tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51750170973956378822024-03-05T12:36:15.393-08:00IB History of the Americasms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-5451316856367169112014-04-14T11:23:00.000-07:002014-04-14T11:23:20.241-07:00Civil War Review Part IIn your opinion, which is the MOST SIGNIFICANT cause of the Civil War in the United States? (choose ONE topic from reading).<br />
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Did it pertain to:<br />
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<li>Slavery?</li>
<li>Sectionalism?</li>
<li>Lincoln's election?</li>
<li>All of the above?</li>
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Why?</div>
ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-11396828360859288472014-02-15T13:49:00.002-08:002014-02-15T13:49:33.082-08:00Who is Mao (but seriously, for real, you guys)??<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Again, this reading should mostly be review. It is interesting to read about the Soviet Union and China's communist institutions back-to-back, however. I immediately find myself thinking about how the leaders of respective countries tailor political ideologies to meet their country's unique culture.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">In other words, China is old, and BIG. With over 5,000 years of history, China has a long legacy of political greatness, resilience, and nationalism. How (and why, for that matter), did Mao Zedong strive to implement communist policies that are unique to China's needs?</span>ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-75850678901869467052014-02-15T13:47:00.001-08:002014-02-15T13:47:50.326-08:00In Soviet Russia, Blog writes You!<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">This reading contains quite a bit of history in just a few pages, but again it should be review for you. Consider how tumultuous Russia was from the Bolshevik revolution to the end of Brezhnev's presidency. To what extent was communism always in crisis, even during Lenin's leadership? How did the 20th century Russian leaders try to prove communism's legitimacy? How did these strategies evolve over time?</span>ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-16360520940066584602014-02-15T13:46:00.001-08:002014-02-15T13:46:29.840-08:00Fundamentals of Communism<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Much of this reading will come across as a review for us. At this point in the year, we should be very familiar with the tenets of communism. After reading the excerpt from Karl Marx's </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Communist Manifesto</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> (locations 17-19), consider how the communist ideology aligns with the political practice. To what extent did any ONE (Mao, Allende, Castro, Stalin, etc.) communist leader live up to Karl Marx's ideals?</span>ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-11303732800980653682014-02-15T13:45:00.001-08:002014-02-24T10:00:34.795-08:00Predictions for Communism in Crisis<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Communism in Crisis is our last and final unit in this class! We will look at examples from several communist countries and consider how their governments are challenged. 1979-1991 is a pivotal period in history, as many communist governments declined or collapsed. We will also finally learn how to write Paper 1!</span><br />
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It is fascinating to think about how many ways history repeats itself. The Olympics are a perfect example. Consider how controversial Sochi is in 2014, and compare to the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Why did the United States initiate the boycott against the 1980 Olympics? How do you see participating countries still reacting against Russia's policies now?<br />
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On a completely unrelated (but very important) note: tell me your biggest fears about the IA. Is it finding sources? Taking notes? Turning your research findings into a paper? Be honest here, because this will help me direct class tomorrow.</div>
ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-34329454900094946472014-02-15T13:41:00.001-08:002014-02-15T13:41:50.954-08:00Castro: A Rebel without a cause?This historiographical essay discusses conflicting ideas about Castro's true ideology. Was he truly a communist, or did he do this simply to spite the United States? To what extent does he use religion as a way to rally the masses behind him? Consider the different historian's ideas about Castro--which do you feel are the most convincing, and why?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-79238093386369726852014-01-03T14:02:00.002-08:002014-01-03T14:02:53.451-08:00Life in Castro's Cuba, Part IIWhat does this section of the reading reveal about the justice system in Cuba under Castro? How well did special interest groups, such as CDRs and the FMC ensure the success of Castro's revolution?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-67736280279527613102014-01-03T13:52:00.001-08:002014-01-03T13:52:41.182-08:00Life in Castro's Cuba, Part IIt is paradoxical to analyze the social effects of Castro's Cuba. Consider the statistics at the beginning of the reading--to what extent did living conditions improve in the late 20th century in Cuba since Batista's days? How do different types of minorities (i.e. blacks, homosexuals) exist in Castro's Cuba? Why was the reputation of the Cuban military--in the form of UMAP--significant to consider?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-91253471965861405272014-01-03T13:40:00.001-08:002014-01-03T13:40:20.361-08:00The Special Period -- Cuba After 1991After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Castro had to reevaluate Cuba's international market, particularly Cuba's relationship with the United States. To what extent did Castro reopen the doors to the West in Cuba's post-Soviet days? How did different US administrations receive this relationship? Consider how George W. Bush equates Castro as part of the 'Axis of Evil' in 2002 (p. 227).ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-32037870210001645112014-01-03T13:26:00.001-08:002014-01-03T13:26:12.145-08:00Changes in Castro's Style of Government, 1970-90After Che Guevara was killed in 1967, Castro lost one of his major allies from the Western Hemisphere. What were some of the ways that Castro tried to strengthen his own influence, as well as that of the Communist party in the 1970s and 1980s? To what extent did Cuba become more dependent on the Soviet Union by the 1980s? How do you think this will affect Cuba when the USSR dissolves in 1991?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-44680222907674604822014-01-03T12:59:00.003-08:002014-01-03T12:59:24.807-08:00Castro's Economic Policy and Opposition to CastroAfter Castro's revolution, Cuba was no longer able to trade with the United States. This led to Cuba's over-reliance on trade with the USSR, and a Cuban economy that was even less able to diversify away from the sugar industry. Consider how this leads to Cuba's '10 million ton harvest,' which was devastating to the environment. <div>
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Consider the types of people who were likely to be dissatisfied with Castro's government. How many opponents left the country to seek asylum in places like the United States, and how did this affect Cuba's labor force?</div>
ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-37493238618413871612014-01-03T11:54:00.002-08:002014-01-03T11:54:42.508-08:00US-Cuba Relations in Castro's Early YearsI'm still interested in why the US would think of withdrawing support from the Batista regime, when Castro's leadership in Cuba was by far the worse option. Consider how Castro blamed the United States for much of Cuba's troubles, and how it was able to seize control of many foreign companies. <br />
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How much do you think the Bay of Pigs invasion reflected JFK's early foreign policy? Remember that the invasion was planned during Eisenhower's administration, but carried out under JFK. Why, then, is the Cuban Missile Crisis that much more essential for JFK to solve?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-5491923557427298662014-01-03T11:34:00.001-08:002014-01-03T11:34:23.466-08:00Castro's rise to powerBatista's regime in Cuba from 1952 to 1959 was one marked with corruption and vice. Consider how a figure like Castro would become popular under Batista's rule. How do you think Castro's time in prison influenced his popularity? What about the significance of Che Guevara in Castro's rise? How did the images of Guevara and Castro play out among liberal and youth movements? Why did the US withdraw support from the Batista regime--should we consider this a crucial error in US Cold War policy in Latin America?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-83230045491343818352014-01-03T10:35:00.001-08:002014-01-03T10:35:09.960-08:00Civil Rights and InstabilityAs you all know, Martin Luther King Day is coming up on Monday. While we have not studied the Civil Rights Movement in depth yet in this course, we examined it indirectly in our military history, especially with regard to Vietnam. Black men were disproportionately drafted into the armed services during the Vietnam conflict, and this certainly fueled the civil rights conflict at home. Consider the fact that both Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy (brother to JFK, presidential hopeful, and civil rights advocate) were assassinated in 1968, which is the same year that the Johnson administration kicked up the escalation plan in Vietnam. <br />
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How much was the Civil Rights movement a reflection of the general instability of the 1960s? Consider how the Vietnam conflict demonstrated the weaknesses within the United States.ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-5771501319859482702014-01-02T11:57:00.001-08:002014-01-02T11:57:57.213-08:00Cold War Legacy in ChileAfter reading the concluding section of the chapter, we should all be able to evaluate (at least in a general sense) how much the US was involved in shaping Chile's political history from the end of World War II until the present day. How much do you think Chile was directly influenced by the US, and how much was it playing a tug-of-war game between the East and West by engaging in conversations with the USSR? How did the dissolution of the USSR affect Chilean politics in the late 1980s?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-60849609204995683232014-01-01T17:41:00.001-08:002014-01-01T17:41:19.183-08:00Evaluating Pinochet's ChileI find myself torn as I write about Pinochet, largely because historians and Chileans also do not know what to make of him. While thousands of Allende supporters were tortured, murdered, and some merely "disappeared" when Pinochet took power, Chile's economy did eventually stabilize, and the country most of the Cold War conflicts that seriously afflicted countries like Nicaragua and El Salvador. How do we evaluate a leader who thought so little of human rights, but did well for the economy? How do you think the US perspective of Pinochet might have changed over the years as we distance ourselves from the Nixon administration?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-31246694055388602402014-01-01T17:17:00.001-08:002014-01-01T17:17:18.958-08:00Allende revisited: historiographicallySo I know we have already read about Allende's coup, but this time, I want you to focus on the approaches of the different historians mentioned in the reading. First, note Robert Moss, who studied the extent of Soviet involvement in Allende's Chile (p. 197). Also consider the historical interpretations section of the reading at the end. Stephen Graubard's reports (p. 200) plus Skidmore and Smith's assessments (p. 201) help shed light on why Allende's government might have failed. Why are all of these interpretations significant? Why is it key to note that historians are still not sure about the extent of the US's involvement in the 1973 coup?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-47914037406347947932013-12-16T13:50:00.002-08:002013-12-16T13:50:56.823-08:00Where Allende went WrongIt is difficult to answer all questions regarding Allende's presidency--like how much the CIA actually influenced the coup, or whether the leftists were preparing to take up arms to defend their government. What we do know is that there were many people both in and outside of Chile that wanted Allende overthrown. <br />
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Why was Allende--a man who had so much support from the workers--hated by many other groups? Did he actually overstep the constitution as many of his opponents claim? Why or why not?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-67510717568186372172013-12-12T08:28:00.003-08:002013-12-12T08:28:51.245-08:00Catching up on ChilePost one question that you still have on Chile and the Cold War. It can have anything to do with Videla, Ibanez, Alessandri, Frei, or Allende's presidencies, as well as anything about Chile's relationship with the US during the Cold War.ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-55960941626139533192013-12-11T09:59:00.002-08:002013-12-11T09:59:55.157-08:00Allende RevisitedNow you are reading about Allende's election a second time through a new source. I know we were not finished talking about Alessandri and we did not discuss Frei, but at least now through the reading you have a sense of the tension building in Chile between right and left throughout the Cold War period.<br />
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Allende received 36% of the vote in 1970, but in the election of 1964, he had earned 39% of the vote behind Frei's 56%. Is it dangerous that even though Chile was truly not united that Allende and the Unidad Popular still pushed forward its socialist agenda? Also, what is your take on the United States' relationship with Chile throughout the Cold War? How invested was the US in Chile? Why might this have caused Nixon and Kissenger to act in the way that they did?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-39770989639336173802013-12-09T13:33:00.003-08:002013-12-09T13:33:43.350-08:00US-Chile Relations in the 50s and 60sConsider the US's role in Chile during Ibanez and Alessandri's presidencies. How were both of these presidents arguably appeasing the US and other western powers? Now consider why Chile was so important to the US by the time 1970 rolls around. The US cannot afford to have another Cuba. Are you starting to see why the US was enforcing containment-esque policies throughout Latin America?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-63903279467071167592013-12-06T07:35:00.000-08:002013-12-06T07:35:49.508-08:00Legacy of Anti-Communism in ChileAfter reading about Videla's presidency, you now know that communism was not new to Chile in 1970. Why did Videla purge Chilean communists in the late 1940s? To what extent might the US have been involved in this action? How do you know?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-64314179655508350112013-12-03T19:23:00.000-08:002013-12-03T19:23:33.596-08:00Oh, that fun thing called historiography -- part IThis post will be a two-parter. Almost all historical events have different interpretations, but when it comes to a CIA-backed coup of an alleged communist president, historians are still trying to make sense of the events.<div>
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Your reading is one interpretation. In class tomorrow, we will watch part of a documentary on Allende that provides another.</div>
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So for part I -- according to the Wall Street Journal article, why might the US have been justified in staging its coup? What were elements of Allende's rule that may have been misunderstood by the public?</div>
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Does it matter that we take into consideration the source of this article (Wall Street Journal). Why?</div>
ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-27022637586387058622013-12-03T18:55:00.001-08:002013-12-03T18:55:34.466-08:00Why Allende was uniqueSalvador Allende made his mark on Chilean history, even though he was the nation's president for a short three years. Now that Pinochet's dictatorship is safely in the past, his supporters have revealed even more about his popularity and lasting legacy.<br />
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Even though Allende was a socialist and admired world leaders like Castro, Mao, and Ho Chi Minh, his rise to power was very different. Allende's major accomplishment was that he was able to implement socialism through a democratic election, NOT a violent revolution.<br />
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Why then, if Allende achieved the presidency legitimately, did the US still want to overthrow him? How might the US have felt about Allende compared to some of the previous Chilean presidents like Ibanez or Frei?ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175017097395637882.post-42632263838255614502013-11-13T10:22:00.001-08:002013-11-13T10:22:35.694-08:00Cold War CultureThere is so much I could center this blog post around, but let's just narrow it down to music. A lot of what people heard on the popular radio was a representation of cultural sentiments, often antagonistic towards the Establishment. There are links to three songs below--listen to all of them if you'd like, but I want you to look up the lyrics (or in the case of the third, consider the song and the performance) to at least one of them and consider why this song is so monumental toward the times.<br />
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We will try to talk music, film, sports, and as much culture as we can in class!<br />
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Songs:<br />
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Sex pistols - "Anarchy in the UK" - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrSXn3JOvAs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrSXn3JOvAs</a><br />
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The Beatles - "Back in the USSR" - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvTI-LBopo0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvTI-LBopo0</a><br />
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Jimi Hendrix - "Star Spangled Banner" - Live at Woodstock 1969 - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM</a><br />
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<br />ms_suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323982955111362050noreply@blogger.com11