A Story: South African History

This week's blog requires reading and research. You are required to create a story on the history of South Africa using the following key vocabulary terms and people:

African National Congress
Apartheid
Boer War
Trevor Huddleston
Paul Kruger
Nelson Mandela
Cecil Rhodes
Sanctions against South Africa
Desmond Tutu

Here is the catch - you NEED to write this using language that a 6th or 7th grader would be able to comprehend. That means the YOU need to understand the terms and topic prior to writing. Be aware, do NOT write this as a regular blog - this is a story that needs to be conveyed to young children. Can you do this?

DUE MONDAY BY 9:00 P.M.

Paper 1: Outline and Guidelines

READ the handouts I distributed in class today! This is for your own benefit and gives you a peek as to what to expect for your exams this spring.

For the following four questions, DO NOT use the answers provided in this packet that they have as examples from other students - you will NOT receive credit if you do AND you will serve a detention with me for plagiarism. These are old topics we've already covered so break out your notes and look through your binder for handouts to assist you.

Part One:

• Question 1b on page 14 of handout: What is the message conveyed by the cartoon?
• Question 2 on page 15 of the handout: Compare and contrast the views expressed about Japan's actions in the 1930s in Sources D and E.
• Question 3 on page 15 of handout: With reference to their origin and purpose, discuss the value and limitations of Source A and Source C for historians studying the Manchurian crisis.
• Question 4 of handout: Using these sources and your own knowledge analyze the importance of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria for international relations between 1931 and 1936.

* Once you've answered in your OWN words, review what the students wrote in the examples in the handout - how could one of your classmates have written a better response? Respond to one of your classmates for this section of the blog. For example, Samantha I like the way you responded to question 1b however, you could have added...

Part Two:

Review the single handout I distributed, "End of Chapter Activities." Read Source A and complete the question: What is the message presented in Source A below about Nehru's main strength and his main weakness as a leader? 

India 1947-64: Political, Social and Economic Challenges

Sorry this is SO late - your blog for this week is due Tuesday, October 14th at 9:00 p.m. Read the packet distributed in class: "Political, social and economic challenges."

1. There is a saying that "language is power." Why do people whose language is not officially recognized feel disempowered? What disadvantages do they suffer? What are the advantages and disadvantages to a country of having a large number of official languages? 
2. Nehru is reported to have told the French writer, Andre Malraux, that the most difficult task he faced was creating a secular state in a religious country. Explain what he meant by this remark. 
3. Having read this unit, explain how appropriate it is to consider each of these as an "axis of conflict" in Indian society: religion, language, caste, class and gender. 
4. Find out what you can about the life of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar - the discrimination he faced as an "untouchable"; his distinguished academic career; his contribution to democracy in India;; and his disillusion with the Congress Party and with Hinduism. 
5. Find out about and make brief notes on the position of the Dalits in Indian society and politics since Nehru's time.

GET READY FOR ANOTHER DEBATE NEXT WEEK ALONG WITH YOUR MAP TEST!!!!

The Nature and Structure of Democracy in India

Due Sunday night at 9:00 p.m.

1. Analyze the challenges facing the government of newly independent India in 1947.
2. Assess the achievements of Nehru's government in its efforts to establish a secular, democratic republic in India.
3. Analyze the successes and failures of the health, education and rural development policies of the Indian government between 1947 and 1964.
4. To what extent did Nehru's government create greater equality in Indian society?
5. Explain how political extremism and communalism posed threats to democracy in India.
6. Evaluate the successes and failures of the government of India under Nehru. 

The ISIS Crisis-

Today in class we viewed a 60 Minutes documentary on ISIS. This week's blog, I would like you to focus on the civil war you are researching for your Internal Assessment and compare and contrast the following points regarding ISIS:

• Syria is a control zone for ISIS - what was the control zone for your specific war
• There is major conflict between Iraqi Sunnis and Shias - what is the difference between these two groups? What groups can you compare and contrast them too for your personal IA?
• The recent beheading of four individuals has been given global stature - what events or issues made your civil war receive global stature?
• The U.S. air strikes clearly have an impact on the hostages held by ISIS - what did you find to be impactful during your research for your specific civil war?
• Syria was the control zone for ISIS - what was the control zone for the civil war that you are focused on within your research? 

Conflict In The Middle East

1. Why and with what results did the Arabs and Israelis fight the wars of 1967 and 1973?
2. "Terrorism and violence rather than peaceful diplomacy." How far would you agree with this view of the activities of the PLO in the Middle East in the period 1973 to 1995?
3. How successful was President Nasser as leader of Egypt?
4. "The USA and the USSR intervened in the Middle East in the period 1956 to 1979 purely to preserve political and economic stability in the region." How valid do you think this view is?
5. Assess the reasons why the Six-Day War of 1967 was followed by the Yom Kippur War only three years later. 
6. To what extent have the violent actions of some Palestinians been the main obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state? 

Persian Gulf: Questions to Consider

WELCOME BACK TO BLOG HEAVEN! At this point in time we do not have access to Turn It In. Therefore I will be uploading your responses to another site - DO NOT plagiarise. 

Questions to Consider

1. Why is the Persian Gulf region so important?
2. What are the strategic waterways of the region?
3. What is Huntington’s civilization theory?
4. How are Iran and the Arab countries different?
5. Why did Iran erupt in Islamic revolution?
6. What were the first, second, and third Gulf Wars about?
7. Why did Saddam use chemical weapons in the first but not the second or third Gulf War?
8. How did U.S. diplomacy blunder in Iran and Iraq?
9. Would you be willing to fight to keep Gulf oil flowing?