The War vs. The Media

      In the days of the Vietnam and Korean War, the media had a certain way in which they discussed the conflicts. At the time people and mainly journalist had a great sense of patriotism and cynicism in the articles. Most of the stories at the time were extremely biased; either supporting or opposing the war. The media exaggerated and dramatized by showing the public the worst that was happening overseas, or at Korea and Vietnam. Even sometimes the truth would be keep a secret. It would never be unfolded, and seen. On the news, especially at night there would never be pictures that showed triumphant in the Vietnam and Korean War. All that was really seen in the news was dead bodies, children, and civilians mutilated in the streets. The pure evil was not seen in the public.
      Another point that differs from the medias past and the present is their different approaches to the worldwide issues. In today's age the media constantly looks at the issues from a political perspective. I believe it is always supporting or opposing other nations depending on the issues. The issues of war can break political powers in this current age and it affects governments a lot. 50 years ago, the media had more important and to the point issues to discuss about. People weren't so dramatic and wanting to criticize about the issues 50 years ago. So there is many differences on how the media is and was presented now and then. 

John F. Kennedy Tweets

KennedyThePresident
Fidel recieves complete power of Cuba. Lets see what happens.
01/01/59  3:25 PM

KennedyThePresident
Terminated diplomatic and consular relation with Cuba!
01/03/61  10:48 AM

KennedyThePresident
Pledging gets me nervous.. the US will not intervene militarily to overthrow Castro.
04/12/61  12:15 PM

KennedyThePresident
Bay of Pigs Invasion- FAIL >:/
04/17/61  11:24 AM

KennedyThePresident
At Vienna with Khrushchev ready to hold a summit. Trying to relax and calm down a little.
06/04/61  2:09 PM

KennedyThePresident
CIA Director John McCone sends me a memo believing that there is possibility of missiles wanted to be deployed.
08/10/62  5:18 PM

KennedyThePresident
Pressure!! Ordering a U-2 reconnaissance flight to fly over Cuba. I just got word it got delayed because of bad weather until the 14th.
10/09/62  4:02 PM

KennedyThePresident
U-2 discovers missile sites. Obtained photographs provide evidence that the Soviets have misiles estabished at Cuba.
10/14/62  11:35 AM

KennedyTheMan

Connecticut here we go; Come on Democrats!

10/16/62  9:48 AM

KennedyTheMan

Being president is not easy! Wishing I could be in 5 places at the same time -_- off to the West Coast maybe I can clear my mind.

10/19/62  7:25 AM

KennedyTheMan

So many things in one day! I'm going crazy! From ordering to receiving letters. Omg!! Going out for a walk to get some fresh air.

10/23/62  8:56 PM

KennedyTheMan

I don't know if I should negotiate; I just want to do what is best for the country.

10/26/62  5:19 PM

KennedyTheMan

Victory at last! I got what i wanted. God bless the USA!

10/28/62 10:38 PM

"Where is the Love?"

By:The Black Eyed Peas

"Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism 
 But we still got terrorists here livin'
 In the U.S.A., the big C.I.A.
 The bloods and the crips and the K.K.K.

 But, if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah"

"In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love"


           This song released by The Black Eyed Peas in 2004, talks about the war that was going on at that time in Iraq. This song deals with the current issues of terrorism. The "Where is the Love" song is an anti-war song that has a negative mood to it. This song talked about the terrorism brought by 9/11 and the Iraqi War that followed. As well as the terrorists that are in our soil right now. The song talks about hate and intolerance that bring the terrorists. The song also talks about how people around the world keep making wrong decisions that affect the nature of everything. It talks about the disrespect that is brought into people. As well as, how many governments lie about the truth of war and the real reasons that cause it. The truth is keep secret from the people. The song informs listeners to focus on the injustice and violent actions of war. These lyrics are similar to those of songs from the Vietnam Era because they talk about current issues of the time. This songs is very descriptive about the war, and lets the world see what really happens.

Topic.12 Study Concepts

Truman Doctrine
-Part of the Containment Policy.
-US gave money to countries to fight communism.
-Was part of the US' Post WWII foreign policy.

Containment Policy

Intended to keep communism from spreading.

Meant to contain Communism

Goal was to expel communism out of foreign countries. 

Was also part of the US' Post WWII foreign policy.

Bay of Pigs Invasion
- US wanted to overthrow government in Panama and replace with democracy.
-Cuba was invaded by exiles from Cuba to try to overthrow the Government.
-US wanted to establish democracy.

U.S. Foreign Policy w/ regard to Korea and Vietnam
-Contain communism so other countries don't fall to it which was referred to as the Containment Policy.
-Truman Doctrine: give money to countries threatened by communism.
-US and other top countries head the decisions of the U.N.

Intervention
-US tries to overthrow comunism governments.
-Goal was to fight the wars of other countries that deal with communism.
-Wanted to press democracy on other countries.
-Was to help push communist forces back when the communists invade a free country.
-It influenced other countries to get the US what they wanted.

Cold War Development
-It was between Russia and the US.
-A fight between Communism vs. Democracy.
-It was fueled by the space race, development of nuclear weapons, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
-Once the USSR starts to become as advanced as the US, the US becomes scarred and feel threatened. The USSR's possession of nuclear weapons scares the US. The Us wants to help stop the spread of communism.

War Powers Act
-The President can only go to war with Congress' permission.
-Not the case in Vietnam and Korea as the US was involved in these conflicts for years without declaring war.

World War II Foreign Policy vs. Post-WWII Foreign Policy
-The main goal for the US was to win the War at all costs and the defeat the Nazis.
-Post WWII, the main goal was to contain Communism as stated in the Containment Policy, including, giving aid to countries threatened by Communism by means of the Truman Doctrine.

Limited War
-It refers to when a country is involved in a conflict, but doesn't use all of its resources.
-Examples: Vietnam War, Korean War, Iraq War, Afghanistan War.

Examples of Containment in Europe
-The US gave money to countries threatened by Soviet rule by the means of the Truman Doctrine.
-The US wanted to prevent the USSR's communist ways from spreading to other countries in Europe.
-East Germany was Communist and West Germany was free same as East Berlin was communist as well as West Berlin was democratic.
-All three countries of France, Great Britain, and the US tried to keep Communism from spreading from East Berlin and East Germany to West Berlin and West Germany.

Main Points of the Division of Germany
-Communist East Germany and East Berlin were ruled by the Soviet Union.
-Democratic West Germany and West Berlin were ruled by France, Great Britain, and the US.
-Methods of separating both sides were fencing, soldiers, and later on, the Berlin Wall.
-The Braidenburg Gate was the main passage way from East Germany to West Germany and it was originally built by the Soviet Union.

Douglass MacArthur Dismissal
-MacArthur pushed the North Koreans back further than the original border.
-He broke the rules and promises as he didn't listen to the Presidents' orders.
-One of his methods of getting back was making public statements against the President.

Korean War similarities w/ Persian Gulf War
-Both countries were invaded by other countries.
-South Korea was invaded by North Korea and Kuwait was invaded by Iraq.
-In both cases the US fought the wars of other countries.
-The original borders between the Koreas and between Iraq and Kuwait needed to be reestablished.

Nuclear Test Ban
-Countries containing nuclear weapons agreed to sign a treaty not to test nuclear weapons.
-There are still some countries, like the US, that still test nuclear weapons.
  
Long Term Effect of Vietnam
-The War divided America in people, deciding which side they were on.
-Still influences how war is viewed today like the different Politic parties.
-The war got rid of the draft, death, cancer, and other illnesses from Agent Orange.
-Vietnamese migration to the US was the cause of the bringing down of the Nixon Administration.

Peace Corps
-A way to help Third World countries.
-Helped by building wells and schools.
-Also a way for people to get out of the draft in Vietnam.
-It still exist today, aiding in places like Africa.

End of Cold War
-The Main Event was the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Domino Theory
-If one nation falls to communism the next nation will as well.
-It caused a fear of communism and made this fear cause the US to get involved in wars against communism.
-Other countries near Communist countries were more at risk.

Nixon's Detente
-It eased tensions between the USA and the USSR.
-Peaceful coexistence.
-Nixon and Brezhnev had multiple meetings and signed treaties to come to agreements and ease tensions.

Jena and Little Rock Insidents

          To make this clear, I don't condone beating up anyone no matter what race he or she is. Whether those students actually beat the white students or not, they should not be charged with attempted murder when no one knows their motives for hurting the other student. It's all about discrimination and it shouldn't be accepted that way. I believe it is morally wrong to discriminate. Most schools wouldn't take something a simple as a school fight and blow it out of proportion to make it into an attempted murder.There might have been some hidden motives for the prosecutor that changed the Jena Six. I imagine that the prosecutor was white, may have been racist,  and wanted to see these boys go to jail. This reminds me a lot of the Little Rock Nine incident during the Civil Rights Movement. In Little Rock, the nine students that were to attend Central High School to segregate the school were taunted and harassed by whites in the school and community. They were always harassed by mobs, in order to make them angry. In Jena, the same thing had happened. Some people mostly in the white community were looking for an easy scapegoat to put the blame on. Though this time, the accused have a large group backing them up, unlike what happened with the Little Rock Nine. It is great to see that a new generation is taking a stand for what is morally and lawfully right.

MLK vs. Malcolm X

           Two names immanently jump out when talking about Civil Rights Movement: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The two men drove the Civil Rights push in the 1960's, however, they did so in two drastically different means. I think that the methodologies of martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were very different from each other. MLK had a different strategy to deal with the Civil Rights Movement. He used more civil, peaceful words and presented the Civil Rights Movement as a problem that is unfair and that affects the fellow man. MLK believed in being more of a nonviolent protester, all about civil disobedience, and Sit-Ins. Perhaps to many people he is recognized as one, if not the greatest orators in the 20th Century. He is also an outstanding Civil Rights leader. However, Malcolm X method was very different from MLK, it was the contrary to MLK's methods. He believed that their goal should be accomplished by "any means necessary." Reflecting and comparing the documents and with what we talked  about in class, I feel like Malcolm X is more straight-forward and has an angrier tone.  In my opinion X was very drastic with his approach he intended his statements to be aimed to the entire race. MLK's way of approaching equality involved all different races not just one; meanwhile Malcolm X was very negative about most races and blamed them for inequality. So, therefore I think MLK had a bigger and stronger effect in the United States and the world as his ideas are still viewed and remembered nowadays, and even still followed at times of conflict. MLKs methodology was more effective in many different ways. 

Topic.11 Study Concepts

MLK and Civil Disobedience
-Freedom Rides aimed at desegregating public transportation in the south.
-Montgomery Bus Boycott
-Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader, also developed into one of the greatest orators in the 20th Century.
-Civil Disobedience a dominant social force.
-Lunch Counter Sit-Ins start in Greensboro, North Carolina.
-MLK was a fearless dedicated speaker.
-Lead to the Civil Rights Act (1964), Voting Rights Act (1965), and Fair Housing Act (FHA, 1968).

Power of the "Mob"
-Sit-Ins
-Protest
-Being confident enough to sit in a place for a long period of time, with caring about consequences.
-Sort of like having the power of a situation.
-Leads into situation with M.L.K.
-He told the African-Americans, i someone punches them in the face, then hug them.
-Kill them with kindness.

Plessy v. Ferguson vs. Brown v. Board of Education
-Supreme Court Law stated "separate, but equal".
-African-American and Whites become concerned.
-Brown:Unconstitutional by 1954.
-It struck down Plessy v. Ferguson because separate wasn't equal anymore.
-It basically stated that all men are equal regardless what there race is.

Civil Rights Goals
-Freedom Rides: where African-Americans would drive to the deep south and violate Jim Crow Laws.
-Buses were often bombed. White college students would join them.
-People began to be concerned.
-Malcolm X a great civil rights leader.

Eisenhower's Role in Little Rock
-In Little Rock, Arkansas, there was a school that was racially segregated and did not allow black students to integrate into the school.
-School creates a blockade for the 9 students.
-"Little Rock 9"
-Eisenhower send in the 101st Airborne to uphold the Supreme Court decision.

Rights of the Accused
-Gideon v. Wainwright: 6th Amendment-accused criminal has a right to a lawyer.
-Escobedo v. Illinois: Criminal suspects have the right to counsel during police interrogations.
-Miranda v. Arizona: Criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with counsel prior to interrogation.

Brown v. Board of Education 
-Color ignites the Civil Rights Movement.
-Oliver Brown sues school board, on behalf of his 8 year old daughter because she shouldn't be going to a school only for African American, they should be equal.
-It basically stated that black and whites can go to school and not be denied, because of their race.

Chavez and the United Farm Workers 
-Cesar Chavez, became a cultural icon for Chicanos.
-Founded the United Farm Workers (UFW).
-Helped to organize strikes and organize civil disobedience for migrant workers.
-Organized Delano Grape Strike.
-Participated in several fasts to support different social issues.
-Anti-Immigration while at UFW.

FHA and ADA
-Fair Housing Act- Part of the 1964 CRA
-Outlawed refusal to sell or rent a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, handicap, or national origin.
-Improved housing standards and conditions.
-Americans with Disabilities Act, a wide ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.
-Title IX

Purpose of Filibusters
-Used to stop the other side from speaking, so that the Civil Rights Law was not passed.
-Pushing a legislation or to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Sit-Ins and Other Protests
-Lunch Counter Sit-Ins, where the African-American would sit in a place that served only white people.
- They would sit there until they got arrested.
-Sort of like using a Power of the "Mob" tactic.
-La Raza
-In the Southwest, Chicanos (Mexican-Americans) were fighting for equality.

Meritocracy

           Meritocracy does exist in our society today. I believe it is true that people who are taught from the start that they are from a successful, educated, and high class family ("superior" kids in the video) are more likely to be motivated than those who are from a lower class, uneducated family ("inferior" kids). I also believe that if someone works hard, they could achieve the American Dream. The video supports meritocracy, because the group of kids that were considered superior did perform the tasks that they were given better than the ones that were considered inferior. I think that the kids who were superior expected better of themselves which made them live up to the image that they were given. Being in a lower class family, however, makes it more challenging to get into better schools. The kids who are inferior think that they are considered low. I believe that inferior kids and people in general should try harder. Inferior kids should not give up just because they are being "named". despite the lack of resources available to a lower class individual, there is always a case where typical stereotypes are completely reversed.
            The case previously discussed ties into meritocracy. I have always believed that a lower class individual should work hard enough and they would succeed in life. Meritocracy is based off of skills and abilities rather than on a person's wealth. To conclude, if someone from a lower class possesses the necessary skills and abilities to succeed, they will. 

Television Impact

         The invention of the television is an important event in history. I believe that media does influence the action of teenagers in many ways. It is something that every child recognizes and a modern society cannot live without. Now a days, Television has changed how children and teenagers live. It also changed the source of entertainment. Really, the newspaper is no longer necessary because we can inform everybody with shows, news, or programs in the T.V. Overall, it has impacted this generation of teenagers a lot because they are conformed to act in a way which we all think is right. Looking at today, daily exercise is something that rarely happens. Due to the fact that teenagers rather watch a show or go to the movie theater for entertainment. It has become an on going issue that we face. America's teenagers is increasingly becoming more exposed to to explicit material. It eventually creates a more violent youth, which is now seen more.

Story Time- Norman Rockwell Painting

         It is Christmas time, the Jackson's are at home celebrating this great time of the year. The weather for the last few days has been a bit unstable. It is snowing already in the town and the Jackson's are extremely happy with the weather. Caroline and Mark are enjoying the day before Christmas by spending quality time with the family playing board games. After a few minutes they both hear something outside the house. Caroline runs up the stairs, in a hurry to see what all the noise is about. She reaches her room in a second. As she runs to the window, she trips over her brothers shoe. Eventually getting up, she is frustrated at her brother for leaving his shoe in the way. She gets up and tells herself to calm down and relax. She gets to the window and looks outside and finds her dad unpacking his suitcases from the car as it suddenly begins to snow. It looks like winter wonderland outside as she sees her day getting better, because her dad fulfilled her dream of coming for Christmas to spend time with them. She eagerly shouts and screams "Come, I have something to show you!" Her mom comes up with Mark and the dog Vinny. As they reach the window they look outside to find their dad. They smile and excite as they see the snow filing the road like a blanket of white sheets. They are extremely filled with joy to know that their Christmas is filled of happiness.  

Sexism

     In my opinion this ad is very sexist. Notice how the guy only worries about the beer, but does not worry if his wife is injured. This shows that men cared for beer. As well as, that men were led to whatever they saw. I guess that women in the 1950's would get offended by this ad. I would not appreciate somebody to only care for beer. I seriously believe that sexism is a serious problem in society today. It was not so different 60 years ago. Society in the 1950's was engulfed by the idea that a women's job was to cook and clean, and had no business in doing either. The ad shows that men would enjoy by drinking beer. Why would men care more for beer than for their wife's? Ads like this show the weakness of women in the 1950's. Hopefully, in the progressive society things will change. 

Topic.10 Study Concepts

McCarthyism Impact on Society
-House Committee on Un-American Activities
-Lead to paranoia among the people.
-McCarthy charges writers, directors, producers, and actors with communist propaganda in films.
-Anxiety over Communism intensified in the U.S.
-Goes after the "Hollywood Ten"

Communist "Witch Hunt" and impact on those accused
-Supported by anti-Communist committees and groups.
-Imprisoned hundreds of government employees (mainly those in entertainment industry).
-Thousands lost their jobs.
-Many were arrested.
-Invaded lives of many citizens.

Space Race impact on government policies
-Soviet Union beat the U.S. to space with Sputnik
-As a result, USA responds by pouring more money into the education system.
-Begins the Cold War competition.
-U.S. government started to create more space programs.

Cold War mind set for the United States Government and public
-Caused great fear in the public and government.
-Soviet Union beat us to space in the technology race.
-Today's Competition: Soviet Union vs. USA in technology.
-USA afraid of Communism.
-Houses in the U.S. had bomb shelters in case we were attacked in the race to build atomic bombs.

Relationships of suburbs, automobiles, and roads 
-In 1950's more families moved to the suburbs.
-As a result a norm was established that meant thatt a family could own more than one automobile.
-More reliance on cars.
-So in effect more roads were need to compensate the extra drivers on the road.
-1956: Interstate Highway Act
-America was on the move.

Baby Boom
-In 1955: One baby was born every 7 seconds.
-Men came home from war to their wives, had children.
-1946-1960
-Causes: 20 years of "tough times"-->(World War II and Great Depression),
                 Removal of social and economical restraints that kept people from having families.
-Also caused consumer boom.
-Causing the current Social Security issues.

Urban-Suburban Pattern
-Business District
-Inner City- Low Income Families
-Suburbs- Middle Income Families
-Suburbs- High Income Families

GI Bill
-Bill that provides WWII veterans college or vocational education.
-Provides loans to start businesses/homes.
-One year of unemployment compensation.
-Supported those who served.

Expansion of the Middle Class (why were things"affordable")
-Low prices on consumer goods.
-Suburbs= Less expensive homes (Levittown)
-Invention of the Credit Card.
-The number of credit cards rapidly increased from 1945-1960.
-More consumers due to the baby boom and economic boom.

Show and Tell

 

       This is an Engineers Compass that was utilized during WWII. Used in 1945 by the US Army Corps. This compass were important to keep next to your side. The compasses helped them get to where they wanted to go. Many times soldiers would get lost without a compass, so it was hard to tell where one was going. Soldiers saw this compass as a very useful item to carry in a pouch. They also took a lot of care of this item. If the Army Corps wouldn't have this compass, they wouldn't know where they would be headed. Items like this compass have been passed down to many generations of children as a gift and collectible.

 Source: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=230595838645

Casablanca Outline

I. Setting
         A. Casablanca, Morocco
                     1. WWII, 1940's
II. Introduction
         A. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) 
                           1. Owner of "Rick's Café Américain" 
                           2. Main Character
                           3. Very cynical man 
         B. Two German courriers murdered
                           1. Rick wants to go back to America 
                           2. German leaders want Lazlo to stay in Casablanca 
                           3. The Germans want murderer who killed the courriers dead        
         C. Ugarte (Peter Lorre)
                            1. Criminal who arrives at Rick's Café with "letters of transit"
                                          a. Rick hides them in the piano of his cafe
                           2. Plans to sell to highest bidder
                           3. Gets arrested before exchange 
                           4. Dies in custody of the police
                           5. Entrusts the letters to Rick
         D. Isla Lund (Ingrid Bergman)
                           1. Rick's ex-lover
                           2. Married to Victor Lazlo
         E. Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid)
                           1. Resistance Leader
                           2. Tried to meet Ugarte for the letters of transit
                           3. Escaped from Nazi concentration camp 
III. Rising Action         
         A. Isla arrives at Rick's Café with her husband
                           1. Ilsa recognizes Sam (Dooley Wilson), the house pianist, and asks him to play "As Time Goes By".
                                         a. A significant song between her and Rick
                           2. Rick becomes upset upong hearing the song                          
                           3. Rick finds out that Isla is married to Victor Lazlo
IV. Climax
                 A. Victor asks Rick for the Letters of Transit
                           1. Rick refuses to give letters because of his past with Isla.
                           2. Lazlo learns of Rick and Isla's past.
                           3. Rick and Isla plan to let Lazlo leave and stay in Casablanca together.
                 B. Strasser and german officers begin singing a German pride song
                           1. In response to that, Lazlo orders the band to play "La Marseillaise"
                 C. Strasser acts back by having Renault close the club.
                 D. Isla confronts Rick in the cafe
                            1. She tries to get the letters back and threatens him with a gun when he refuses to give her the letters.
                            2. She confesses her love to him.
                            3. Flashback to their romance in Paris-Isla thought that Lazlo had been killed when they fell in love, when in reality he was alive.
                                           a. Isla left Rick with only a letter.
V. Falling Action
                 A. Rick agrees to help Isla, and makes her believe that they will remain together after Lazlo leaves.
                            1. Isla is hidden in the back when Laszlo unexpectedly appears in the cafe.
                            2. Rick and Laszlo talk.
                 B. Laslo acknowledges and tells Rick that he is aware of the love between him and Isla.
                            1. Tries to persuade Rick to have the letters in order for Isla to be safe.
                 C. Police arrest Laszlo
                            1. Rick convinces Renault that he can set him up and charge him upon a more serious crime.
                 D. To calm the situation, Rick tells Renault that he and Ilsa will leave for America
                 E. Renault while calling the airpot, makes a secret call to Major Strasser.
VI. Conclusion
                 A. Police try to arrest Laszlo as they had planned, but Rick threatens to shoot and let Isla and Laszlo get away.
                 B. Rick makes Isla leave with Laszlo, assuring her that staying with him was the best decision.
                            1. Isla disagrees but is forced and convinced to leave.
                 C. German officers arrive, Rick shoots Strasser.
                 D. Rick and the police officer become friends and walk off into the distance.    

Topic.09 WWII Study Concepts

Role of Women during WWII
-Men went to the war.
-Women took their jobs.
-Usually made supplies for war.
-Worked for Red Cross.
-Gained a role and respect in society.
-Popular jobs were as nurses, pilots, volunteers, and soldiers.

Cause and Effect of Use of the Atomic Bomb
Causes:
- New government in Japan on 1941.
-Pearl Harbor attack in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Caused major damage to the United States.
-United States declared war on Japan and dropped atomic bombs.
Effects:
-Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima (killed 90,000 immediately), and Nagasaki (killed 70,000 immediately)
-Lasting effects of radiation; severe health problems for Japanese citizens.
-Destroyed everything: homes, cities, and people.

US Foreign Policy Before, During, and After the War
Before:
-US neutral and isolationist.
-Stayed out of war.
-Neutrality Acts
During:
-Aids and Supports Allies
-Trades battleships with Britain for Caribbean land (Lend-Lease Act). Helping the Allies.
-FDR promises to help any American territory that comes under attack.
After:
-Recognized as dominant, economic, and world power.
-Internationalist. Begin to be involved in other countries' affairs.

Effect of the War on Europe
-Damage to all of the European countries. (Structural)
-Population declines.
-Tension.
-A lot of debt.
-Extreme numbers  of death in countries where the Holocaust took place.

Effect of Pearl Harbor Attack
-Death of American soldiers
-Destruction of the Harbor.
-Caused the US to enter WWII, US declared war on Japan, then Germany declared war on the US.
-US gave entire support to allies.
-US used the atomic bomb twice on Japan, forcing them to surrender.

Japanese Internment
-US government felt that Japanese American citizens were a "a clear and present danger" according to a loophole in the constitution.
-Forced Japanese into prison camps.
-Korematsu vs. US: sued US for violating Civil Rights- US wins.

Neutrality Acts
-1935-1937
-Effort to keep citizens out of war.
-US battleships were not armed.
-Americans could not travel on ships of countries at war.
-Trying to maintain Isolationist attitude.

Purpose of Propaganda
Persuasion:
-In the US: tried to gain support for war, troops, and women on the home front from US citizens.
-Helped keep us in the war.

-In Germany: Hitler used propaganda to deceive the Germans into believing that his views were correct.

Rationing
-Americans were told by the US government to save food, gas, metal, and other resources for the war effort.
-Americans told not to buy new things that were not necessary.

Results of WWII
-US aided Europe through the Marshall Plan
-Economic Boom
-Baby Boom
-Hitler and Mussolini dead
-Severe Jewish population decline
-Debt throughout all Europe.
-Nuclear Energy is now used as a consumer energy source
-Radiation effects in Japan.
-US seen as a major world power.

Interview Questions: Bruno Klein

1. What went through your mind every time you checked the prisoners health? Did this affect your lifestyle at all?

2. What or who made you get an interest in medical school?

3. I understand that World War II in September 1939 had no effect on you, but what did you think about the War?

4. What was on your mind the day that Germany invaded Yugoslavia? What do you feel?

5. How did you remain faithful even though there was a constant fear of death with you?

Letter to the Principal!!

Dear Principal,

           It has brought my attention that certain parts of history books are being censored and edited in the high school history curriculum. Thus, I think that the censoring is wrong and we should be able to have full knowledge of the past and the present. The censoring prevents us to grasp the full concept and context of history. I believe that we, as students should learn both sides to a conflict. We read the Rape of Nanjing in our class today, which was not in our textbooks. I taught it was shocking how they do not include the Rape of Nanjing in textbooks. Also, I believe that there is no reason to censor a book, we are old enough to handle an event like this. In the Rape of Nanjing, the Japanese, slaughtered, tortured, killed, and raped millions of men, women, and children. Why should history be keep a secret? It shouldn't, if the curriculum wants students to be successful than why not teach us something interesting like the Rape of Nanjing. This events have marked cultures and they are part of history, so we should still learn about events like this even though they are good or bad.  I know, and many other students know that this was Genocide, but we also learned about the Holocaust. And the Holocaust was an act of Genocide as well. So why are they censoring books if we still learn about Genocide. In other places like Rwanda there has been genocide and hundreds of thousands of people have been killed. This shows students that genocide is still possible and could potentially be more deadly due to further advancements in technology. I believe that learning about mass genocide gives hope to the world to prevent these horrific events from reoccurring. Teenagers are the future and what is taught in schools will influence the decisions of tomorrow.

                                                                                     Sincerely,

                                                                                     Maria Rodriguez

Is Intervention the answer to GEN-O-CIDE?

          Regions like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, Burundi, and Chechnya, Russia are currently threatened by genocide. The regions need substantial help right now trying to defeat those rebels and extremists who try to overthrow the government. But the question is should powerful countries like the US intervene with the genocide occurring in these countries? I think that it depends on the situation, if the problem is not as big than, the US and other powerful countries can intervene. Indeed, other countries view the U.S. as an outstandingly dominant power of state. When people in other countries, which are less powerful, hear of the United States they think of it as a great power who supervises the whole world. People in smaller countries think of the great American dream. The U.S. is very powerful, but this is a stereotypical statement. I don't believe that the United States is as powerful as people convey it to be. The U.S. does have the power to intervene, but how will it benefit the U.S., if something goes wrong. The consequences that the U.S. will have to deal with are large. I believe that countries should figure out a way to fix and manage there own problems without the help from the United States. For example, in the occurring situation right now in Libya where the people are trying to overthrow the dictator. And countries like the U.S. are trying to evacuate the many Americans who are stranded in Libya. The reason being in case the situation becomes worse, we want to keep our people safe and at home. If the U.S. is wanting for Americans to be safe because of a genocide issue, then they should intervene in the conflicts. I think the U.S. and other countries do have the power to intervene, but this topic is so controversial that it should be dealt in a very delicate and careful manner.

Braddock's Fights Map

View James J. Braddock's Fights in a larger map

"Cinderella Man" Outline

I. "Cinderella Man"        
       A. The great James J. Braddock (Jimmy)
              1. Boxer in the 1920's and 1930's
              2. Light Heavyweight championship before breaking his wrist
       B. Family.
              1. Wife: Mae Braddock
              2. Children: 3 (2 boys and 1 girl).
II. The Great Depression
       A. His family loses everything
              1. Jimmy loses all the money because of the stock market crash of 1929.
              2. Jimmy searches for shifts at the dock in order to make some money.
              3. Mortgage overdue
              4. Electricity and heat get turned off without money.
              5. Not enough rations for everybody.
       B. Jimmy breaks his wrist in one of his fights.
              1. Boxing license suspended.
              2. Money is harder to get.
              3. Ask for money from Emergency Relief.
              4. Finally asks for money from the boxing executives of the Madison Square Garden.
III. A great comeback.
       A. Joe (James' manager) gets him a fight at Madison Square Garden now that his had is well.
              1. Corn Griffin vs. James J. Braddock, Win
              2. John Henry Lewis vs. James J. Braddock, Win
              3. Art Lasky vs. James J. Braddock, Win
       B. Reactions and Responses
              1. Mae worries about Jimmy getting into fights, her explanation is that he  wont be able to work, and they wont have money.
              2. People don't believe that he can make it.
IV. The Big Fight
       A. Jimmy
              1. Pays back the money he received from the Emergency Relief.
              2. A reporter calls Jimmy the "Cinderella Man"
       B. Max Baer and Jimmy meet before the fight.
              1. Jimmy introduces Mae to Max Baer
                        a. Max says to Mae that Jimmy might not make it out of the fight alive.
                        b. She doesn't watch or listen to the fight because she fears for Jimmy's life.
              2. It was said that Baer had killed two men while boxing.
       C. June 13,1935
              1. Braddock wins against Baer.
              2. Becomes the Heavyweight Champion of the World.
V. Afterwards
       A. Life After Boxing 
              1. Jimmy works in the construction of the Verrazano Bridge. 
              2. Owned and worked with heavy machinery on the docks where he worked shifts during the Great Depression.
              3. Mae and Jimmy used the money from the Max Baer fight to buy the house that they lived in for the rest of their lives.  

The Trial of Sacco & Vanzetti

      The evidence in the trial of Sacco & Vanzetti vs. the State of Massachusetts is very questionable. It appears as if the evidence presented is not concrete enough to sufficiently link Sacco and Vanzetti to the crime. I think this evidence is hardly enough for conviction. This insufficient evidence and the unreliable eyewitness are wrong to convict the so called "criminals". The criminals, Sacco and Vanzetti both born in Italy, where both migrated to the United States in 1908.

       Evidence says seven eye witnesses are saying that the saw both Sacco and Vanzetti and the supposedly bandit car. The case is actually weak because the eyewitness are not reliable for the reason that they were not certain of the criminals identification. All the accounts of the sightings of the crime took place before or after the crime. The evidence says that there was a third gun shot from Sacco's gun. The test say other wise about this crime many things contradicted this trial. This men should have never been convicted for a crime that no eyewitnesses testfied to have really been there or seen them. The physical evidence also accounts to be very vague or ambiguous. The bullet recovered is said to have not been used with Sacco's gun but eyewitnesses say it did. So there is a mix review of what really happened.

       Burns and Fitzgerald argue that they are positive that the bullet could not have been fired from Sacco's Colt. Unfortunately, there is always to sides to a story so what is right to believe is quetionable and that is why the case is unfair. It makes it a weak piece of evidence to sentence a mean to death for. Other evidence like the cap and the car became even more weaker evidence. You cannot link a man to murder because you would need DNA testing to aknowledge that he wore that cap. The car is even more irrelevant, is unuseful evidence. Sacco and Vanzetti should not be stated guilty because of the amount of evidence and the inexplicable wrong doing.

Source:http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/SaccoV/sv.gif

Evolution vs. Religion

           The Scopes Trial was one of the most important and significant events that took place in the 1920's. The trial was also known as the Scopes Monkey Trial. It was an American case in 1925 in which a high school biology teacher John Scopes  was accused of violating the states law that students can't be taught evolution. In my opinion, I think that this situation should have never happened like this. I personally think that he should have never got arrested just because of teaching evolution. And it might be because now a days students cant be taught about religion so evolution is accepted more. It is also true that in school right now, people have many different religions that they follow. Even now a days a discussion about religion becomes very heated. So I believe that everybody should be able to pick whatever they want to believe in: either religion or evolution. I also think that evolution and religion are important in life and they can not be kept away. Evolution is related to science, and what would happen in the world without science. Science as you read in a textbook revolves around science. Therefore, I believe that people should believe on whatever there choice is Evolution or Religion. It's all up to the people, and what they want.       

Topic.07 Concept Guide

1925 The Scopes Trial:

-John Scopes, a high school Biology teacher who was put on trial for teaching evolution.
-Found guilty, but verdict was later overturned.
-Creation/Evolution controversy demonstrated a contradiction to the Bible.

1920 Prohibition:
-This was to stop alcohol in the United States because husbands would come home drunk and abuse their families.
-Pushed by women's organizations (drinking increased domestic violence and child abuse in 1920's)
-Hard to enforce because:
           1. Did not ban:
                 -Possession
                 -Consumption
                 -Transportation
-IRS enforced prohibition.
-1933, 21st Amendment past, repealing 18th Amendment (FDR).
-18th Amendment: banned manufacture and sale of alcohol.

Flappers:
-A "new breed" of women who had short hair, smoked and drank in public.
-She wore sleeveless, short dresses and showed cleavage and legs.
-Wild ladies of the 1920's.
-"New Americans"
-Did not follow societal sexual norms.
-Jazz music
-Redefined women's roles
-Advocated for women's rights.

1920 Economic Issues:
-Demand
      -Credit for consumers
      -Low interest rates
      -Introduction of the "installment plan"
-Credit cards, building up debt
-Stock market speculation
      -Buying on a margin, if stock market goes down, people would be in lots of debt with stock  brokers.                  
-Immigration also became limited, reducing the number of workers in the economy.
-No discretionary rates

Dust Bowl:
-Severe dust storms
-Caused by severe drought, extensive farming without crop rotation, and mechanization.

-Over 500,000 Americans left homeless
-Americans migrated west (largest migration in American history in the shortest period of time)
-FDR created government organizations to aid

Agriculture Issues:
-Collapse in prices
-No crop rotation an deep plowing caused dust storms
-Long term agricultural depression
-The farmers were overproducing with new machnery after the war, so they no longer needed much food.

Immigration Policies:
-Opposition of quotas disappear (restrictions on # of immigrants)
-Emergency Quota Act of 1921: ethnic groups limited to 3% of 1910 population
-National Origins Act of 1924: ethnic groups limited to 2% of 1890 census (no Asians)
-Laws became more strict.
-US could thrive without immigrants

Nativism:
-Americans were for isolationism following the end of WWI
-Immigrant restrictions
-Afraid of Communism spreading
-KKK used nativist, reemerges with 3 million people
  

1920 Significant Literary Works:
-Main Kampf (Hitler)
-The Jungle (Sinclair)
-The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald) , life during the 20's
-Grapes of Wrath (Steinbeck)
-Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck)
-How the Other Half Lives (Riis)
-The Ways of White Folks (Hughes)
-Unsafe at Any Speed (Nader)

The Great Migration: 
-Appx. 7 million African Americans move North.
-Escaping widespread racism of the South
-Better education and employment opportunities
-Rapid increase in African American population
-Migrated form SOUTH------>NORTH

Harlem Renaissance: 
-African American artistic movement
-New York City
-Music
-Writing
-Dance

-A new black identity
-Explosion of culture
-Caused by the great migration

Sacco and Vanzetti: 
-Italian Anarchists
-Accused and charged with robbery and murder
-Sentenced to death
-During the Red Scare
-Controvery (confusing evidence)
-Foreign= Bad (attitude of USA)

1920 Labor Issues: 
-Unions were suppressed
-Welfare
-Wages increased, work time decreased
-LOTS of strikes
-Unemployement rate = 5%
-Lack of leadership in labor movement

The Red Scare: 
-Afraid of communism
-Bolshevik revolution cleans up all of the corruption.
-Lenin comes to power in Russia (Soviet Union: USSR)
-Afraid of un-American behavior and foreigners
-Palmer Raids: arresting un-americans without evidence (Espionage and Seditiion Acts)

Schneck vs. the United States:
-Upheld Espionage Act
-Schenck's conviction was a constitutional decision
-Schenck sent letters to draftees saying that the draft was motivated by capitalists

Organized Crime Presentations

           In our organized crime group presentations I learned that the gangsters the groups researched were all somewhat similar in some characteristics. Most of them began to commit illegal crimes at a very young age. Similar to that, the gangster that I was researching did not even finish college because of the influence to the illegal crimes. Also, most of them were involved in the same category of crimes like bootlegging, bank robbery, kidnapping, and murder. Even most of the most of the gangsters when they were arrested, usually they would escape from jail and start a new life. I also learned that some of them became Public Enemies which people in the 1930's categorized as individuals whose activities were seen as criminal and extremely damaging to society. Some of the gangsters worked together in bank robberies and bootlegging, it was sort of like a network between the gangsters. I also reflect on getting to know more on how people, especially gangsters, tried to live well and happy in the 1930's. I did feel like I have learned a lot about the infamous gangsters in the 1930's. Though, I learned a lot with the gangster that I researched George "Machine Gun" Kelly Barnes, I just wished that there would have been more information about him or his life. I tried so hard to look for more information but I couldnt find anything different than from what I had. To be honest Mr. Meechin, I think that I didnt do a great job putting information in the slides but I just couldnt find anything else that was interesting to put. We all worked hard in the project, and learning from an experience like this and the presentations, shows me what I have to work on the next time I have a group project.