Creation of Israel

Zionism is a worldwide Jewish movement that resulted in the establishment and development of Israel . After the creation of Israel many conflicts began between the new country and its neighboring countries . Israel was surrounded by Arab countries such Jordan , Syria , and Lebanon . In 1948 the independent country was attacked by several countries which included Jordan , Syria , Lebanon , Iraq and Egypt . This war lasted almost a year before decisions were made to solve the problem . These decisions ended with the creation of an agreement known as the Rhodes Armistice . An Armistice is a compromise , but even with this is effect the countries still had their differences . The differences among the countries , mainly between Israel and Palestine was , the Arabs that made up Palestine felt that they should have been given the Jews were given . The Palestinians believe that their God gave them that land , but the Jews had the same belief . These beliefs are one of the main causes of conflict between these countries .

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Apartheid was racial segregation policy in South Africa`s government . When this system was in affect blacks (bantus) , colored , mixed and Indians didn`t have the same rights as the whites did . When apartheid became a major issue , several organizations were formed to stop it . These organizations included the African National Congress (ANC) and United Democratic Front (UDF) . One of the major members of the ANC was Nelson Mandela . Mandela was put in jail because of his actions against apartheid . Nelson Mandela had helped organize strikes against apartheid but was later sentenced to a life in prison . While in prison Mandela continued to help stop apartheid .

Mandela spent 26 years in prison , when he was released he continued his work . Mandela was able to weaken apartheid in 5 years because of his continuious strikes and riots . He was elected president of South Africa and was able to end apartheid . People in South Africa saw Mandela as a hero because now he ended apartheid and people could be treated as equals . Now the blacks could have just as much power as the whites .

African Independence

Over a 20 year period , Africa has changed tremdously . In 1957 , the Gold Coast received it`s independence and became known as Ghana . It was the first nation to be governed by black Africans to join the British commonwealth. Ghana`s first prime minister and also president for life , Kwane Nkrumah , began development and economic projects , but the costly ruined the country . He also helped to develop the Pan African Congress in England . He later hosted the first Pan African meeting in Africa , which led to the formation of the Organization of African Unity. In 1966 , the military took control while Nkrumah was in China . Soon
Jerry Rawlings took power in 1979 & 1981 . In the year 2000 , the first open elections were held .

The European Union

The Eurpean Union is an alliance of 25 countries that has changed Europe. It now became a superpower, that was competing with the U.S. The 25 European nations that make up the European Union now share the same currency, the Euro. Traveling throughout Europe became much easier because before some people couldn't get into certain countries if they didn't have a passport. Also people are free to work in an countries because of the European Union.

I think the European Union is a good thing because the European people have more freedom within the countries. They don't have to worry about being arrested for being a certain country. The European Union made all the countries one, so the people had more access to different things also. Now because of the European Union many wars will be prevented. The countries all now work as a team so conflicts can be dealt with without violence.

Film Lesson - "The Right Stuff"

In the film The Right Stuff, the United States and the Soviet Union are competing to see who can send the first man into space. They both had to build rocketships but the U.S. saw problems along the way. The Soviet Union was the first to send a human into space. The U.S. on the other hand wanted to send a monkey into space. Those scenes will help me remember events from the Cold War because it was a race/war between the United States and the Soviet Union. They weren't really fighting though . It was more a race than it was a war.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis took place during the Cold War . It was closest the we ever came to a nuclear war. The U.S. and the Soviet Union were the main contenders, but the countries in NATO and the Warsaw Pact were also involved.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was an arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union , to see who could create the strongest nuclear weapon . In 1962, the Soviet Union fell back because their weapon was only powerful enough to take out Europe . The U.S. on the other hand would take out the entire Soviet Union. In April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev came up with the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba.

In October 1962 , the U.S. discovered pictures of the Soviets missile construction in Cuba. The next day, President Kennedy was informed of the missile installations. Kennedy began organizing the EX-COMM, a group of twelve important advisors to handle the crisis. Things began to calm down on October 28 when Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the installations and take the missiles back to the Soviet Union.

NATO and The Warsaw Pact

NATO is the North Atlantice Treaty Organization which included countries in Europe and North America. It was formed because the countries wanted a defense alliance so if one was under attack the other countris were there to help. Also many European countries need economic help after WWII, so the countries in NATO agreed to help rebuild it. When the Korean war began the organization expanded and a military command system was formed. In 1979, NATO began a new program that would help build up defense and new efforts to stop the Soviet Union from developing nuclear weapons.

The Warsaw Pact was mainly made up from the Soviet Union and its satelitte countries. This too is a defense alliance, but a response to NATO. The Soviet Union was the head of the Warsaw Pact. It kept socialist governments in the countries that were involved. This was an attempt to strengthen the Soviet Union. In 1985, the Warsaw Pact was renewed for another 20 years, but grew weak. All the countris soon removed themselves from the Warsaw Pact.