...Logan 1 Emily Logan Mr. Sgrignoli CHY 4U1 6 June 2014 TITLE Although Adolf Hitler is often credited as the Twentieth Centuries most evil man, there are others who could easily be seen as equally sharing this assumption. Undoubtedly, Hitler was an extremely evil man and was responsible for the deaths of millions of people during his time in power in World War Two, however there are other past world leaders who were responsible for the deaths of many more people. Through examining Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1929-1953, and Mao Zedong, the chairman of the Communist Party of China from 1945-1976, it is clear that Hitler cannot accurately hold the title of being the most evil man in history. Adolf Hitler was born on April 20 in the small Austrian town of Braunau. In his early years Hitler excelled at school and was admired for his leadership qualities (history.com), however when he reached high school he found the work to be much more difficult. When Hitler was fifteen years old he failed his exams and was informed he would need to repeat that school year. Stubbornly, Hitler refused to continue with his education and dropped out of school. When he was eighteen years old his father, Alois Hitler, passed away. Hitler used the money he Logan 2 inherited from his later father to move to Vienna in hopes of pursuing a career in the arts. He applied to the Vienna Academy of Art and the School of Architecture, to which he was both...
Words: 1966 - Pages: 8
...treaty gave up Poland, Baltics, and all territory in the North that Russia had gained since 1618…all told 1.3 mill km2, 26% of her people and 75% of her iron and capacity…needless to say Lenin had hard time “selling” the Treaty - the October coup d’état = “beginning of the Revolution” not end….Bolsheviks in the provinces + the centre had to be decide how to handle local Soviets which asserted authority but happened to be dominated by Mensheviks. - long difficult struggles against anarchy, decentralization + separatist tendencies lay ahead – the future form of gov’t = an “open question” - for Lenin, “Dictatorship of proletariat” was what the revolution needed…now this was a slogan and principle that fit into the circumstances of the winter 1917–1918…but, what did it mean?...it meant: a) crushing counter revolution of the old ruling class – the dictatorship would have to have coercive organs like Tsarist police (i.e. the Bolsheviks would assemble the Cheka) b) that the dictatorship of Bolshevik Party and other political parties was incompatible…and would pose problems c) that giving broad powers to unions + factory committees could in itself be problematic… what if worker ideas differed from Bolsheviks? Problems for the Bolsheviks 1) one underlying problem came in that the Bolsheviks considered themselves to be a part of an international proletarian revolution….and they hoped their success in Russia could helped spark similar success in Germany for example…indeed, many...
Words: 3349 - Pages: 14
...1984: The Party Vs Soviet Russia George Orwells 1984 was a novel of shocking circumstances. All matters in the book are surprising and eye catching to one built on the American society, such as myself. But what if we weren’t comfortable with a society of freedom? What if, likewise to 1984, we had grown up in the 1900’s Soviet Russia? Compared to 1984, Soviet Russia was very much “The Party” in these instances, ranging from the similarities in propaganda, style of government rule, and the forced lifestyles of its people. The ways that 1984 and Soviet Russia use propaganda are eerily similar. “Artists painted pictures glorifying Stalin and he dominated many pictures. It was not unusual for Stalin to be in a white suit so that he stood out from...
Words: 1021 - Pages: 5
...the western democracies and the USSR due to the desire to defeat a common enemy: fascism and Germany. Once the war was over, this interdependency ended as well, and the result was two victorious superpowers with totally different ideologies. The defeat of fascism meant the ideologies of capitalism and communism were left to clash. The US used the atomic bomb on Japan without informing her ally, the USSR. Not only was this lack of contact a problem, but it also marked the start of a deadly new arms race. The USSR developed their own nuclear weapon in 1949 and both nations soon acquired the deadlier hydrogen bomb. There was also a delay of opening a second European front during the war angered Stalin, as he believed that the US delayed entry in the hopes that the Nazis would destroy Russia. With the post war settlements came the big issue of Germany. After the war, Germany saw huge...
Words: 971 - Pages: 4
...Democracy Vs. Communism Following WWII Following World War II, the Western World was once again in disagreement. However, the disagreement following World War II was not based on countries, but instead on political ideologies. Democracy was supported by the West against communism which was supported by Russia and Eastern Europe. To determine the better of the two systems, the US and the USSR engaged in a 30 year, largely non-violent war to be the best. The winner would be the country to decide the political ideologies of the countries freed during World War II as well as throughout the rest of the world. The USSR emerged from World War II as a world power, and through the next three decades engaged in a battle with the Western World to spread communism, forcing eight Eastern European nations as well as other Asian and Middle-Eastern countries to remain communist until the end of the century. World War II left the USSR as a world power but in a state of complete disarray, leaving the USSR to rebuild and expand their own government beliefs. During the war, the USSR faced the most civilian and military casualties out of any other nation by far. Through the course of the war, 19 million soldiers were killed, with over 5 million civilian casualties, resulting in a total loss over almost 13% of the USSR's population. An additional 5 million prisoners of war, political enemies, and people that had committed crime were in forced labor camps. They were forced to harvest natural resources...
Words: 1775 - Pages: 8
...During the Second World War, the USSR and the USA, the two great nations in the 1940s united each other to defeat their common enemy, Nazi Germany. Their alliance was however ‘unnatural’ as both countries had conflicting ideologies, capitalism vs. communism and both wanted to spread their power and control in the world. Their incompatible ideologies from the start together with their troubled relationship since 1918 when the west intervened on the Russian civil war on behalf of the White Army, created an uneasy alliance in 1941 that that was most certainly ‘bound to fall apart’ when the common enemy was defeated in 1945. In order to come to a conclusion on the extent to which “An unnatural alliance that was bound to fall apart after the defeat of the common enemy” explains the origin of the cold war the essay will be divided into four parts: the opposed ideologies, events from 1919 to 1945, the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, and events subsequent to the conferences until 1949. The Bolsheviks seized power in 1917 leading to the establishment of the world’s first socialist state whose guiding ideas were those of communism. For the leaders of the western countries these ideas threatened the very basis of their societies, economically and politically, as they followed an ideology of Capitalism. For the USSR, capitalism which revolves around private enterprise was seen as creating divisions between rich and poor and thus the communists believed that all goods should be taken over...
Words: 1809 - Pages: 8
...Higher Level History Notes 19th Century Russia The Russian people are descendants of the ‘Rus’ who are thought to be a mixture of Scandinavian and Slavic origin and settled in that region out of ± 800 AD Byzantine Empire A major legacy of the Byzantine Empire for the Russians was the eastern orthodox or Greek Orthodox Church With the decline of Byzantium came a wave of conquest from the East, the Mongols until the 15th century (Tatars). To a large extent, the Mongols allowed Russians to maintain their way of life: - Slavic based languages including writing system (Cyrillic) - Orthodox religion The Russians adopted much from Asian culture and this led western Europeans to think less of the Russians Geographically Russia was isolated from the rest of Europe: - Entirely land locked (mostly) - Huge Plains of Eastern Europe prevented overland travel During these early years there were a series of muscovite princes based in Moscow and called themselves Tsars. By the 17th century the Romanov family became the ruling dynasty: - Alexander I (1801-1825) - Nicholas I (1825-1855) - Alexander II (1855-1881) - Alexander III (1881-1894) - Nicholas II (1894-1917) Under the rule of Peter the Great (1689-1728) Russia grew greatly in size and entered the European World www.ibscrewed.org The Russia of 1800 was one of the greatest autocracies in Europe where: - The Tsar’s rule was absolute - There was a small...
Words: 32400 - Pages: 130
...best iii) Justified imperialism, militarism iv) Caused disruptions in multi-ethnic nations (Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire); rebellions, revolts against foreign rule c) Militarism i) Build up of a country’s military; keeping a large standing army ii) Nations expanded their militaries as a show of power iii) Arms race: each nation needed to have a standing army because their neighbors had standing armies d) Alliances i) Bismarck: German chancellor behind alliance system in Europe ii) Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy allied; France, Great Britain, Russia allied 2) Events a) Assassination of Archduke Frantz Ferdinand: Serbian terrorists kill the Austrian duke and his wife as they honeymooned in Sarajevo i) Austria demands Serbian submission ii) Russia offers to back Serbians in defying Austrians iii) Austria and Germany declare war on Serbia and Russia (along with Russia’s allies) b) Schlieffen Plan i) Germany knows Russia will take longer to mobilize, so plans to attack France first and then loop back through Germany to meet Russian troops ii) Germany begins invasion by first cutting through Netherlands and Belgium iii) Great Britain outraged at Germany’s attack on neutral nations, begins to mobilize for war iv) Conquest of Belgium takes longer than planned, by the time...
Words: 3465 - Pages: 14
...Atomic Shield Vs. The Iron Curtain Post-World War II attitude transitioned from relief to immediate paranoia and suspicion. World War II was responsible for roughly 55 million deaths. The most devastating war in modern history led to a great shift in power around the world. Many questions regarding the future of Europe arose. The Cold War was caused by a clash between capitalist and communist ideologies that ultimately led to the United States winning the Cold War. The Cold War was a post-World War II stalemate between the world’s two reigning superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States. The world now saw opposition between the United States’ capitalist visions verses the Soviet Union’s communist visions. Various roots contributed to the start of the Cold War. Even before the end of World War II, suspicions of the Soviets were present. In October 1917, a revolution in Russia led by Lenin Bolshevik and the communists alarmed many Americans. The Communists had seized power and often used violence to achieve their goals. With a Marxist view, they rejected religion and the idea of private property. It was obvious that the Soviet Union wanted to spread communism throughout the world. After World War II, there loomed a danger of appeasement, because of the familiar events that occurred with Hitler and Germany. Hitler made demands that allowed the Nazis to expand further, and many believed that the Soviet Union was more fixed on...
Words: 1316 - Pages: 6
...in Eastern Europe collapsed. All across Europe, in countries such as Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Russia, the people and their governments were in constant struggle. These struggles eventually lead to a falling out in the communist governments, and the citizens won their victory. Because the people's needs were not met by the government, corruption in government and poor leadership, and the views on countries' economies were different, the communist regimes in Eastern Europe eventually collapsed. Communism was first developed by Karl Marx in the 19th Century; it is the theory of a society in which people take only what they need and give only what they can. Communism started out as a decent cause, but it evolved into a violent revolution in which the government controlled the people only through force. Communism took away people’s freedom in their separate economies, which caused anger to ripple through the people. Strikes were led by angry mobs, and by 1991, all communist regimes had completely collapsed in Eastern Europe. After years of revolt and protest, the official communist government positions had lost all popular support by the people and the Iron Curtain was dismantled, allowing Eastern Europe to become communist-free. In many countries, the people’s needs were rarely met by the government. For example, the government in communist Russia, or the Soviet Union, took agricultural workers crops, and in return, the government would distribute a “satisfactory”...
Words: 1561 - Pages: 7
...issues came to light that many wanted to fix. Many strong people and organizations rose up to try to resolve these social issues. The two main issues during the 1950’s were civil rights and sexism. Both were large issues that many fought to try to resolve during these times. Civil rights was arguably the biggest issue during the 1950’s and saw many positives towards success. The NCAAP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People) become the most influential organization during the civil rights movement in the fifties. Important figures like Martin Luther King Jr. would also show up during this period. The NCAAP would imply a strategy of breaking uncivil laws through the legal system. It would work as in 1954, the legal case Brown vs. Board of Education would allow African Americans the practical right to study among Whites. This ruling was a big success for the NCAAP and African Americans everywhere. By 1955 MLK would begin his bus boycott around the south urging for non-segregation on Public transportation. The NCAAP would also influence the charge for the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and push for stronger push from the Government. Women would also be making a charge for equality in the 1950’s. During WWII many women for the first time held jobs and responsibilities outside the house. Following the war though women were forced out when the men returned. The tactic used against them were pressuring them and even government interference. Even though it worked for the most...
Words: 929 - Pages: 4
...at your leisure :) If something is in [] brackets, it is only written in there for our pleasure, ignore it if you are looking for actual information. Key: • 7: The Renaissance and Reformation- 1350-1600 UMSUniversal o Georgio Vasari- Rinascita=rebirth (like Renaissance) painter/architect Male Suffrage o Individualism: People sought to receive personal credit for achievements, unlike medieval ideal of “all glory goes to god” Names Ideas o Renaissance: Began in Italian city-states, a cause de invention of the printing press, laid way for Protestant Reformation Events Books/Texts Italy: City states, under HRE (Holy Roman Empire) o For alliances: old nobility vs. wealthy merchants FIGHT P-Prussia Popolo: third class, “the people”, wanted own share of wealth/power R-Russia A-Austria Ciompi Revolts: 1378 Florence, Popolo were revolting [eew], brief period of control over government B-Britain Milan taken over by signor (which is a tyrant) • o Under control of the Condottiero (mercenary) Sforza- Significant because after this, a few wealthy families dominated Venice (e.g. Medici) Humanism: Francesco Petrarch (Sonnets), came up with term “Dark Ages”, began to study classical world of rhetoric and literature Cicero: Important Roman, provided account of collapse of Roman Republic [like Edward Gibbon], invented Ciceronian style: Latin style of writing which humanists followed • [Even though they weren’t in Rome, Humanists...
Words: 17289 - Pages: 70
... and the way she puts bits of information together for a larger, philosophical purpose. In this digital age, we're confronted with numbers and statistics and information (and lies) on a daily basis. It can seem overwhelming, sometimes deadening. Select some facts/numbers/details about topics or events that reflect the wreck of the time you have inhabited this earth, and with your own purpose, craft a shorter imitation of Dillard's piece in which your attention to particulars brings some larger theme into focus. Due Nov. 8 The Wreck of Time My wrecks in time are all the wars I’ve experience over the years starting with 1961Bay of Pigs and Cuba over nuke missiles being sent to be installed in Cuba. With the cold war scare of a war with Russia and Cuba. Vietnam 1960-1975,Then to not so known Cambodian Laos wars with Pol Pot ( Khmer Rouge) Pol Pot 19 May 1925 – 15 April 1998)[1][2] was a Cambodian revolutionary who led the Khmer Rouge[3] from 1963 until 1997. Here is a look from 2004 about the pros and cons of war against Iraq from information available at that time. It is included here for historical purposes. The possibility of war with Iraq is a very divisive issue around the world. Turn on any news show and you will see a daily debate on the pros and cons of going to war. The following is a list of the reasons being discussed both for and against war. This is not intended as an endorsement for or against the war, but is meant as a quick reference. Please use the poll to...
Words: 5866 - Pages: 24
...Ethnical and religious cleavages in central and eastern Europe Does Europe exist? Where should be the borders? Russia and Turkey had a big influence on Europe as well. They dispatched parts of Europe for a long time. Of course the path dependency is present in these regions. The process of European integration started later there. European identity is difficult to describe. Distinction between east and west means post-communism (eastern). Central Europe: Czechs feel like being central Europeans (since they don’t want to be part of eastern Europe.) idea of central Europe is based on Austrian-Hungarian-Empire + parts of Germany eg Bavaria. The link is also the way of making decisions, working, doing things, tradition, waking up early (Franz Josef) many similarities. Lot of conflicts in Europe are still connected to events that happened hundreds of years ago. Poland (republic) Linguistic Group: Western Slavic Religion: Catholic (important part of national identity) Ethnical Minorities: German, Ukraine, Belorussian (small and not important) Often divided (Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary) Is called state of wheels always moving We are Poles because we are not Russian, not German religion became very important for their identification. Day 2 Post-Yugoslavia states Tito managed to unify Yugoslavia after WWII and to keep it independent from Russia. self-managed socialism (market orientation). More contact to the west. Authoritarian system but not as closed as...
Words: 6827 - Pages: 28
...advanced ways with "inferior" races. * 14 Points: A detailed list of war aims presented by President Wilson: 1) Recognition of freedom of the seas 2) An end to the practice of making secret treaties 3) Reduction of national armaments 4) An "impartial adjustment of all colonial claims" 5) Self-determination for the various nationalities within the Austro-Hungarian empire. 6) "A general association of nations..for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike" * Alexander Kerensky: 1881-1970 Liberal revolutionary leader during the early stages of the Russian Revolution of 1917; sought development of parliamentary rule, religious freedom * Apollonian vs. Dionysian Apollonian - emphasizes the objective, calm experience of the reasoning mind Dionysian - emphasizes the subjective, passionate experiences of...
Words: 2515 - Pages: 11
