Joseph Stalin and Totalitarianism

Joseph Stalin was the second leader of the Soviet Union. He came to power by working in the shadows. He started as a low government official and he placed followers in key government positions so that when Lenin died he would have a large percentage of people voting for him. Totalitarianism is a type of government that has complete control over the country, kind of like a monarchy. Stalin used Totalitarianism to change news papers and radio stations and all places that distribute news so they display him as a good person who makes good decisions and make sure that no one distrusts him and everyone trusts him and follows him.

Film Lesson: Doctor Zhivago

In the Movie "Doctor Zhivago" the Russian Revolution is depicted as something that is a better idea then it is when its put into practice. The idea exited the people of Russia a lot because they thought everyone would share and their would be no leader. However Lenin became the ruller and made living conditions very harsh for people, taking houses from people, saying how much of something they can have.
The Revolution happened because people were feat up with the Czar and the War. The movie depicted communism as something that was misunderstood. Either by the people of Russia or by the people putting it into practice, because when communism took over some people were confused at what was going on and even outraged. The Dr got his first look at communism when he got home. His house was divided into I believe it was about 10-13 sections and each on had a family in it. He and his wife and kid were moved into a room upstairs of their ounce large house.

Causes of WW I

Their were many causes of World War I. They all slowly built up until on important event made the spark and ignited the gas that was overflowing. The Assignation of France Ferdenance was the spark but the gas was many other things that build up for many years. In many countries Militarism started taking root. Most countries started because other countries started but that doesn't change the fact the because of this tensions started to rise. Two causes could be related if you think about it. Nationalism, the support for your country that what it does is right and that it is better then other countries led to imperialism which is when a country takes its Nationalism and spreads it to other countries and continents.

However one of the main causes for WWI (or as then known at the time the Great War) was the alliances that were formed threw out Europe. The main alliances were those between Great Britain, France, Russia and that of Germany, Italy, and Austria Hungary. When Austria Hungary went to war so did Germany. When Britain learned that one of their 'lesser allies' Serbia were going to War with Austria Hungary they too went to war, then France, Russia, and Italy as wheal. So while one event was the cause for WWI the war itself was inevitable due to all the things that were happening threw out Europe.

The Opium Wars

The Opium Wars was when European nations, mainly England were selling opium to China and using it so they would be able to buy more stuff from the trade ports on China's East coast. It started when England was running low on silver which was their main trading resource with China. They were trying to think of a product that they had that China didn't. They finally came up with Opium, a very addicting drug that was banned in England. Smugglers gave some Opium free around the ports so that people would get addicted and when traders came looking for tea and other things they would trade it for Opium.
After a while many people in China became addicted to Opium and eventually the Emperor cough word of it and sent a letter to England. The note was a plea to England to stop selling Opium to the Chines people. He said "Why do you sell a drug to our people that is baned in your country?" The English refused and continued to sell Opium. Eventually China set up a barricade around the port with their best ships. The English then arrived with their more advance steam ships with their guns and cannons and literally blasted threw the barricade. Probably only one or two English ships were sunk and the entire Chines barricade was destroyed. After this China was forced to sign a treaty with many countries that opened new ports and each country controlled at least one port.

"The White Man's Burden"

The White Man's Burden explains how white Europeans were trying to civilize Africans and Indians. They considered it a burden because they felt it was their duty to help instead of just for personally reasons. Some Europeans felt that since they were more advanced and civilized they had to help other cultures but instead the reason they did it was because they were disgusted by their uncivilized ways and they also were ripping them off by getting them to sell raw materials cheap and selling back completed products. I cant really agree or disagree with the analysis, all I can say is that the author of the poem was racist and as we said were are in the same possition today with the war in Iraq (damed Bush).

"The Scramble for Africa"

The Scramble for Africa was when European countries were trying to conquer as much of Africa as possible. It was called the scramble because many countries were trying to conquer Africa at the same time and they ended up splitting it into different countries and each European country controlled a certain amount of African countries were they imposed their laws, confusing the African people because they arent used to the European ways and also separating friendly tribes. The main countries who conquered Africa were Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, and Holland. These countries were able to conquer Africa so easily because they were more advance with guns.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

The movie "Mountains of the Moon" was a true story of to explorers, John Speak and Richard Burton who set out to find the source of the Nile River. They meet many hardships on their journey including hot deserts and hostile tribes. They were also almost killed by a tribe on their first attempt at finding the source of the Nile. Its strange that they name the Lake thats the source is named after a british Queen when its in Africa. Lake Victoria would be a good name because it was a victory but they named it after the queen.
The main advantage the Europeans had against the Africans was guns. Africans had spears while Europeans had guns.