the years went by and the US started to developed more advaced technology, communism then collapse. Communism was a much weaker economic system then capitalism. Communism was based on the Maxism economic system which was created by Karl Marx. Communism collapse was started with Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika. These policies tried to open up and reform the old fashioned system of communism. Later Berlin Wall came crashing down and the Eastern and Western Germany could form more economic and social ties. Things were worse at first cause people weren't able to cross the border from east to west Germany. However things got better later when capitalism went to Russia. Things got easier for people and they got bettter jobs with higher pay. They soon turned away from communism because they were worried about M.A.D which was the (Mutually Assured Destruction) because of the neuclear weapons that fell during cold war.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Creation Of Israel



Zionism -- A Jewish movement that arose in the late 19th century in response to growing anti-Semitism and sought to reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Modern Zionism is concerned with the support and development of the state of Israel.

Israel was a land there for many years since god had given Abraham. It had three main monotheistic religions which are: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. However as the years went by and the population grew problems also occured. The conflict thats occured when Israel was created was that they were attacked the day after they gain independence by other neighboring countries like Arab states and Palestinians such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt.It all happen after World War I when the Jews decided to go back to the holy land which they claim that belonged to them years ago. These countries didn't get along well because the Palestinians think that Israel should get the land while the Jews think they should get the land, this was the reason why they both didn't get along well cause they both were fighting for the same land.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid



Apartheid is a social policy or racial separation involving political and economic and legal discrimination against people who are black and nonwhite. It was a former official policy in South Africa. During the year 1948 to 1994 South Africa was under the apartheid system where the British was ruling. They held the most power of things in Africa and and had had the most power of wealth. They went into Africa to find sources to produce products in Britain and other countries and Africa had a lot of natural resources such as coal, gold, coffee and diamonds. The African didn't have equal rights as the white and they didn't like the idea of having the white in their country to have all the control over things. Certain things were're allow in African for e.g all black people over the age of 16 had to carry identity documents and no mixed marriage were allowed.

However Nelson Mandela spent 26 years in prison and was released in the year 1990 and was in the ANC which means African National Congress, he then began president of the ANC which declared legal in South Africa. He was known as the hero in Africa because he help to fight to gain independence in Africa from the British. He fought for liberation and unity and help to solve the problem of racism in Africa, so that everyone can have equal rights.They wanted to form their own government and have all the control. In February 1993, Mandela and the de Klerk agreed to the formation of a government of national unity, after free nonracial elections. In April 1994, the election was held with the ANC and soon Nelson Mandela began the president of Africa.