Joseph Stalin and Totalitarianism

A totalitarian government is one which there is absolute control by the state or the government. Which the nation is run by a group of dictators--people who approve of totalitarianism. Joseph Stalin took over Russia, he was a dicator and he controlled the public and private lives of the people. Creating a 5 year plan which he just wanted Russia to be more advance, technologically, industrially and more ways. People who went against his says were killed, which were called "The Great Purge".

Film Lesson: Doctor Zhivago

"Doctor Zhivago" is in WWI, which it shows Russia's role. Being tired of the war, they decided to go back because their solders were tired and they missed their families. The Czar, the people in power were sent to jail after the solders came back and people rebelled. Going back to Russia, he noticed that living in a communist government wasn't as hyped up as it was thought to be. Back then he was a very rich man who owned a very large house, but since Russia became communist everyone had to be equal. So he had to share his large house and his possessions with 13 other families that now live there with him. He realized that communism isn't a good idea as he thought it to be.

Causes of WWI

Nationalism
Strong nationalism from each country led to the hatred to WWI. It turned everyone against each other, everyone thought they were more superior.
Militarism
Every country were building large armies and navies before the war started (pre-war years). The higher officials and military officers came up with plans to mobilize and all that was needed was the go signal. It was rumerd that there were always secret battle plans, which only made everyone more angry and fearful.
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
On June 28, 1914 the Archduke Francis Ferdinand (the heir to the Austrian throne) was shot dead along with his wife by a Serbian nationalist of the Black Hand. He was killed because he wanted to turn Austria-Hungary's monarchy into a triple monarchy which planned to include Serbia.
Collapse of Alliance System
German Chancellor Bismarck, announced that he gave up ideas to gain land. Which made him come up with the Alliance System to maintain Germany's good terms with other Eurpoean countries. France was determined to fight this Alliance System since Germany defeated them back in 1871 and was forced to give up some land (Alsace-Lorraine) to them. Bismark tried to get on good terms with Austria, Russia, Italy and Britian in order to leave France alone and by itself.

The Opium Wars

The Opium Wars were between England and China. Opium is a drug that is illegal in England, but the English sold it/traded it to the Chinese anyways. The Emperor or China wanted England to stop trading Opium to his people, because it was servilely damaging China's economy, and its people. Chinese men were getting addicted to Opium, and even though the Emperor wrote a letter to England to stop the Opium trading. They still continued to do so, in the end England won because of China's lack of advanced technology compared to England.

"The White Man's Burden"

The White Man's Burden is something that the English men declaired on themselves. To introduce, teach, and enlighten the other nations. About economy, weapons, factories, technology, anything and everything. They thought it was their duty to go and force people their ways of civilization, to be proper civilized people. To agree or disagree with the analysis would be wrong, you just have to read it, and accept it. It happened, is it still happening today? I'm not sure, maybe it is, maybe it isn't (I'm not up to date on international news).

"The Scramble for Africa"

The "Scramble for Africa" was between Britian, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Protrugal-who wanted a part of Africa (or whole) for their own. Every coutnry wanted to expand and gain more land, but every country had its specific special reasons too. For Britain Africa was an important port to sea route to India, since they already acquired the Cape Colony in Africa. Frances interest was in the slave trading, then they later became interested in palm oil and lumber that was in Africa. Belgium mainly wanted more land after they had gain independence, the Kind of Belgium bought land eighty times his own countries size. Which inhabated the Congos who were relentless. Germany was very late into entereing the colonization of Africa, which left them with little to nothing. They did not want to colonize distant land but business men and nationalist were pressuring the government. Eurpoean countries took over other non European areas because they had power from industrialization and the nation state organization. This effected the Africans and made tribalism which mixed up different tribes together, and they still suffer from tribalism and have many civil wars inside the same tribe (they are confused).

Film Lesson: "Mountains of The Moon"

Europeans didn't know what was in store for them when they went into Africa to explore the land and find the source of the Nile River. Of course they had the upperhand of being more technological advanced then the Africans, but the only disadvantage was that they didn't know the land. Along with the new found disesas of melaria, they have alson been attacked by other tribes who own land that they tresspass on. Having many hardships on their journey to find the source of the nile river, came many accidents (bug in his ear...ow much?/ew...) and incidents (leg disease). Europeans had the advantage of guns and weapons (guns, powerder, and machine guns). They named the lake which John Speak guessed was the source, after Queen Victoria in, because the whole point was to discover something and name it after their magesty Queen Victoria. After discovering the land geografically and having the techincal advancements, they could charge in and take over Africa easily with their guns and killing away.