ROGER

Government? - What kind of government would you have?**
 * 9/05/08

If I were starting my own country, I would have a democratic country. In a democratic society, the rights of each individual are very important. In most cases, everyone is treated equally and they have the right to vote. In making a decision, everyone participates and express their ideas. With this type of government, the majority rules in most of the times and rebellion is unlikely to occur.

Posing Question: What rights do you believe should be guaranteed by the government?**
 * 9/23/08

The government acts an important role in a nation. One of its roles is to provide for public welfare. In order to maintain order in a nation, the government must maintain law and give equal rights to the people. People must have the right to participate in the government. They should have the right to vote and express their ideas. By each individual voting, the order of the nation will be maintained.

What is the most important invention?**
 * 10/02/08

I think that the modes of transportation were the most important inventions during this era of “age of invention.” This not only resulted in a massive expansion of the American railroad network, but it also made travel much more efficient and brought Americans into closer contact with each other. The railroads were able to link even the isolated regions of the country to the rest of the United States. With the transportation modes such as railroads and airplanes, communications between two distinct areas became easier. Also, the industry and the economy went through a significant growth influencing the everyday lives of Americans.

pg.493-496 Opportunities & Hardships of immigrants**
 * 10/14/08

Many immigrants found life in the Unites States and improvement on their living conditions. However, these newcomers frequently had to endure hardships. They settled in crowded cities and slums where could only find low-paying, unskilled jobs. Yet, as the immigrants were settled in close-knit immigrant communities, they found institutions and neighbors that made their transition more bearable both financially and culturally.

Opportunities • Buy land • Send money home • Escape poverty and persecution • Benevolent societies - Education, health care, jobs • Joined religious institutions - Helped in cases of sickness and unemployment

Hardships • Low-paying, unskilled jobs • Long hours, suffered discrimination, physical exhaustion • “dirty jobs”

__Political Cartoon analysis__** 1) What do you see in the cartoon, including objects and people, as well as caption and words in the cartoon? - vultures with human heads, corpse, skulls, bones 2) What or who is the subject of the cartoon and how is the subject represented? - Boss Tweed is the subject of the cartoon. He is represented as a fat vulture with luxurious jewelry on his neck. 3) Which of the things in the cartoons are symbols? What do you think the symbols mean? - The jewelry on Tweed’s neck represents wealth. 4) What is the opinion of the cartoonist toward the subject and how is it expressed? - greedy, luxurious, selfish,
 * 10/24/08

Primary Sources - Why did the United States enter World War I?**
 * 11/24/08

1. Because the U.S. was under attack despite its neutrality? - This seems to be the most compelling reason of the United States entering the World War I. Despite the fact that the United States tried to maintain its neutrality, some casualties were unavoidable. On March 28, 1915, a U-boat, or a German submarine, sank a British passenger liner, killing more than 100 people. Also, on May 7, 1915, a U-boat sank Lusitania, another British passenger liner, killing 128 Americans. In the perspective of the Americans, these casualties were not ignorable. In addition, as the United States intercepted the Zimmermann Note and deciphered the purpose of Germany, the consequences were now irreversible. On April 2, 1917, the president addressed Congress and asked for a declaration of war.

4. Because it was good for business? - Maintaining neutrality may not have been causing loss of money, but it does not necessarily cause good business. However, as the United States intervenes in the World War I, large amount of money can be made through the business of supporting the armies by selling weaponries. In fact, the intervention of war created 21,000 new American millionaires and 69,000 men made more than three billion dollars over and above their normal income. This had been tremendous profitable coup in the history of American finance.

__Wilson ’ s Declaration of War__ - armed neutrality is impracticable - world must be made safe for democracy - challenge to all mankind - vindication of right, of human right __LaFollete ’ s Opposition of War__ - failure to reject the unlawful “ war zones ” - obey the principles of international law


 * 2/26/09**
 * Explain what containment theory and the Truman Doctrine are. Briefly summarize the Korean War. In detail explain how it is an example of containment. Choose one other event from the text book, briefly summarize it and explain how it is an example of containment. **

Containment: ‘containing’ communism within the countries where it already existed – in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
 * Truman Doctrine: a policy created by President Truman to stop communism spreading by giving aid in other countries

Korean War ** After the Japan was driven out of Korea by Soviet and U.S. troops at the end of WWII, in 1945 the Allies divided Korea into two zones. Soviet forces occupied the northern zone, and U.S. troops held the southern zone. Then, the Communist North Korea, led by Kim Il Sung, became known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. South Korea, under Syngman Rhee, called itself the Republic of Korea. The U.S., not wanting the economically unstable South Korea to fall to the Communists, they built up the South Korean Army. By 1949, both the U.S. and the Soviet troops faced each other tensely across the border at the 38th parallel. This is an example of containment because the U.S. did not want the sphere of influence of communism to reach and convert other countries. Thus, the U.S. gave aid to South Korea.

China By the mid-1920s a civil war had erupted in China between Nationalist and Communist forces. Chian Kai-shek led the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, against the Chinese Communists led by Mao Zedong. The U.S. did not want China to become a communist country, so they sent economic and military aid to China to unite the country under the Nationalists. By 1949, Mao’s communist forces gained control of most of the country, and Chiang and his army retreated to the island of Taiwan. The Chinese Communists established the People’s Republic of China. Yet, the U.S. continued to recognize the Nationalists as China’s legal government. Once again, this is an example of containment because the U.S. aided the Nationalist Party to stop China from becoming a communist country.

Research Paper Topic:
 * 3/8/09**

How did the Cuban Missile Crisis affect the social values, or society, of the Americans?


 * 3/8/09**
 * 1.** **Compare CIA intervention in Guatemala and Iran to Eisenhower’s handling of the Suez crisis. Did the US act justly and according to its values? What were the motivations in each case? Which one do you think was handled better and why?**

Eisenhower authorized a covert action by the CIA to organize a military coup against the Iranian leader. Eisenhower achieved his goal of removing Mosaddeq, but this interference in Iranian affairs provoked anti-American feelings in that country. In 1954, Eisenhower ordered a covert action in Guatemala. The CIA-led forces bombed the capital in June 1954 and installed a new pro-U.S. government, but it stirred up bitter resentment throughout Latin America. In these cases, the US did not act justly and call for liberation. The motivation was the policy of brinkmanship. Eisenhower had used power to end the expansion of communism.

In the Suez crisis, Eisenhower used diplomacy rather than covert actions to influence foreign policy. He supported an immediate cease-fire and the withdrawal of the invading troops. As the crisis eased, Eisenhower offered military aid to any Middle Eastern nation seeking help in resisting Communist aggression. I think the US acted justly in this case. The US sought liberation of all nations and did not use power to bring down communism.

I think the Suez crisis was handled better because it had less casualties. When Eisenhower used covert means to gather strategic information and pursue his Cold War goals, some casualties and resentment towards the US followed. On the other hand, diplomacy had less casualties and was able to seek Eisenhower’s Cold War goals at the same time.

**2. What was the significance of the Gary Powers incident on page 850?** Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Premier Khrushchev agreed to meet at a summit conference in Paris to discuss arms reduction. Yet, in May 1960, just before the summit was to begin, an American U-2—a high-altitude spy plane—had been shot down over the Soviet Union, and Francis Gary Powers, the captured pilot, admitted he had been on a spying mission. Khrushchev refused to proceed with the summit unless the US halted such spying missions and apologized for past flights. Eisenhower promised that flights would stop, but did not apologize. This incident caused the Cold War to continue.

Is it ever justifiable to treat people differently based on race, religion, gender, handicaps, etc.?**
 * 3/30/09

Discrimination can never be justifiable. Why treat people differently based on race, religion, gender, handicaps, etc. when we are all equal human beings? All mankind have the right to freely express their ideas, have their own belief systems, and be treated equally. People may have different perceptions, theory, or belief systems. We, mankind, must be able to respect each others' conceptions.


 * 4/3/09**
 * Journal: Read quote on page 929. What does this tell you about the risks and resistance Black activists faced in working to get the vote. Is it worth it? What would you do in this situation?**

This quote of Hollis Watkins states that Black activists who worked to get the vote faced risks of being ostracized. Not only the activists themselves, but the relatives of them faced huge risks, also. They were publicly disproved and socially rejected. White people had even beat or harassed them. Violent resistance against the Black activists were held in place. In order to prevent such consequences, the relatives had to reluctantly object their relationship with the Black activists. I believe that this requires extreme risk and courage, however worth it. In a situation like this, great orators like Martin Luther King Jr. must unite the African Americans and lead a stronger resistance.

Why I went to the war - Terry Farish**
 * 4/10/09

Terry Farish had enlisted in the war because it was part of her culture. Her father was from the World War II and her mother held military service in esteem. She was so patriotic that patriotic music gave her chills of excitement and passion. When Terry Farish decided to join the war, her parents felt proud of it. Rather than worrying about their daughter's security, Terry Farish's parents were willing to say that their daughter was in Vietnam.

Vietcong Program**
 * 4/14/09

• Summarize main points – overthrow the communism and form a national democratic government / become independent from the US / promote freedom / reunify the country / defend world peace • What important information does the doc give you – the Vietnamese desired for independence from the US • Explain significance of the document: consider the effects it may have had – It may have been a successful program by the Vietnamese giving total agreement. Yet, it may also instigate some opposition to the program. • Explain what the doc adds to the understanding of the War – The majority of the Vietnamese desired for a reformation. They wanted the war to stop and drive out the US troops from their country. This may indicate that the Vietnamese had an advantageous position in the war.

- What is the attitude towards the US in this document? The Vietnamese view the US as the factor of disorder. They desire to obtain independence by abolishing any American-based culture or system. - Do you see anything "wrong " in this document? Meaning do the goals seem just? While the document suggests the overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem government, it accounts for peaceful reunification of the country. How can this be “peaceful”? - Who or what country do you think has the right to resist these goals, if anyone? The Vietnamese have the right to resist these goals. It is their decision to follow the program or not.


 * 4/15/09**
 * Vietnam War - costs and public opinion**

The Vietnam War cost large amount of casualties. Many US soldiers account the war as a deadly fight. Not only did the soldiers die, but they were also wounded severely. Especially, the aftermath of the dangerous chemicals used during the battles was extremely devastating. Even after the war, soldiers suffered from the remnants of the chemicals. Inflicted by the chemicals, children were born with deformities. The Vietnam War also impacted the economy greatly. Huge amounts of money were spent for the mass production of the weaponry. Not only the US, but the Vietnamese also suffered from the war. Especially, large number of Vietnam civilians was involved in the battle. As the US troops attacked the Vietnamese indiscriminately, many innocent Vietnamese were involved. Witnessing that many innocent Vietnamese casualties were made, the public strongly opposed to the war. Many wanted to stop the war.

How can you keep authority figures honest? What do you do if an authority figure in your life is abusing their power?**
 * 5/12/09

You can keep authority figures honest by setting strict laws against dishonesty. Abuse of power may cause resignation or even huge fine. Authority figures may be overthrown from their positions. These can happen through demonstrations and protests. Abuse of power and dishonesty among the authority figures may be appealed to the public and society.

- The government is violating the First Amendment through the injunction of the press, or media.
 * Justice Black and Douglas: I adhere to the view that the Government's case against the Washington Post should have been dismissed and that the injunction against the New York Times should have been vacated without oral argument when the cases were first presented to this Court. I believe that every moment's continuance of the injunctions against these newspapers amounts to a flagrant, indefensible, and continuing violation of the First Amendment.
 * injunction: a court order prohibiting a party from a specific course of action (dictionary.com)

How important is a free press in a democracy?** Freedom of speech is clearly mentioned as the First Amendment. In a democratic society, people have rights to express and share their opinions and ideas. Such way, a common and better good can be induced. I believe that authority figures generally fear the press. Although authority figures are acclaimed for their great deeds, press is prone to criticize, blame, and reproach. Reporters seek for the truth, thus the more corrupt the authority figures are, the more they will fear the press. Although the First Amendment clearly states the freedom of speech, there must be some degree of regulations on what newspapers can print. Falsehood must be censored. Falsehood may cause panic or chaos among the readers. Newspapers must inform their readers with fact and truthfulness only, both morally and intellectually. Rumors, gossips, etc. are capable of misleading their readers. I believe that newspapers must reveal their sources unless the source doesn't want to be credited or accepts newspapers not revealing their source. Newspapers must respect privacy.
 * 5/13/09
 * What do you think the relationship is between the press and authority figures? Think about Watergate and the Washington Post, also the reading we did in class.**
 * Should there be any restrictions on what newspapers can print?**
 * Should newspapers be able to report without revealing their sources? Why or why not? Is this important?**

Nixon had committed illegal acts. He said that America needs a full-time president. He had lied to the public and decided to resign. He said that he had never profited from any of his acts, but the truth was soon revealed. However, Nixon had never admitted to his wrongdoing. In his speech, he has never said sorry. He said that the entire focus must be on the issues of peace abroad and prosperity without inflation at home.

What conclusions can you draw about Republicans and Democrats?** - It is witnessed that both Republicans and Democrats are considered with strong misconceptions. People believe that the Republican Party is specifically for the rich and is based on the principle of promoting big business. On the other hand, Democrats are considered to be Constitutional Liberals since their goal is to give more power to the Federal Government, and less to the states.
 * 5/27/09

The Republican party is conservative. Dave K. is a republican or a conservative. He is against gun control and war. The Democratic Party supports a stronger Federal Government over the State Governments. The Democrats believe that the Federal Government should have full control over things like welfare, health care, and labor laws. Thus, they are considered to be Constitutional Liberals. Pete W. supports both democratic values and conservative economic policies.
 * Give a one paragraph summary for each.**

It is surprising that Dave K. is against both gun control and war.
 * Describe one thing about these interviews that surprised you.**

Dave K. is a republican but from Texas. Most people from Texas, or south, are democrats. He goes against traditional republican values. Pete W. supports both democratic values and conservative economic policies.
 * How does each interviewee fit and Not fit into the typical party member?**