Themes for Studying History

I have chosen to study the second theme, which is to "Assess the growth and impact of centralized state power." To do this, I will use standards 17 (Explain important domestic events that took place during World War II), 18 (Analyze the factors that contributed to the Cold War and describe the policy of containment as America's response to Soviet expansionist policies), 24(Analyze the roots of domestic anticommunism as well as he origins and consequences of McCarthyism), and 28 (Analyze the important domestic policies and events that took place during the presidencies of Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon).

Current Events Summary #5

Recently, events in southern Asia show that some countries, Pakistan in particular, are currently active in foreign policy. Pakistan's government seems to be unwavering in its political beliefs and decisions. Some of these decisions are controversial, but still, Pakistan firmly defends its choices. One such decision was the choice to support China in its attempts to force Taiwan into being a part of the mainland's government. Taiwan wishes for independence, and many countries support this goal of freedom. However, Pakistan claims that the majority of its people support the One-China Policy, disagreeing with the nations that support Taiwan.
Also, Pakistan recently performed a test launch of its missiles. These missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, had a range of 700 kilometers, showing that the country would able to use them to hit targets in India within that range. This could be a threat to India, which has had conflicts with Pakistan. Still, Pakistan has not made any mention of such plans. It has, however, stated that it will respond strongly to any attempt to seize the country's nuclear weapons. An idea has been alluded that the United States might try to do so. In response to this idea, Pakistan has warned "those contemplating misadventure" that it is capable of defending itself.

Critical Thinking 23-5 #4

Franklin Roosevelt was a very successful president. He was able to help the country recover from a terrible situation; his New Deal plan, which gave people jobs, hope, and support eventually led to the end of the Great Depression. This was a difficult goal that the previous president, Hoover, was unable to achieve through his efforts. Roosevelt supported his country, and so it supported him in return, and he was reelected multiple times. He was not a perfect leader, though. The New Deal cost the United States a large amount of money, and some critics did not approve of his method of dealing with the Depression because it interfered with business. Also, he did not give much support to civil rights. Still, he successfully led the country through a difficult time, and he is often remembered as a great leader.

Critical Thinking 23-5 #3

The New Deal expanded the power of the federal government in a number of different ways in order to help the nation recover from the Great Depression. The government was given a more important role in the economy. Some critics did not believe that this was the right way to handle the situation. They thought that the government's power was expanded to the point where it was interfering with business and free enterprise. The government had the ability to regulate banking and investment, as well as supply and demand. It could also participate in issues of management and labor. While the New Deal did limit businesses, it was necessary and helpful. The Depression was not over yet, but people were given hope along with work, money, and food. This would help the people survive the difficult times they were struggling in.

Critical Thinking 23-1 #3

The New Deal introduced many programs and laws that would improve the country's situation during the Great Depression. Many of these gave people help in the form of work and insurance. Others, however, gave long term help, keeping the country safe from future troubles. The Federal Securities Act was one of these long term improvements. In 1933, this law was passed in order to prevent another crash in the stock market. It required companies to provide all information about their stock offerings, making these companies responsible for any false information. Soon after this, in 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission was created to regulate the stock market. With this in addition to the Federal Securities Act, the stock market was much safer than before, and it was unlikely that another depression would be caused by a crash in the market.

Current Events Summary #4

Countries in South Asia seem to be very concerned with their foreign relations. Some of these countries, such as Afghanistan and Bangladesh, are troubled by the presence of foreign forces within their borders. Meanwhile, India is trying to convince the world that it can be trusted with nuclear technology.
There has recently been some suspicion that Afghanistan's government has been torturing prisoners transferred by NATO forces. Because of this, Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan have stopped transferring their prisoners into Afghan custody. NATO is opposed to the torture of prisoners, but there is no strong evidence to suggest that these suspicions are justified. If any evidence is found, Afghanistan promises to investigate.
Bangladesh also has foreign troops stationed in it, but for a different reason. The United States and Pakistan have sent forces to assist Bangladesh in repairing the damages caused by a recent cyclone. The Bangladesh government welcomes the help of these countries, but does not want them to stay for too long. The people of that country are very much opposed to the war in Iraq, which is led by the U.S., and so the government is trying to keep America's role in helping the country quiet. A Bangladesh minister has said that the foreign forces will be leaving as soon as they are no longer needed.
India is currently concerned with foreign policy as well. A group of people have been sent by India to make agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA. India is hoping to be trusted with technology and materials that could be used to make nuclear weapons. First, however, it needs to get "India specific safe guards" from the IAEA. After doing so, India may be able to more easily participate in nuclear trade.
These South Asian countries do not seem to have the influence or power that other countries do. They seem to be very dependent on their relationships with other nations in some areas. For this reason, it is very important for them to keep good relations with powerful countries and organizations.

Critical Thinking 21-4 #5

The 1920's were a time of progression for African Americans. Organizations such as the NAACP and the UNIA struggled for civil rights and showed black pride. While this was happening, there was a great outburst of creativity in Harlem. This event came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance.
The Harlem Renaissance contributed a lot to both black and general American history. Several well-educated African Americans led the movement, expressing themselves through music, writing, and poetry, while encouraging others to do the same. Great American literature emerged at this time, including the works of writers Claude McKay and Langston Hughes. Jazz was also becoming quite popular in Harlem. Musicians like Louis Armstrong were particularly talented in this area, and quickly became well known,
During the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans not only gained some civil rights, but they also made an incredible impact on American history by expressing themselves through art and literature.

Critical Thinking 21-1 #5

In the 1920's there was some struggle between the nation's traditional values and the new ways and beliefs that were being developed at the time. This could be seen in Prohibition and in debates about religion. Some events that could be seen as victories for tradition included the passage of the Volstead Act and the ruling of the Scopes trial. However, it is not true that these were genuine triumphs. The Volstead Act was passed to help prohibition. It created an agency that would enforce the prohibition of alcohol, finding illegal drinks and overseeing industries that used alcohol legally. The fact that this law was passed may have been a triumph for those who valued tradition, but the law itself failed, as there was not enough money or a large enough force to do the job. An example of a debate regarding religion was the Scopes trial. in which a man named John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution to his students. This was illegal in Tennessee, where Scopes was, and many religious people believed in creationism, and evolution was contradictory to that belief. Scopes was eventually found guilty, but this was not a true victory either, because of the strong defense of Scopes and the fact that even William Jennings Bryan, the prosecutor. admitted that the bible could be interpreted in different ways. Over all, neither of these events showed genuine triumph for traditional ways, but instead showed that there was still a powerful argument for them, so they would die off even as new ways increased in popularity.

Critical Thinking 20-1 #3

In the decade following Wold War One, Americans began to show a fear of people who were from foreign countries and of people who had beliefs that were different from those of the majority. These fears were caused not only by the war, but also by the Russian Revolution and the idea of communism. The new Russian government had promised that it would stir up revolutions in other countries, so that communism could be spread throughout
the world. The fear of such a revolution in the U.S. was known as the "Red Scare."
Americans, afraid of having their country taken over by communists, reacted in unjustifiable ways. Some groups' reactions violated civil rights or broke laws. They would break into houses, accuse people of crimes, deport them without trials, and in some cases even killed people. The targets of such attacks were foreigners, immigrants, anarchists, communists, socialists, and some other minorities. Most of the attacks on these people could not be justified by the Red Scare. One example is the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants, who also happened to be anarchists. The two men were accused of murder, but there was little evidence against them, and they both claimed to be innocent and had alibis. However, when a witness said that the murderers looked Italian, Sacco and Vanzetti were sentenced to die in the electric chair. Another problem was the rise in power of the Ku Klux Klan, which used the Red Scare as an excuse to commit acts of violence against minorities. Other effects of the scare included limiting immigration and the disapproval of unions, which were seen as communist organizations.
The attacks on minorities because of the Red Scare were completely unjustified. It made little sense to save the country's freedom by violating civil rights and unreasonably killing or deporting people. Also, people who were in the country for a while were not necessarily likely to want to overthrow the government. Although, Americans were reasonably frightened by communist threats and other problems facing their country, their reactions were unfair and overly extreme.

Critical Thinking 19-2 #3

World War One represented a frightening new kind of warfare in multiple ways. During the war, new technologies were introduced that would change war forever. These included weapons such as machine guns, flamethrowers, shells, and bombs dropped from planes. Machines such as tanks and U-boats were also created for use in the war. Chemical warfare was introduced here as well. Both sides of the conflict used gases that would choke people, blind them, cause blistering, and have other harmful effects. These weapons were not entirely reliable though, because if the wind changed they might harm the people who were trying to use them against their enemy. With all these new weapons and technologies, the numbers of casualties were incredibly high. Even when the weapons themselves didn't kill people, soldiers would get diseases from the unsanitary trenches. Another threat to surviving soldiers was that of shell shock. Because of constant bombings, some soldiers emotionally collapsed, losing their minds. For many people, this damage was permanent. The technology created, numbers of casualties counted, and the threat of shell shock were frightening things that were new to war, and more of these things were to be seen in the future.

Critical Thinking 19-1 # 5

In 1917, Germany began to use U-boats more often. U-boats were new submarines made by the Germans. They could be used to go underwater so that they could sink boats. This technology was particularly help for Germany, which was being blockaded by British ships. The blockade prevented any boats from getting into or out of Germany, cutting off the country from any help it could receive. The British were able to do this because of the fact that they had a much stronger navy than their enemy. Germany was at a disadvantage, so instead of trying to win a battle that they would likely lose by using boats, they used submarines, which could sink boats without being noticed. Using U-boats, the Germans formed a counter-blockade, to keep British ships out. This was an early example of submarine warfare, and it showed how effective these new weapons could be.

Critical Thinking 18-4 #4

In my opinion, it was a good idea to become involved in the affairs of countries such as Nicaragua, Mexico, and Colombia. In most cases, the United States' involvement seemed to be in the best interest of these Latin American countries. Also, by helping these countries, the United States gained power in the form of recognition as an international police nation. This was an effect of the Roosevelt Corollary, which said that America had the right to use force to protect its interests in the Latin America. Another effect of Roosevelt's policy was the fact that European countries would stay out of western affairs, which decreased the chances of competition for power in Latin America. To help justify this, the U.S. used dollar diplomacy, the policy of using the government to guarantee loans by Americans to foreign countries. In addition to dollar diplomacy, President Wilson added a moral aspect to the Monroe doctrine, saying that it was the responsibility of the United States to police the area around it. In the case of the Mexican Revolution, Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, seemed to agree with Wilson. While some may see our country's involvement in Latin American affairs as unnecessary or unfair, there is no doubt that it was an intelligent move in the United States' interests, helping the country gain more power and influence in the western hemisphere.

Critical Thinking 18-4 #3

During the early 1900's, America decided to remind Europe of the Monroe Doctrine. President James Monroe stated in 1823 that European nations had to stay out of the affairs of the western hemisphere, particularly those of Latin America. President Roosevelt noticed that Latin American countries had made deals with European banks, which could result in Europe intervening in western affairs. To strengthen the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary, which was also known as his "Big Stick Policy" because of the proverb it was based on: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." This policy announced to the world that America had a right to use force in order to protect its interests in Latin America. This basically made the United States the police of the western hemisphere.
Later, President Woodrow Wilson made another change to the Monroe Doctrine in adding a moral message to it. Wilson claimed that it was the United States' responsibility to police Latin America, and that governments should not be recognized if they were oppressive or hostile, encouraging countries to adopt democratic governments. Wilson's policy was similar to Roosevelt's because they were both formed for the purpose of improving the Monroe Doctrine. However, they were applied in different ways. Roosevelt's policy seemed more like a warning or threat, probably to emphasize the fact that America had power. Wilson's was more of a statement of fact and morals, and this policy was tested by the Mexican Revolution. The policy proved to be effective, but it also slightly detracted from the message that America had the right police Latin America only because it had the power to so.

Current Events Summary #3

China is currently becoming an economic power. However, with this success, the country must deal with a number of problems that face it. These include disagreements with other powerful countries, as well as with the territories that are trying to gain independence from their Chinese motherland.
China's rise to power has drawn the world's attention. Because of this, other nations seem to be urging China to be more open about itself. The country is no longer able to easily work in secret, making deals with political or military groups without the world knowing. Such deals had been made in the past, and some of them were disapproved of by many people.
Meanwhile, both Taiwan and Tibet are moving closer toward their goal of complete independence from their motherland. Unfortunately, China is not willing to recognize either territory as a separate country. Taiwan has been constantly threatened by the mainland, which is increasing the amount of military power pointed at the nearby island. However, Taiwan refused to accept China's peace agreement, which was seen as more of a "surrender agreement" by Taiwan's leaders, causing tensions to rise between the island and its motherland. China was also outraged by the recent event at which the U.S. Congress praised the Dalai Lama, a Tibetan spiritual leader, giving him one of the highest possible honors for him to receive. While China will not forgive the Dalai Lama for his support of separatism, the Dalai Lama said that he regrets the tensions with China.

Critical Thinking 18-3 #5

The United States' change in foreign policy greatly affected the country's actions toward China. America was interested in China for economic reasons. China was a good place for an American market, which would be very successful. Railroad companies also realized that there was a lot of land that could be used for the construction of railroads. Influence in China would be a great help to the United States' economy.
Unfortunately, European nations were already competing for such influence. Americans were afraid that they would be left out if Europe had control over China's trade. John Hay, the Secretary of State at the time, decided to protect American interest by sending "Open Door notes" to the leaders of imperialist nations. These were letters that suggested that the nations share the trade with the United States. Europe agreed to do this.
Meanwhile, China had begun to dislike the idea of basically being ruled by Europe. The Chinese people wanted to take back their country, and so they formed organizations dedicated to driving out foreigners. When Europe reacted to this violent rebellion, America joined in, hoping to increase its chances of gaining influence. After the rebellion was ended, Hay sent out another bunch of Open Door notes, further protecting American interest. This would be the beginning of America's influence in Asia.

Critical Thinking 18-3 #3

After the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico became part of the United States. American rule of the area had some negative effects and some positive ones. Some Puerto Ricans were against this change. They were afraid that they would lose the freedom to govern themselves that they had when they were ruled by Spain. Some of these people called for independence, the freedom given to Cuba and Panama. The United States made no promises of independence to Puerto Rico, because it had strategic value to the nation. However, there were some good aspects to the change. Puerto Rico was controlled by the military for a time, so at least the new territory would be protected and held together. In 1900, a civil government was set up to replace the military rule, giving a little more freedom to the people of Puerto Rico. Eventually, Puerto Ricans were recognized as true U.S. citizens, gaining rights and the freedom to elect both houses of their legislature.

Critical Thinking 18-2 #3

During the second war for Cuba's independence from Spain, American newspapers began to adopt new policies. They used different strategies to capture the attention of the people, and then try to convince them to side with the writer's opinions. This was known as yelow journalism.
Newspapers used yellow journalism in a war for popularity against each other. They tactics they wouuld use often involved the exaggeration of stories from Cuba. For example, James Creelman's reports of the war commented on it's violence and brutality. The newspapers exaggerated Creelman's remarks in a way that encouraged readers to antagonize Spain and call for war. Another example of yellow journalism was the article in the newspaper about the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, which pointed the blame at Spain for no clear reason. When Frederic Remington was sent to draw sketches of Cuba, he stated that war with Spain didn't seem necessary, but the newspapers replied that they would "furnish the war."

Critical Thinking 18-1 #5

In the passage, Senator Albert J. Beveridge from Indiana explains what he believes to be the reason why U. S. needed to acquire new territories. Because he says that "fate has written our policy for us," it is made clear that the senator believed in manifest destiny, the belief that America was destined to expand. He also says that the U.S. "must" be in charge of the trade of the world, so that American products could be distributed across the world. In Beveridge's vision of the future, there would be "great colonies, governing themselves, flying our flag and trading with us," which would grow from American trading posts. The senator's words all seem to show a strong support for imperialism, which was, at that point, possible for America, which was just becoming a powerful nation.

Critical Thinking 18-1 #3

The idea of manifest destiny had a large amount of influence in American policy earlier in the 1800's, when America was settling the frontier. At that time, the belief that the country needed to grow was a major cause for western expansion. Later in the century, however, Americans began to use manifest destiny as a reason to extend their country's power by taking land from other nations. This was known as imperialism.
Examples of this imperialism can be seen in the United States' attempts to gain Hawaii and Cuba. These places were important for extra land and resources. Americans decided that it was a good time to take them, and that they had the right to do so. Hawaii soon became the 50th state of the United States, but Cuba refused to join the nation, even though it help the island gain independence from Spain. The imperialism of the late 19th century showed that Americans still believed in manifest destiny, and they would use it to help their country grow.

Critical Thinking 17-5 #4

Although Wilson was a progressive president, he failed to push for civil rights. There are several possible explanations for this. Presidents before him had also avoided the same issue, which may have discouraged Wilson from being the first in a while to stand up and argue against discrimination. However, Wilson declared that he would do his best to end discrimination. African Americans who supported him felt betrayed when he opposed antilynching legislation as a president. This failure to assist civil rights groups may have also been in part because of his background. Wilson was from the south, and southern prejudices would have made it difficult to support blacks. It may have also had to do with the people who were targeted by reform movements, and the fact that many of those people held power in the government. These factors added together show what may have been the reason for his lack of support for racial equality.

Critical Thinking 17-3 #5

Racial discrimination was a big issue in the 20th century. Many civil rights leaders tried to give more freedom to African Americans. However, some of these leaders disagreed with each other about how to do so. Two such people were Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Washington and Du Bois had different views on racial discrimination. Washington was head of an all-black school. Of all civil rights leaders at the time, he was the one most respected by powerful whites. This may be because, although he wanted civil rights, the fact that he was head of a black-only school showed his support racial segregation.
Du Bois opposed Washington for the same reason that others supported him. He did not believe that blacks and whites should be separate forever. Du Bois thought that doing so would encourage discrimination, and that all people should be able to mix together and have equal rights. He and those who agreed with him were unsatisfied with the lack of progress made in the matter of racial equality, and decided that they should work to achieve their goal.

Critical Thinking 17-2 #5

Women in the Progressive Era faced many difficulties. These included problems with education, housing, food and drug laws, and suffrage. Many women made efforts to improve these things. If I were a woman during this time period, I would use different methods to recruit others who would be willing to support such causes.
Women were not often well educated before the Progressive Era. In the late 1800's, however, new colleges were opened for the purpose of teaching women. To help recruit supporters of this change, I would have women from such colleges spread the news of their education, encouraging other women to follow in their footsteps. Housing was another issue, as houses were often small and unsanitary. In order to improve living conditions, I would remind women of how having sanitary homes would benefit them, because women were often in charge of domestic work then.
Food was also a problem. Many unhealthy things were mixed in with food in factories. Improving these factories would benefit everyone. Drugs and alcohol were also troublesome for women, who may have had to face others under the influences of those substances. Many women would have been much happier and safer without having to face drunken husbands. Finally, women desired the right to vote, which they had been deprived of for so long. Womens' Suffrage groups were formed with the goal of gaining this right. To recruit others for this cause, I would tell them of the possibility of having more freedom in being able to choose our country's leaders. Improvements to any or all of these things would greatly benefit women, and I would make them aware of this.

Curent Events Summary 2

China has recently gained a lot of power, due to its size and high population. Some people consider it to be a new superpower. However, the country has made some questionable decisions. Many countries doubt that China will use its new status responsibly.
The Chinese government has done some things that others would not agree with. One such thing is the sale of arms to certain violent regimes. Conflicts such as the ones in Sudan and in Burma are fueled almost completely by China's arms sales. Because it is such an important supporter of Burma's military, human-rights protesters have been targeting China, rather than Burma itself. They blame China for the violent reactions to protests in Burma, where the prices for fuel have greatly increased.
China is also currently in an argument with Taiwan. The nearby island claims to be a different country, but China will not admit that it is independent from the mainland. The Taiwanese government has supported rallies for independence, but such efforts are always condemned by the Chinese government. It refuses to accept Taiwan as a seperate country.
China has to face a number of problems now. These issues, along with the country's recent rise to power, will force China to defend its global reputation. Doing so may be very difficult. At the moment, few countries believe that China will use its power properly.

Critical Thinking 15-2 #5

In the late 19th century, a lot of people decided to move from rural areas and into cities.This affected urban society in various ways. The population in cities increased rapidly. Many of the people who moved to the city had different skills than the people who normally lived there. These things caused some problems in urban areas.
People who moved to the cities from the country were usually farmers. Farming technology had been improved, which helped some farmers, making their work easier. However, it also cost other farmers their jobs. Those who lost their jobs went to urban areas looking for any work they could get.
Many of these farmers were African Americans. They moved north and west to cities hoping to avoid oppression and racial violence. They were not always successful in this, but they were often able to find work. African American workers had different experiences that white workers, so they usually had to compete with immigrants for jobs.
Because of all these people moving into the cities, the population in such areas increased rapidly. Cities with high populations were subject to problems such as crime, overcrowded housing, and unsanitary living conditions. Work became hard to find, and many people became poor because of the competition for it. Reformers moved to end these problems eventually, but at the time, life was difficult in cities.

Critical Thinking 15-2 #4

Sanitation was a large problem in urban areas. Cities had to be kept clean as they grew, or they would be unhealthy to live in. Cities were filled with smoke, sewage, and trash. Poor hygienic conditions were very dangerous for immigrants, who often lived in small, crowded parts of cities. The Settlement House Movement was an attempt to improve living conditions for people in this situation.
Earlier movements that tried to help the poor inspired this movement. The reformers who led the movement decided that help the poor, who lived in unsanitary, crowded buildings called tenements, they would have to build community centers for them. The creation of Settlement houses was the result of the movement.
Settlement Houses gave assistance to the poor people and immigrants who needed it. they were clean buildings that offered education as well as shelter. Some people even stayed in the buildings to learn about what they could do to help resolve urban problems. These settlement houses were a great step forwards for urban sanitation and housing.

Critical Thinking 15-1 #4

The massive influx of immigrants that came in the late 1800's caused many things in the U.S. People from all over the world moved to America, all bring different things with them. These people mixed together over time. The country was sometimes thought of as a "melting pot."
Immigrants brought a lot to the United States. Many cultures were introduced to people who did not know them, and some of these cultures mixed with each other to create new ones. This caused communities to be formed, as well. Such communities changed certain parts of America greatly.
Immigration also increased the country's population. This was good in some ways, because the country and industries grew and immigrants got work. However, this means other people lost work, and some areas were overcrowded. Laws were passed by nativists to slow immigration, but it had already begun to take effect on the country.

Critical Thinking 15-1 #3

There were many groups of people who came to America as immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of these groups, the ones who were the worst off were those from Asia, particularly the Chinese. These people were treated unfairly and were seen as a threat to American workers.
Asian immigrants had a very difficult time when they arrived at America. First, they would have to stop at Angel Island, where they were questioned harshly and had to wait before they found out if they could stay in the United States. They then had to find a place to live and a job to support themselves. Finding jobs was not usually difficult, because these immigrants often accepted work with little pay.unfortunately, this led to more trouble for them.
American nativists saw the Chinese as a threat. They were afraid that the immigrants would take their jobs because they did not cost as much to hire. Nativists argued that the Chinese should not be allowed into the country. These arguments led eventually to the Chinese Exclusion Act, which stopped the immigration of most chinese people.

Critical Thinking 14-3

The tycoons of the late 19th century were seen by some as "ruthless robber barons," but others saw them as leaders of industry. While they were, in many cases, ruthless, they very effective at what they did. They used clever business strategies to weaken competition and strengthen their own businesses. These people made great contributions to the country's economy.
New and interesting strategies were used by big businesses at the time. These included vertical integration and horizontal integration. With verticle integration, a company would buy all of its suppliers, so that it would have control over everything it needed. Horizontal integration would be when a company buys all the companies that are similar to it, so it would not have any competition. This reflects the attitude of such businesses toward competition.
The tycoons made many important contributions to the economy. They created big businesses, which helped to make a successful market. These businesses also made production widespread and resources accessible. Railroad companies helped settlement and immigration, and companies often gave jobs to those who needed them.
While the leaders of big business were occasionally unfair to people like the farmers in the west, in the end they were very effective. It seems that ruthlessness is sometimes necessary in order to be effective in business. The contributions were certainly worth it though. Using new strategies and technology, big businesses industrialized the country.

Current Events 1

There are many interesting things currently happening in China. Several of these events have to do with the country’s foreign policies and deals with other countries. Recently, China had joined the APEC summit in Australia, where it would try to make economic deals with western Australia. It has also said that it would declare its annual defense spending to the UN.
The Asia-Pacific-Economic-Cooperation met in Australia hoping to arrange economic deals between countries. China’s President Hu Jintao joined them in his first visit to Australia. He said we wanted to make “win-win” economic deals with APEC at the summit. He also noticed that Western Australia was rich in resources, and decided that it would be a good idea to strengthen relationships between Australia and China.
China has also announced that it would declare its basic annual defense spending and arms sales to the UN. However, it is not known exactly what information will be declared. China is still likely to keep most defense matters secret. Some people are concerned by the secrecy of such information.

14-2 Critical Thinking

The government seemed to support railroad companies in whatever ways it could. It gave land and made loans to the companies. Railroads were being encouraged to use the land and money so that they could grow. The loans and land grants were good investments, because the growth of the railroads meant the growth of the country.
Railroads were a large part of industry at the time, mostly because of westward expansion. Tracks were laid in the western frontier, effectively linking the sections of the United States together. This simplified trade and transportation across the country, helping the economy. Railroads became particularly important to farmers who needed to transport their goods to sell them.
In addition to laying track, the companies would sell some of their left over land. It was sometimes sold to settlers, and sometimes to other companies. Some of the railroad companies would send agents to Europe to see if anyone would be interested in buying the land. The government did not exactly care if the land went to settlers, immigrants or companies; as long as it was sold the country and its economy would grow.
The government was eager to promote the growth of railroads because it wanted to promote westward expansion. The railroads were important to the frontier so the government gave them a lot of power over it. In the end, everyone got something out of the deals. The government succeeded in settling the west, the railroad companies became immensely successful and wealthy, and settlers and immigrants got land the the frontier.

14-1 Critical Thinking

Great progress was made towards industrialization in the United States during the late 1800's. Resources were being used in new, more effective ways, while new inventions changed the lives of people at both home and work. The most important development at the time may have been the discovery of how to successfully use electricity as power. Electrical power made many things possible then, and new uses are still found for it today.
Countless inventions have been created based on the idea of using electricity as power. One of the first of these was the light bulb, which was perfected by Thomas Edison, and patented in 1880. This invention used electricity to power a new source of light. The telephone was a similarly incredible invention, making communication over long distances much easier.
Electrical power and the machines that used it made a huge impact in homes and at the workplace. Electricity was made available to to anyone, and caused the creations of machines that would save time and make peoples' lives easier. Light bulbs saved time by making it possible to work at night, and telephones were often used for business. Typewriters and printing presses made writing fast and convenient. Women were given jobs that involved using electronic machines.
Electrical power was an incredible development in the 19th century, and it is still constantly used today. Many of the inventions atthat time have been further improved upon over time, and now a large part of society completely relies on the power of electricity.

13-3 Critical Thinking

The Populist party was formed to support the people, particularly farmer alliances. It did not last long. It was a third party that was competing with the Republican party, and it did not have many well known supporters. Populism did not stand much of a chance in this situation.
Populists were undecided on a political strategy. Joining another, more popular party would increase their chances of winning the election, but it might risk the loss of their political identity. Populism became a third party, because while many Democrats agreed with the Populists, some hated the man who would be the vice -president and the idea of losing their own identity as a party.
There was not enough support for Populist leader William Jennings Bryan to win the election. He had no well known people spreading his beliefs as the Republican candidate did. Also, "gold bug" Democrats nominated a different candidate because of their fear of inflation, which would make their money less valuable. Most people in cities shared this fear, and so they voted against him.
Because of its third party status and lack of support, the Populist party failed. The movement was short lived, as it did not win the election. Republican candidate McKinley was elected president, and his opponents' party collapsed.

13-2 Critical Thinking

The government was very successful in its efforts to promote settlement in the Great Plains. Railroads, land, and immigration were some of the many reasons for settlers to move west. There were a few problems, but the population on the plains greatly increased before the end of the 19th century.
Railroad companies received millions of acres of land from the government for laying track in the frontier. The railroads that were made connected the east to the west, making trade and transportation between the two areas much easier. The companies also sold their land, often to immigrants from Europe. These immigrants and people who were interested in making use of the railroads were encouraged to move into the Great Plains.
The government also supported settlement by passing the Homestead Act. This gave 160 acres of free land to any citizen who was the head of a family. The Homestead Act was successful. It caused a massive land rush that some consider a very important part of American history. Unfortunately, some people used the land for their own gain, taking resources and fencing off some areas, and not all the land was equally fertile. Not much of the land was actually given to its intended owners.
These issues were eventually resolved, and in 1890 the frontier was closed. It was no longer necessary; settlers had taken 19 million acres of land. The government had been incredibly successful. The country expanded and the west was populated.