Reconstruction After the Civil War

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Waiting for Superman

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How a Bill REALLY becomes a law...

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Articles of Confederation Notes

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Civil Rights Prezi

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The Fog of War Video - Extra Credit

1. Who is Robert S. McNamara and why is he in particular such a controversial figure? How do his thinking, policies and leadership style compare or contrast with current leaders?

2. What happened during the Vietnam War? How many Americans and Vietnamese died in it? Why was it so controversial that it created one of the greatest anti-government protest movements in American history? Why does it remain controversial today?

3. Is it ever morally legitimate for citizens to criticize and protest a war undertaken by their country, if they believe it to be unjust, such as was the case with the Vietnam War? Is it legitimate for soldiers to criticize their countries policies and practices based on what they have experienced? What are the reasons for/against supporting freedom of speech and protest even during times of war? What are the dangers of not allowing protest vs. the dangers of allowing it?

4. What does McNamara mean by empathizing with the enemy? Should one empathize with one’s enemy in order to better handle him/them? Do we still continue and/or need to continue to construct and stereotype our opponents as enemies? How is that true in national and in international politics? Is it appropriate to see fellow citizens as enemies in a type of political and cultural warfare? How do we view are international enemies today? How much of this portrayal is reality and how much is it a simplification or stereotyping of their motives and characters? 

5. What are the "eleven lessons" and what do they mean? Do they provide a good way of thinking about war? Why or why not? What are the lessons to be learned from McNamara's discussions of the Second World War, being President of Ford, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War? 

6.  Do and should morals have a place in war? What does McNamara means by “proportionality" and does proportionality matter or only whether you win or lose the war? 

7. McNamara says about his role in the Second World War: LeMay said, “If we’d lost the war, we’d all have been prosecuted as war criminals.” And I think he’s right. He, and I’d say I, were behaving as war criminals. LeMay recognized that what he was doing would be thought immoral if his side had lost. But what makes it immoral if you lose and not immoral if you win? What do you think of McNamara's statement and question here? Why do you agree or disagree? 

8. One of the controversies of the Vietnam War was the draft. Why was it such a controversy such that people even raise it as an issue today? If there is a draft, should it apply equally to all or should some groups and individuals be exempt? Should there be a draft to encourage all citizens to serve or should it only occur under special circumstances or never at all? Why or why not? 

9. What are the similarities and differences between the Vietnam and Second Iraq War, if any? How do the actions of the Johnson administration compare with those of the Bush administration? What was the Tonkin Gulf Incident and Tonkin Gulf Resolution? How do they compare with the build-up to the Second Iraq War and the resolution to authorize the use of force? Is it legitimate to authorize the use of force but criticize how it was implemented? Why or why not?

10. What is the legacy of Robert McNamara? Should he be considered a war criminal, a bungler of the Vietnam War, or as someone who honorably served his country to the best of his abilities?

Chicano - Documentary

Part 1- click here- (1 hour)

Part 2 - click here (14 mins)

Part 3 - Click here (14 mins)

Part 4 - Click here.  (14 mins)

Part 5 - Click here (14 mins)

Part 6 - Click here (14 mins)

Part 7 - click here (1 hour)

Post World War II United States

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Cold War Timeline

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Battles of World War 2

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Advances in Medicine, Weapons and Technology during WW2

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American Involvement in World War 2

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TUskegee Airmen, 442 Combat Regimen, & Navajo Code Talkers Primary Sources

442nd Regimental Combat Team - (known as "The Purple Heart" and "Go For Broke" Battalion) were composed of entirely Japanese American soldiers who fought in World War 2 in the United States Military.

For more information click here

Navajo Code Talkers - were a group of Native Americans from the Navajo Nation that fought in the United States military.  They used their native language to transmit important information.  Their "code" or language was never cracked by enemies of the United States during the war.

Tuskegee Airmen - The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states were still subject to the Jim Crow laws.^{[N 1]} The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subjected to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction. All black military pilots who trained in the United States trained at Tuskegee, including five Haitians.  For more information click here.

World War 2 Presentation

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Where the world is heading?

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World War 2 Causes Presentation

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World War 2 Notes 4/4/13

11th Grade Notes 1. Four Freedoms Speech - January 4, 1941 - speech by US President Franklin Roosevelt - he knew the US was going to have to get involved in World War 2, so said that everyone is entitled to four freedoms: SPEECH, RELIGION (worship), and freedom from fear and want. 2. The events that lead to Pearl Harbor - 1937 - Japan goes to war with China July 1939 Roosevelt announces that Treaty of Commerce and Navigation will not be renewed July 2, 1940 U.S. Congress passes Export Control Act August Japan declares greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere September 27 Japan signs Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy January 1941 Yamamoto prepares plan for attack on Pearl Harbor July Japanese troops occupy Indochina October Hirohito gives general approval for Pearl Harbor attack November 8 Hirohito approves formal battle plan for attack in December November 26 Japanese attack fleet sets sail from Japan December 7 Japan launches surprise attack on Pearl Harbor December 8 United States and Britain declare war on Japan December 11 Germany declares war on United States 3. Infamy Speech - by Franklin Roosevelt in response to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 4. Major Battles of World War 2 - Midway - June 4, 1942 - - the United States destroyed the Japanese fleet in the Pacific Ocean and brought the Allies closer to victory - Normandy - June 6, 1944 turned the war in favor of the Americans, British and other Allies when they landed in Normandy, France - Iwo Jima - 19 February – 26 March 1945), or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire - Okinawa, Japan - The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg,[3] was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II.[4][5] The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945. - Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945) - major European battle started by the Germans in response to Normandy, they hoped to drive the Allies (US, England etc) out.

Psychological Profile of Adolf Hitler

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Islamic Art

Islamic art link

Love Letter from the Front

France, July 22, 1944

Darling:

...Yesterday I had to visit all the units again, to get statements for my report. The regiment is in contact with the enemy, so such trips always have their skin-prickling moments. I got back pretty tired about 7 o'clock, just in time to get a phone call from the CO of one of Sirrine's battalions, also in the line, requesting me to come up to discuss personal problems of his body-guard, a fine young fellow who had simultaneously received word that his sister, an army nurse, and a brother, a flyer, had both been killed in the So. Pacific, and that his remaining brother had been critically wounded with another division here in France.

While up there, I hit the favorite hours for Jerry's activities, and, frankly, pretty nearly had the pants scared off me, with samples of shelling, mortar-fire, and strafing. I got back at midnight, having driven the jeep myself all day (my driver being on guard) slipping and slewing through mud axle deep whenever I got off the surfaced roads, which was frequently. I hate to admit it, but after a day like that, I feel my years. Yeah, man! War is a young man's game!...

News on 90th has been released. Maybe you know something now of what the boys have gone through: constant contact with the enemy since D-Day. They've taken their losses, too. Somebody says "Old Bill got it today." "No!" you say. "Son-of-a-bitch!" And you go on about your business, with a little more emptiness inside, a little more tiredness, a little more hatred of everything concerning war.

There is a certain cemetery where some of my closest friends in the division lie. I saw it grow -- shattered bodies lying there waiting for graves to be dug. Now it is filled. The graves are neat and trim, each with its cross. Occasionally I visit it when passing by. Always there are flowers on the graves: Sometimes a potted geranium has been newly brought in; sometimes there is a handful of daisies. The French people, especially the children, seem to have charged themselves with this little attention. Our bombers are roaring overhead just now, in the hazy afterglow of sunset. In a few seconds I'll hear the crunch of bombs -- a good-night kiss for the Nazis. There they go!

The war news is good; but we're fighting over optimism. I suppose people at home are elated; the boys up front are still in their fox-holes.

I'll try to write at least a note every day or so. Take care of yourself. I'm fine.

Love,

John

Causes of World War 2 Reading

Main Causes of World War Two

 

World War Two began in September 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany following Germany’s invasion of Poland. Although the outbreak of war was triggered by Germany's invasion of Poland, the causes of the war are more complex.

 

Treaty of Versailles

In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson from the US met to discuss how Germany should pay for the damage world war one had caused.

 

Woodrow Wilson wanted a treaty based on his 14-point plan which he believed would bring peace to Europe.

 

Georges Clemenceau wanted revenge. He wanted to be sure that Germany could never start another war again.

 

Lloyd George personally agreed with Wilson but knew that the British public agreed with Clemenceau. He tried to find a compromise between Wilson and Clemenceau.

Germany had been expecting a treaty based on Wilson’s 14 points and were not happy with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. However, they had no choice but to sign the document.

 

The main terms of the Treaty of Versailles were:

War Guilt Clause - Germany should accept the blame for starting World War One

Reparations - Germany had to pay £6,600 million for the damage caused by the war

Disarmament - Germany was only allowed to have a small army and six naval ships. No tanks, no airforce and no submarines were allowed. The Rhineland area was to be de-militarised.

Territorial Clauses - Land was taken away from Germany and given to other countries. Anschluss (union with Austria) was forbidden.

 

The German people were very unhappy about the treaty and thought that it was too harsh. Germany could not afford to pay the money and during the 1920s the people in Germany were very poor. There were not many jobs and the price of food and basic goods was high. People were dissatisfied with the government and voted to power a man who promised to rip up the Treaty of Versailles. His name was Adolf Hitler.

 

Hitler's Actions

Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Almost immediately he began secretly building up Germany’s army and weapons. In 1934 he increased the size of the army, began building warships and created a German airforce. Compulsory military service was also introduced

 

Although Britain and France were aware of Hitler’s actions, they were also concerned about the rise of Communism and believed that a stronger Germany might help to prevent the spread of Communism to the West.

 

In 1936 Hitler ordered German troops to enter the Rhineland. At this point the German army was not very strong and could have been easily defeated. Yet neither France nor Britain was prepared to start another war.

 

Hitler also made two important alliances during 1936. The first was called the Rome-Berlin Axis Pact and allied Hitler’s Germany with Mussolini’s Italy. The second was called the Anti-Comitern Pact and allied Germany with Japan.

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Hitler’s next step was to begin taking back the land that had been taken away from Germany. In March 1938, German troops marched into Austria. The Austrian leader was forced to hold a vote asking the people whether they wanted to be part of Germany.

The results of the vote were fixed and showed that 99% of Austrian people wanted Anschluss (union with Germany). The Austrian leader asked Britain, France and Italy for aid. Hitler promised that Anschluss was the end of his expansionist aims and not wanting to risk war, the other countries did nothing.

 

Hitler did not keep his word and six months later demanded that the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia be handed over to Germany.

 

Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Britain, met with Hitler three times during September 1938 to try to reach an agreement that would prevent war.

The Munich Agreement stated that Hitler could have the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia provided that he promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. Hitler was not a man of his word and in March 1939 invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Despite calls for help from the Czechoslovak government, neither Britain nor France was prepared to take military action against Hitler. However, some action was now necessary and believing that Poland would be Hitler’s next target, both Britain and France promised that they would take military action against Hitler if he invaded Poland. Chamberlain believed that, faced with the prospect of war against Britain and France, Hitler would stop his aggression. Chamberlain was wrong. German troops invaded Poland on 1st September 1939.

 

Failure of Appeasement

Appeasement means giving in to someone provided their demands are seen as reasonable. During the 1930s, many politicians in both Britain and France came to see that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles had placed restrictions on Germany that were unfair. Hitler's actions were seen as understandable and justifiable.

 

When Germany began re-arming in 1934, many politicians felt that Germany had a right to re-arm in order to protect herself. It was also argued that a stronger Germany would prevent the spread of Communism to the west. In 1936, Hitler argued that because France had signed a new treaty with Russia, Germany was under threat from both countries and it was essential to German security that troops were stationed in the Rhineland. France was not strong enough to fight Germany without British help and Britain was not prepared to go to war at this point. Furthermore, many believed that since the Rhineland was a part of Germany it was reasonable that German troops should be stationed there.

 

In May 1937, Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister of Britain. He believed that the Treaty of Versailles had treated Germany badly and felt that giving in to Hitler's demands would prevent another war. This policy, adopted by Chamberlain's government became known as the policy of Appeasement.

 

The Munich Agreement, signed by the leaders of Germany, Britain, France and Italy, agreed that the Sudetenland would be returned to Germany and that no further territorial claims would be made by Germany. The Czech government was not invited to the conference and protested about the loss of the Sudetenland. They felt that they had been betrayed by both Britain and France with whom alliances had been made. However, the Munich Agreement was generally viewed as a triumph and an excellent example of securing peace through negotiation rather than war.

This famous picture shows Chamberlain returning from Munich with the paper signed by Hitler declaring 'Peace in our time.'

When Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, he broke the terms of the Munich Agreement. Although it was realised that the policy of appeasement had failed, Chamberlain was still not prepared to take the country to war over "..a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing…" Instead, he made a guarantee to come to Poland's aid if Hitler invaded Poland.

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Failure of the League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organisation set up in 1919 to help keep world peace. It was intended that all countries would be members of the League and that if there were disputes between countries they could be settled by negotiation rather than by force. If this failed then countries would stop trading with the aggressive country and if that failed then countries would use their armies to fight. In theory the League of Nations was a good idea and did have some early successes. But ultimately it was a failure.

 

The whole world was hit by a depression in the late 1920s. In 1931, Japan was hit badly by the depression. People lost faith in the government and turned to the army to find a solution. The army invaded Manchuria in China, an area rich in minerals and resources. China appealed to the League for help. The Japanese government were told to order the army to leave Manchuria immediately. However, the army took no notice of the government and continued its conquest of Manchuria.

 

The League then called for countries to stop trading with Japan but because of the depression many countries did not want to risk losing trade and did not agree to the request. The League then made a further call for Japan to withdraw from Manchuria but Japan's response was to leave the League of Nations.

 

In October 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia. The Abyssinians did not have the strength to withstand an attack by Italy and appealed to the League of Nations for help.

 

The League condemned the attack and called on member states to impose trade restrictions with Italy. However, the trade restrictions were not carried out because they would have little effect. Italy would be able to trade with non-member states, particularly America. Furthermore, Britain and France did not want to risk Italy making an attack on them.

 

In order to stop Italy's aggression, the leaders of Britain and France held a meeting and decided that Italy could have two areas of land in Abyssinia provided that there were no further attacks on the African country. Although Mussolini accepted the plan, there was a public outcry in Britain and the plan was dropped.

 

The main reasons for the failure of the League of Nations:

Not all countries joined the League - Although the idea for the League of Nations had come from Woodrow Wilson, there was a change of government in the United States before the signing of the treaty and the new Republican government refused to join. As a punishment for having started World War One, Germany was not allowed to join and Russia was also excluded due to a growing fear of Communism. Other countries decided not to join and some joined but later left.

The League had no power - The main weapon of the League was to ask member countries to stop trading with an aggressive country. However, this did not work because countries could still trade with non-member countries. When the world was hit by depression in the late 1920s countries were reluctant to lose trading partners to other non-member countries. 

The League had no army - Soldiers were to be supplied by member countries. However, countries were reluctant to get involved and risk provoking an aggressive country into taking direct action against them and failed to provide troops. 

Unable to act quickly - The Council of the League of Nations only met four times a year and decisions had to be agreed by all nations. When countries called for the League to intervene, the League had to set up an emergency meeting, hold discussions and gain the agreement of all members. This process meant that the League could not act quickly to stop an act of aggression.

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