Period 6 Crash Course
DECOLONIZATION
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GLOBALIZATION I
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GLOBALIZATION II - The Good or Bad?
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THE COLD WAR
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WORLD WAR I
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Migration is more prevalent in this era because- (3 things)
1. Air travel is pretty cheap, especially if you only take a few plane trips in your life. 2. It's relatively easy and inexpensive to stay in touch with relatives living far away thanks to Skype, mobile phones, and inexpensive calling cards. Also 3. Even with increased industrialization in the developing world, economic opportunities are often much better in wealthy countries. Remittances-- money sent home by people working abroad-- are now a huge driver of economic growth in the developing world. Like, in Tajikistan, for instance, remittances are 35% of the country's total gross domestic product.
List 3 new sexual and family practices that resulted from the introduction of birth control.
1. In the 20th century, greater variety and availability of contraception made it possible for people to experiment with multiple sexual partners. 2. Helped to uncouple sex from child bearing 3.
Trade has been around in the earliest societies we have studied, so why has trade increased so dramatically recently?
1. Multinational corporations have global reach and increasing power. 2. Travel and shipping are cheap and safe. It took about two months to cross the Atlantic in 1800. Today it takes about five hours by plane, and less than a week by ship. 3. Governments have decreased tariffs and regulations on international trade, leading to what is sometimes called euphemistically "free trade." To which I say, if this trade is so free, how come BBC America is in the premium tier of my cable package?
John Green lists four ways that the T-shirt defines the global economy.
1. efficiency 2. massive surplus 3. hyper connectivity 4. unstability
What role did WWII play in decolonization?
Allies were fighting to stop Nazi imperialism. Hitler wanted to take over Central Europe, and Africa, and probably the Middle East-- and the Ally defeat of the Nazis discredited the whole idea of empire. So the English, French, and Americans couldn't very well say to the colonial troops who'd fought alongside them, "Thank you so much for helping us to thwart Germany's imperialistic ambitions. As a reward, please hand in your rifle and return to your state of subjugation." Plus, most of the big colonial powers-- especially France, Britain, and Japan-- had been significantly weakened by World War II, by which I mean that large swaths of them looked like this.
Explain the ways capitalism has been good and bad for people of the world according to Green
Americans can argue about whether absurdly inexpensive clothes, shoes and televisions are worth the domestic economic and social dislocation, but for the Vietnamese worker stitching a pair of sneakers, that job represents an opportunity for a longer, healthier and more secure life than she would have had if those shoes were made in the U.S.A.
What parts of the world became "hot" during the Cold War?
An example of this is after Korea and China became communist, Vietnam's movement toward communism seemed very much a threat to Japan, which the U.S. had helped re-make into a vibrant capitalist ally. So the US got brought into one of its longest wars while the Soviets assisted the North Vietnamese army in the Viet Cong.
Who was fighting who?
Austria declared war on Serbia. Serbia and Russia are allies. Germany and Austria were allies. Germany then declared war on Russia. Germany then made an alliance with the Ottomans and declared war on France. To get to France Germany had to go through Belgium. Belgium declared war on Germany. Britain allied with Belgium. Japan Allied with Britain. Britain at war with Germany and Austria.
Decolonization throughout Afro-Eurasia had some similar characteristics. What were they?
Because it occurred in the context of the Cold War, many of these new nations had to choose between socialist and capitalist influences, which shaped their futures. While many of these new countries eventually adopted some form of democracy, the road there was often rocky. Also, decolonization often involved violence, usually the overthrow of colonial elites.
What are some of the other empires that we've talked about in this course? What is different about their decline versus decolonization?
But as we've seen from Egypt to Alexander the Great to China to Rome to the Mongols, who, for once, are not the exception here, to the Ottomans and the Americas, empire has long been the dominant way we've organized ourselves politically-- or at least the way that other people have organized us. Also, Rome comes to mind. Also the Persians. And of course the American Revolution ended one kind of European imperial experiment. But in all those cases, Empire struck back
How does cultural blending change our world?
But these improvements have been accompanied by change so radical that we struggle to contextualize it. Like, the human population of our planet over time looks like this. Dang. Like, in 1800, there were a billion human beings on this planet. And that was more than had ever been seen before.
Why has free trade been adopted as a policy in most of the world since the 1960's?
But these improvements have been accompanied by change so radical that we struggle to contextualize it. Like, the human population of our planet over time looks like this. Dang. Like, in 1800, there were a billion human beings on this planet. And that was more than had ever been seen before.
What have been the long-term results of decolonization in Africa?
Colonial boundaries became redefined as the borders of new nation states, even where those boundaries were arbitrary or, in some cases, pernicious. The best known example is in Rwanda, where two very different tribes, the Hutu and the Tutsis were combined into one nation. But, more generally, the colonizers' focus on value extraction really hurt these new nations. Europeans claimed to bring civilization and economic development to their colonies, but this economic development focused solely on building infrastructure to get resources and export them.
Do you agree that Cookie Monster symbolizes consumption today? Explain!
Cookie Monster, is what makes you a beautiful symbol for contemporary consumption. You just keep eating. Even though you can't eat. Cookie Monster, you are the best and the worst of us.
What was the biggest cause of death of the war?
Disease. Dysentery, typhus, and cholera were rampant, and otherwise minor injuries would prove fatal when gangrene set in. I mean, 25% of arm wounds among German soldiers were fatal. And that's not even to mention the famous influenza epidemic that broke out toward the end of the war, which killed three times as many people as the war itself.
List the positive and negative impacts of globalization on the following: Environment, Sustainability, Health, Transportation, Violence, Political Systems
ENVIRONMENT: SUSTAINABILITY: HEALTH: Globalization created the collectivization of health insurance seen in most of the post-war West, which limited your freedom to go bankrupt from health care costs. There's also been a relative lack of global pandemics since the 1918 flu. However, a negative aspect of this is how much of the world has been ravaged by HIV/AIDS for the past three decades. TRANSPORTATION: VIOLENCE: POLITICAL SYSTEMS:
What is meant by the diplomatic term M.A.D.?
Eventually the nuclear arsenals were so big that the U.S. and USSR agreed the strategy MAD, which stood for "mutually assured destruction."
What was the policy of "glasnost?"
Glasnost or "openness" led to more information from the west and less censorship led to a flood of criticism as people realized how much poorer the second world was than the first.
What was the name of the person John Greene says is most responsible for the downfall of the Soviet Union?
Gorbachev's Perestroika
In your opinion, is globalization good or bad? Why?
I think globalization is a good thing that has helped society and the human race as a whole progress in living substantially. Globalization has led to a wake of individualism in society
How did the allies beat the Berlin Blockade in 1949?
In 1948-1949, the Soviets attempted at cutting off West Berlin by closing off the main road that led into the city. However, they were stopped and beat by the Berlin airlift.
What is meant by the term "containment" as it relates to the Cold War?
It basically involved stopping the spread of communism by standing up to the Soviets wherever they seemed to want to expand. However, in Europe this meant spending a lot of money.
Why according to Green have developing countries joined the Free Traders?
Much of this has to do with academic economists, mostly in the U.S. and Europe who have argued with great success that governmental regulation diminishes prosperity by limiting growth. Now, some nations-- in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa-- haven't been particularly keen to pursue free trade but they've been bullied into it by larger economies with whom they desperately need to trade. So in the past 30 years, we've seen all these emerging markets lowering their tariffs, getting rid of regulation, and privatizing formerly state-run businesses. And they often do that to appease the International Monetary Fund, which offers low interest loans to developing world economies with the motto: Many Strings Attached.
Why are so many parts of the world involved in the production of individual manufactured goods?
Okay, so this all brings us to how globalization has changed us, and whether it's for the better. Assuming you make the minimum wage here in the United States, this t-shirt, purchased at your friendly neighborhood e-tailer dftba.com, will cost you about three hours' worth of work-- and yes, that does include shipping.
For each of the following geographic areas describe the methods of colonial control, key independence leaders/methods, and results. India, Indonesia, Egypt, Central & Southern Africa
So the story begins, more or less, in 1885 with the founding of the Indian National Congress. Congress Party leaders and other nationalists in India were usually from the elite classes. Initially, they didn't even demand independence from Britain. But they were interested in creating a modern Indian nation rather than a return to some ancient pre-colonial form. Dutch exploited their island colonies with the system of cultuurstelsel, in which all peasants had to set aside one fifth of their land to grow cash crops for export to the Netherlands. In Vietnam, the French fought communist-led nationalists, especially Ho Chi Minh from almost the moment World War II ended until 1954, when the French were defeated. And then the Americans learned that there was a land war available in Asia, so they quickly took over from the French and communists did not fully control Vietnam until 1975. Despite still being ostensibly communist, Vietnam now manufactures all kinds of stuff that we like in America, especially sneakers.
Why do some people argue that the decision to drop the Atomic bomb on Japan in WWII was really meant for the Soviets?
Some day that the decision to drop the first Atomic Bombs on Japan was motivated in part by a desire to intimidate the Soviets.
How is the divide between Soviet-influenced Eastern/Central Europe and U.S. influenced Western Europe often described? (think Churchill...)
Soviet influenced Eastern Europe was different than U.S. influenced Western Europe in many ways. In the Soviets case, a sphere of influence was created in Eastern Europe which created a heavily fortified border splitting up non-communist Western Europe and Communist Eastern Europe (often described by Churchill as The Iron Curtain) On the opposing side in the U.S.'s case, they really had the upper hand. They had more money and provided European protection with they built themselves from WW2.
Summarize what have you learned about global capitalism from this video.
That it changes how we view and work with everything we own today. From the foods that we eat to the types of people we see on the streets everyday are all part of what the process of global capitalism has given us.
What was the "Lost Generation?"
The "Lost Generation" was the generation that faced the effects of the war. This time period was filled with loss. There were millions of lives lost and the people began to lose the traditional ideals of nobility and heroism in war.
What is the slang term for the Soviet army?
The Red Army?
What did the Soviets build in 1961 to cut off allied-controlled West Berlin from the rest of Germany?
The Soviets built the Berlin Wall around West Berlin.
How did the Soviets first develop their nuclear weapons program?
The Soviets initially developed nuclear arsenals with the help of spies who stole American secrets.
How did the Soviets view U.S. rebuilding of Japan and Europe after World War II?
The Soviets saw American rebuilding efforts in Europe and Japan as the U.S. trying to expand its markets. This just wasn't only their view however, because it's exactly what the U.S. was trying to do.
What was the impact of the Treaty of Versailles in Germany? Russia? Ottoman Empire?
The Treaty of Versailles had bad consequences for Germany. The policies of the treaty lead to the depletion of the German economy and its political institutions. Russia was affected by the Treaty of Versailles in a negative way as well because it would lead to the rise of the Bolsheviks. The Ottoman Empire eventually came to an end after the Treaty of Versailles and Turkey emerged.
What caused the United States to "lose some of its luster" and make the Soviets an attractive option to the 3rd world?
The US propped up dictatorships and had a poor civil rights record. Plus, the Soviets were the first to put a satellite, a man, and a dog into space.
What were two additional reasons the war was so deadly?
The main reason the war was so deadly was the combination of new technology and outdated tactics. While we may think about tanks, airplanes and poison gas, all of which made their debut in the First World War, the two most devastating technologies were American: machine guns and barbed wire. Attempting to march in lines towards an enemy's trench, soldiers of both sides were mowed down by machine gun fire.
What was our strategy for this in Europe?
The plan for the US was to try and slow the spread of communism by founding NATO and with CIA interventions in elections where communists had a chance, like in Italy. But despite their efforts, the Cold War never did advance in Europe.
What were three causes of World War I?
The three causes of WWI includes the assassination of the Austrian Archduke, Franz Ferdinand by a Serb. Next, was when Germany declared war, and the last is when Russia mobilized.
Describe trench warfare. Discuss the physical and psychological aspects.
The trenches were wet and smelly. However, they did had a lot of food down in the trenches. Even though the soldiers were able to survive it was still a nasty ordeal. The wet floor of the trenches often led to an infection in the feet of soldiers. The soldiers were also consumed by the fear of shelling. The overall experience of trench warfare was very scarring for those who had to fight through it.
What was different about war during the time of the Cold War from all of human history before it?
The war could lead to the destruction of the human species.
What was the United States real concern during the Korean/Vietnam wars?
The were concerned on how they got pulled into one of it's longest wars just because the U.S. had helped re-make Vietnam into a vibrant capitalist ally.
What were two other outcomes/effects of World War I?
Two other outcomes/effects of World War I were the taking of German colonies by Britain and the lack of autonomy in India.
What has traditionally been US involvement in the production of cotton?
U.S. government subsidizes cotton production. And that's what makes this cotton cheaper than cotton of similar quality from Brazil or India. But in the last 30 years, the US's share of cotton exports has gone down as Brazil, India, and Africa's cotton exports go up. And that trend will likely continue as the US moves away from its expensive cotton subsidies. In fact, these days it's already possible to find t-shirts with Brazilian, Indian, or Ugandan cotton, or a mixture of cottons from all around the world.
List three examples of cultural blending.
When people move, they don't just give up their literary, culinary, artistic, and musical traditions. Globalized culture is a bit of a paradox, though, because some people see culture today as increasingly Americanized.
How did the end of World War I affect the United States?
World War I didn't have a major effect on the United States compared to the European countries that fought in the war. The US was the primary force behind the establishment of the League of Nations after the end of WWI. The US also had increased geopolitical influence after the war. The country became a creditor nation.
What are remittances?
a sum of money sent, especially by mail, in payment for goods or services or as a gift.
How has domestic consumption played a different role in trade since the 1960's?
former non-industrialized parts of the world had been manufacturing consumer goods-- for domestic markets, yes, but primarily for foreign ones. This t-shirt, made in China and the Dominican Republic before being imported to Mexico and then to the United States, is a primary example of what I'm talking about, but so is the computer that you're watching me on. Your computer was probably manufactured in China, but with parts from all over the world, especially Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.
How did war contribute to nationalism?
nationalism led European nations to compete to build the largest army and navy. It also gave groups of subject peoples the idea of forming independent nations of their own. Serbians, Czechs, Slovaks, Bosnians and many other peoples living under the rule of the Ottoman or Austro-Hungarian Empires wanted freedom from "foreign" rule.
Why does a "$3 T-shirt" cost much more?
the expense is in the printing, the retail side of things, and paying the designer at Thought Bubble who was tasked with the difficult job of creating a Mongol who is at once cute and terrifying.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of global capitalism to the world population?
we got from here to here, how the relentless and unquenchable ambition of humans led to a world where the entire contents of the Library of Alexandria would fit on my iPhone along with recordings of everything Mozart ever composed. In such a world, it's easy to feel that we are big and powerful, maybe even invincible. It's easy to feel that... and also dangerous
