Monday, February 11, 2008

The Treaty of Versailles (Ended WW I)

The Treaty of Versailles only helped the countries against Germany. Everyone blamed it on Germany since they believed Germany started the whole war. To pay back for the whole thing, Germany had to give money to the government of each country that they were against. This made the people of Germany feel left out from the League of Nations.

Germany was already behind in their economy, to have to pay more was just going to draw them back by a greater distance. The economy wasn't going to be able to recover in time to catch up with everyone else. The German people were embarrassed by all of this and started to think they didnt have to suffer for something like this. The rules stated in the Treaty were "too harsh". But the other countries weren't going to let them off that easily, so they marched into Germany and killed many soldiers.

Germany had no choice but to give up the money. Leaving people devastated and in shock. Although many are unsure, I have to agree with those that state the Treaty of Versailles was the start of WW II and the holocaust. At the time that the Treaty of Versailles was taking action (1919), there was little boy named Adolf Hitler. I'm sure seeing how embarrassed his family and friends were hurt him a lot. Hitler's goal was to rebuilt Germany for nationalistic reasons. When his country was going down, he propbably was ready to risk anything to bring it back up.

No one would've guessed that a little boy, around the age of 10, was going to hurt millions of people. Especially not because his country was falling apart. Obviously everyone was wrong. Who would've known that this affected him so much?

Friday, February 8, 2008

Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) and the Modernization of Turkey

The father of the turks, Mustafa Kemal started his political role in Turkey from his mid 30's. He was a military hero and later on made liberation movements. He was president of Turkey for 15 years, until his death in 1938.

Ataturk's goal was to modernize Turkey to give them dignity. The Ottoman empire was falling apart for three centuries. Ataturk's goal was to see the light and pick up all the pieces of the Ottoman Empire.

He started with secular government and education programs. He made sure that everyone had freedom and equality. He also wanted people to know that this nation was for their them and would be run by them.

He didn't let religion come in the way of his people. Everyone was allowed to practice whatever they wanted to. As long as everyone was treated the same.

To modernize the Ottoman Empire, Ataturk made his people change more about themselves than the government. He changed stuff like the way his people dressed, the last name they took and even their calendar was different. He just wanted Turkey to be like the Western side of the world.

He used similar laws. Ataturk was also very free with things and nicer about stuff. Basically, a leader that many probably liked, instead of having a desire to kill him. He truly is the best "father" the Turks could have.

** secular- of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Film Lesson : Ghandi

Ghandi helped India gain Independence from Great Britain by boy cotting all of their rules. He didn't want anyone to use violence so his strategy was to just ignore anything that would help the British. He believed "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". He didn't want to be just as bad as the British he just wanted to have freedom.

The British hit and abused the Indians. But they never fought back because they followed Ghandi. They learned that when you dont fight back, you wont have anything to be threatened by and you can't get in trouble. Although many wanted to fight, Ghandi wouldn't have it. He proved he didnt want violence by going on a hunger strike. When the Indians heard he could almost die, they stopped ALL violence. Even after all the times that their great leader was sent to jail for no reasons, they still didn't fight back.

It was also easier because for the Indians Ghandi had many strategies. However one of his famous strategies was telling the Indians to make their own clothes, that way the British wouldn't profit from them. Another one was a march. The Indians, along with Ghandi, marched all the way to the salt lake and started making their own salt instead of buying government salt. Since government salt would profit the British people.

Ghandi's philosophy of non violence seemed to work out perfectly. He believed that if the Indians provoked the British then it would be a negative effect. But if they kept everything at peace then it would help them become people just working out a deal between two countries not fighting a war.

I think India would've gotten there independence after awhile. I just think Ghandi took the first step towards it. It probably would've taken a while longer. England was going to end up losing their colonies after awhile.

During 1947, Britain had a monopoly with all of the salt lakes in India. I think the Indians were tired of it. This helped make their Independence.