Friday, March 20, 2009
History Class This Week March 20
Last class we discussed the basic points of the begining of War War Two, which I thought was interesting but wished that you could have elaborated on it more or given some interesting stories to pull everything together more. I liked the google maps where the screen zoomed from place to place. It really conveyed how big the war was and how much land was concerned in it.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Great Depression
1. How does a person make money on an investment?
Buy the stocks low, and sell the stocks higher than what you bought it for.
2. What does 'cheap credit' mean?
There is a lot of money available to borrow, regular people with so so credit can get a cheap loan and buy something they could not otherwise afford.
3. What is 'buying on margin' mean?
You can put ten percent of the cost down, and pay interest on the other ninety percent, while waiting for your stock to enlarge.
4. How is 'speculation' different from 'investment'?
Investing is buying something for a long term investment with little or no intent to sell; a speculator is someone who rides the market and buys something only to sell it for more money later.
5. How does 'panic selling' start?
When everyone around you is selling thier stocks, and you realize that you need to sell as well or lose all your money.
6. How can high unemployment start a negative economic cycle?
As people lose thier jobs, productivity goes down, less and less people have money to spend, and even if they did there would be less produce to buy.
7. How did increases in technology contribute to overproduction in the 1920's?
Electricity and mechanical devices made it easier to make more of your product with less employees. This means less people have an income, and less money to buy the increased amount of products.
8. What is meant by 'uneven distribution of wealth? Is it a bad thing?
One tenth percent at the top of economy owned as much as the bottom fortytwo percent of American families. Almost half of all Americans were living in poverty.
9. What is a tariff, and why don't they seem to work in the modern economy (post-WWI)?
An extra tax we have to pay on an imported good. When everyome decides to post a high tariff, it hurts everyone in the end.
10. What is 'rugged individualism? Is it real?
You must be self dependant and look to themsevles for a fix.
11. What is a Hooverville, and why is it called that?
A town or grouping of tents or boxes in which people would camp out.
Buy the stocks low, and sell the stocks higher than what you bought it for.
2. What does 'cheap credit' mean?
There is a lot of money available to borrow, regular people with so so credit can get a cheap loan and buy something they could not otherwise afford.
3. What is 'buying on margin' mean?
You can put ten percent of the cost down, and pay interest on the other ninety percent, while waiting for your stock to enlarge.
4. How is 'speculation' different from 'investment'?
Investing is buying something for a long term investment with little or no intent to sell; a speculator is someone who rides the market and buys something only to sell it for more money later.
5. How does 'panic selling' start?
When everyone around you is selling thier stocks, and you realize that you need to sell as well or lose all your money.
6. How can high unemployment start a negative economic cycle?
As people lose thier jobs, productivity goes down, less and less people have money to spend, and even if they did there would be less produce to buy.
7. How did increases in technology contribute to overproduction in the 1920's?
Electricity and mechanical devices made it easier to make more of your product with less employees. This means less people have an income, and less money to buy the increased amount of products.
8. What is meant by 'uneven distribution of wealth? Is it a bad thing?
One tenth percent at the top of economy owned as much as the bottom fortytwo percent of American families. Almost half of all Americans were living in poverty.
9. What is a tariff, and why don't they seem to work in the modern economy (post-WWI)?
An extra tax we have to pay on an imported good. When everyome decides to post a high tariff, it hurts everyone in the end.
10. What is 'rugged individualism? Is it real?
You must be self dependant and look to themsevles for a fix.
11. What is a Hooverville, and why is it called that?
A town or grouping of tents or boxes in which people would camp out.
Friday, March 6, 2009
My Time in History Class
The things I enjoy most about our history class is when you give detailed lectures with lots of insight put in a way that is easy to understand. They are never dry or boring and they help me to understand a lot. I also like it when you have a good visual to go along with what you are lecturing on, such as an interesting photo or a movie clip. It is also good when you have a side story that is entertaining, while still related to the topic. It helps everyone stay interested while not being monotonous.
What I think would be helpful if you posted the exam essays on your website so we could have access to them even if we forgot our papers. I also wish that we could have a little bit of time at the end of every class to ask questions about less related subject during the lecture, and looked them up on youtube. For example, I would have liked to look up Charlie Chaplin after class because I was interested in who he was, but because he was not directly related to our subject, we did not get to see who he was.
What I think would be helpful if you posted the exam essays on your website so we could have access to them even if we forgot our papers. I also wish that we could have a little bit of time at the end of every class to ask questions about less related subject during the lecture, and looked them up on youtube. For example, I would have liked to look up Charlie Chaplin after class because I was interested in who he was, but because he was not directly related to our subject, we did not get to see who he was.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Cold War Era Exam
1). Basically, Ronald Reagan has been given most of the credit for ending the Cold War because he was actually president during the end of it. It was his strong arm attitude that drove us to overpower the Soviet Union and take back control. Although it is true that many other Presidents contributed in breaking the Soviet Union, the ultimate end of the War was seen under Reagan's command. Reagan is credited with being an American hero - especially after he was shot by Brady while doing his duty for America. It was not as though he would have been able to do anything about his assassination attempt, but nevertheless he was deemed a hero for "taking a bullet for America." His Presidency started off with a bang when all of Jimmy Carter's struggles were ended when the hostages were released during his inauguration. While belittling Carter, this raised Reagan on a platform as a great and successful star to his career. It was things like these that helped him in his popularity - even though he did little to set the hostages free, the release of the prisoners was in essence because of him, or rather, the ending of Carter's presidency. It was Reagan's talk of the "evil empire" that finally got America together and ultimately helped us win the cold war over the Soviet Union.
(this was the last one I wrote... I know its not very good :/ )
2). The presidents involved in the Watergate and Iran Contra scandals were two very different people, with different personality traits and a different way of dealing with situations. To begin, Nixon had none of the suave and gentlemanly effect that Ronald Reagan had. Reagan had been an actor previously, and knew how to convey himself and being charming for a crowd or camera. Compared to Reagan, Nixon had little appeal in that regard, and even less as the truth about his personality unfolded.
Richard Nixon's scandal was more insulting the American people in general. During the election season of 1972, Richard's Dirty Tricks Squad broke into the Democratic Headquarters in the Watergate Complex in an attempt to uncover information which would lead to the downfall of the Democratic Party. Right after, nearly 6 days, Nixon was able to hush the break in and the American populace never heard about this unethical scandal. From the start, Nixon was sliming his way into office with bad politics and bad manners. This was an immediate insult the the American people, even though they would not know of his doings until over a year later. Tapes were found of Nixon's conversations in the White House, some of which he cursed violently and disrespected his office. This was insulting to the American people because he had shamed the office of President by using such foul language inside it. As President we expect our leader to conduct himself in a proper way (at least while holding conferences in the White House). As well as uncovering his bad language, the fact that he was behind the break-ins at Watergate made the American people feel ignorant for trusting him and letting him hold such a prestigious office in the first place. Over all, Nixon had little charm or reliability, and ended up leading to his own downfall.
Ronald Reagan, however did not make the American people feel nearly as stupid and disappointed as Nixon did. Ronald Reagan possessed many more good attributes than Nixon, and was able to seem respectable and classy (at least to the face of America). Although the Iran Contra Affair was nothing to be proud of, the people did not take it as quite as personal a blow. It was not as shocking as Nixon's scandal had been; a direct hit to the face of America. When compared to what Reagan is credited for - ending a fifty year long war that had been present in many voter's entire lives, it pales in comparison. Liberating America from the grip of the Cold War is far more redeeming, while a few illegally sold weapons seemed hardly a comparison.
In short, Reagan got away with what he did because of his character and the fact that he had a good deed to cancel out the scandal that he committed. Nixon had no such great deed he had done, and even so the nature of his acts were such that not many would have forgiven him even if he had.
3). There are several major events that happened during the era of the cold war, and each of them are important in establishing the course that America took and how all events played out. An example of three of these are the Watergate Scandal of Richard Nixon, the Malaise Speech given by Jimmy Carter, and the Iran Contra Affair under President Ronald Reagan. Each of these are significant because they all provide insight into how the public viewed each president and the general state of the American Population and its leaders.
Beginning with the Watergate Scandal in the year 1972, it is clear even after a small amount of research that most of Nixon's career during the election season of 1972 to his presidency in 1973, there were many misdeeds and corrupt politics coming into play in the White House. Nixon was the head of a team of his closest advisers, aptly deemed the "Dirty Tricks" squad. All of these men were in a high ranking in politics, and all held a strong desire to win, whatever morals they had to trample to get there. During the election season, the Dirty Tricks squad broke into the Watergate Complex to try to uncover secret information on the Democratic Party. This was not only illegal, but unethical and immoral as well. Had this been taken more seriously, the American populace probably would not have elected him. However, Nixon was sworn into office and continued his streak of disrespect throughout his career. This was unknown until a certain thing about Nixon was revealed; it was called the Smoking Gun. This Smoking Gun pointed at Nixon for the Watergate break in and several more unappealing deeds. It was Nixon himself that lead to his own demise; he had a secret tape recorder in his office where every conversation was recorded. He intended to use it for his own good, yet it lead to America finally knowing who he truly was. Although Nixon was not always suspected, everything turned around once the cat was out of the bag. America veiwed him in a completely different light, as a scoundrel and a liar.
Secondly, the Malaise speech. Jimmy Carter believed that America was running on existentialism. He knew that the golden age of family oriented living was passing by very quickly, and could be extinct without some guidance or leadership. President Carter believed that the Americans were having a so called "Crisis of Confidence" where they not only felt un-united, but lost as well. Greed and an energy crisis was driving America into a materialistic state of mind. At the time, when James Carter first gave the speech, he suggested that the problem was not in the leaders of this country, but in the people as a whole. He suggested that Americans go back to their roots and seek what is truly important: companionship, love, and family, not goods, money, and gasoline. When he first gave the Malaise Speech, the people of America did not take to it, simply because it was not what they wanted to hear. No one in a time of Crisis wants to hear that the crisis is their fault, rather they wish to blame it on someone in a leadership role. However, when we look back today and realize that we are in much the same problem, we are able to think more clearly and realize that what President Carter was saying is completely true. As always, hindsight is 20/20.
Lastly the Iran Contra Affair. Ronald Reagan is known to some as a very great President who deserves to go down in history as one of America's best. Compared to a person such as Reagan and all that he accomplished during his Presidency, an affair such as the Iran Contra seems almost pointlessly small to worry about. Reagan is credited with the end of the Cold War, a fifty year long ordeal. Americans would probably be so happy about this prospect that they could completely overlook the fact that Reagan broke the law. At the time of the Iran Contra Affair, it was a lot bigger deal, but due to Reagan's charm and way of manipulating the camera, it was mostly forgotten by the current age. People that lived through it may look back and have an opinion on it, but it is not the most striking thing they remember about Reagan and his term as Presidency.
Each president had a different way of carrying himself, and each of these ways payed off in one way or another. Sometimes the American people appreciated each deed for what it truly was worth, but others they were blinded by their ignorance and passion. It is true, however that each event changed America in one way or another.
(this was the last one I wrote... I know its not very good :/ )
2). The presidents involved in the Watergate and Iran Contra scandals were two very different people, with different personality traits and a different way of dealing with situations. To begin, Nixon had none of the suave and gentlemanly effect that Ronald Reagan had. Reagan had been an actor previously, and knew how to convey himself and being charming for a crowd or camera. Compared to Reagan, Nixon had little appeal in that regard, and even less as the truth about his personality unfolded.
Richard Nixon's scandal was more insulting the American people in general. During the election season of 1972, Richard's Dirty Tricks Squad broke into the Democratic Headquarters in the Watergate Complex in an attempt to uncover information which would lead to the downfall of the Democratic Party. Right after, nearly 6 days, Nixon was able to hush the break in and the American populace never heard about this unethical scandal. From the start, Nixon was sliming his way into office with bad politics and bad manners. This was an immediate insult the the American people, even though they would not know of his doings until over a year later. Tapes were found of Nixon's conversations in the White House, some of which he cursed violently and disrespected his office. This was insulting to the American people because he had shamed the office of President by using such foul language inside it. As President we expect our leader to conduct himself in a proper way (at least while holding conferences in the White House). As well as uncovering his bad language, the fact that he was behind the break-ins at Watergate made the American people feel ignorant for trusting him and letting him hold such a prestigious office in the first place. Over all, Nixon had little charm or reliability, and ended up leading to his own downfall.
Ronald Reagan, however did not make the American people feel nearly as stupid and disappointed as Nixon did. Ronald Reagan possessed many more good attributes than Nixon, and was able to seem respectable and classy (at least to the face of America). Although the Iran Contra Affair was nothing to be proud of, the people did not take it as quite as personal a blow. It was not as shocking as Nixon's scandal had been; a direct hit to the face of America. When compared to what Reagan is credited for - ending a fifty year long war that had been present in many voter's entire lives, it pales in comparison. Liberating America from the grip of the Cold War is far more redeeming, while a few illegally sold weapons seemed hardly a comparison.
In short, Reagan got away with what he did because of his character and the fact that he had a good deed to cancel out the scandal that he committed. Nixon had no such great deed he had done, and even so the nature of his acts were such that not many would have forgiven him even if he had.
3). There are several major events that happened during the era of the cold war, and each of them are important in establishing the course that America took and how all events played out. An example of three of these are the Watergate Scandal of Richard Nixon, the Malaise Speech given by Jimmy Carter, and the Iran Contra Affair under President Ronald Reagan. Each of these are significant because they all provide insight into how the public viewed each president and the general state of the American Population and its leaders.
Beginning with the Watergate Scandal in the year 1972, it is clear even after a small amount of research that most of Nixon's career during the election season of 1972 to his presidency in 1973, there were many misdeeds and corrupt politics coming into play in the White House. Nixon was the head of a team of his closest advisers, aptly deemed the "Dirty Tricks" squad. All of these men were in a high ranking in politics, and all held a strong desire to win, whatever morals they had to trample to get there. During the election season, the Dirty Tricks squad broke into the Watergate Complex to try to uncover secret information on the Democratic Party. This was not only illegal, but unethical and immoral as well. Had this been taken more seriously, the American populace probably would not have elected him. However, Nixon was sworn into office and continued his streak of disrespect throughout his career. This was unknown until a certain thing about Nixon was revealed; it was called the Smoking Gun. This Smoking Gun pointed at Nixon for the Watergate break in and several more unappealing deeds. It was Nixon himself that lead to his own demise; he had a secret tape recorder in his office where every conversation was recorded. He intended to use it for his own good, yet it lead to America finally knowing who he truly was. Although Nixon was not always suspected, everything turned around once the cat was out of the bag. America veiwed him in a completely different light, as a scoundrel and a liar.
Secondly, the Malaise speech. Jimmy Carter believed that America was running on existentialism. He knew that the golden age of family oriented living was passing by very quickly, and could be extinct without some guidance or leadership. President Carter believed that the Americans were having a so called "Crisis of Confidence" where they not only felt un-united, but lost as well. Greed and an energy crisis was driving America into a materialistic state of mind. At the time, when James Carter first gave the speech, he suggested that the problem was not in the leaders of this country, but in the people as a whole. He suggested that Americans go back to their roots and seek what is truly important: companionship, love, and family, not goods, money, and gasoline. When he first gave the Malaise Speech, the people of America did not take to it, simply because it was not what they wanted to hear. No one in a time of Crisis wants to hear that the crisis is their fault, rather they wish to blame it on someone in a leadership role. However, when we look back today and realize that we are in much the same problem, we are able to think more clearly and realize that what President Carter was saying is completely true. As always, hindsight is 20/20.
Lastly the Iran Contra Affair. Ronald Reagan is known to some as a very great President who deserves to go down in history as one of America's best. Compared to a person such as Reagan and all that he accomplished during his Presidency, an affair such as the Iran Contra seems almost pointlessly small to worry about. Reagan is credited with the end of the Cold War, a fifty year long ordeal. Americans would probably be so happy about this prospect that they could completely overlook the fact that Reagan broke the law. At the time of the Iran Contra Affair, it was a lot bigger deal, but due to Reagan's charm and way of manipulating the camera, it was mostly forgotten by the current age. People that lived through it may look back and have an opinion on it, but it is not the most striking thing they remember about Reagan and his term as Presidency.
Each president had a different way of carrying himself, and each of these ways payed off in one way or another. Sometimes the American people appreciated each deed for what it truly was worth, but others they were blinded by their ignorance and passion. It is true, however that each event changed America in one way or another.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Malaise Speech
President Carter states in the Malaise speech that he is concerned for the American people. Although he is continually worried about the energy crisis and the rapid inflation, he is mostly worried about the voices of the people. He believes that Washington DC has no listened to the true concerns of the American people, only made statements about resolutions. The Government and his position as leader have become too estranged from the public, and he wishes to keep the unity as an equal, not a dictator. The United States was in a moral and spiritual chaos, and it was questioned whether oil should continue to be imported from the Middle East, when jobs were being lost because of it. People were beginning to stop believing in the competency of the United States. Carter was concerned that the very fabric of the Nation was beginning to lose its strength. Unity is the only thing that can hold the American dream together. Problems with unity and good leadership affect all countries and ages; it will always be a problem.
The American ideal is changing from something that held relationships, families, and God close to their hearts, to a world full of materialism and greed. People are beginning to deal more with themselves and self indulgence than looking to giving and loving. Existentialism is rapidly overtaking the Country; moral is going down, depression is increasing - because of our own meaningless existence governed only by objects, we become depressed and lethargic. Our productivity as a country is decreasing. People do not even care enough to vote in their own President's election! I believe that America today is suffering from this same blight. It seems that our children are taught Materialism at a young age - toddlers being enrolled in beauty pageants to look "sexy", buying our teens new cars instead of making them work for a used one, teaching them that beauty is the brand of makeup they use or the amount of time they spend every morning fixing their hair. It is not only a problem with teens - less and less people in America are accepting God, but are looking to materials to satisfy the emptiness in their hearts.
Carter says the only way we can get out of the energy crisis is to face the problem head on. He is setting a deadline for how much oil we are able to take from the Middle East - no more than they used in the year 1977. He is also going to supply our country with more jobs, because America needs to supply itself with its own energy. Dependence on foreign oil must be cut down by half within the next ten years. Also, he wants to do more research into alternative means of energy, such as solar power. He will also require as a matter of law, that our Nation's utility companies cut their massive use of oil by 50 percent within the next decade and switch to other fuels, especially coal, our most abundant energy source. A conservation plan will be put into use, so that every American can conserve as much energy as absolutely possible. By doing all of this, it will instill a sense of community and readjust the falling moral in America.
President Obama's plan and President Carter's plan both follow the same basic rules - the only difference is that Obama is dealing with newer technology.
The American ideal is changing from something that held relationships, families, and God close to their hearts, to a world full of materialism and greed. People are beginning to deal more with themselves and self indulgence than looking to giving and loving. Existentialism is rapidly overtaking the Country; moral is going down, depression is increasing - because of our own meaningless existence governed only by objects, we become depressed and lethargic. Our productivity as a country is decreasing. People do not even care enough to vote in their own President's election! I believe that America today is suffering from this same blight. It seems that our children are taught Materialism at a young age - toddlers being enrolled in beauty pageants to look "sexy", buying our teens new cars instead of making them work for a used one, teaching them that beauty is the brand of makeup they use or the amount of time they spend every morning fixing their hair. It is not only a problem with teens - less and less people in America are accepting God, but are looking to materials to satisfy the emptiness in their hearts.
Carter says the only way we can get out of the energy crisis is to face the problem head on. He is setting a deadline for how much oil we are able to take from the Middle East - no more than they used in the year 1977. He is also going to supply our country with more jobs, because America needs to supply itself with its own energy. Dependence on foreign oil must be cut down by half within the next ten years. Also, he wants to do more research into alternative means of energy, such as solar power. He will also require as a matter of law, that our Nation's utility companies cut their massive use of oil by 50 percent within the next decade and switch to other fuels, especially coal, our most abundant energy source. A conservation plan will be put into use, so that every American can conserve as much energy as absolutely possible. By doing all of this, it will instill a sense of community and readjust the falling moral in America.
President Obama's plan and President Carter's plan both follow the same basic rules - the only difference is that Obama is dealing with newer technology.
Ronald Reagan : Classwork
1) What are the problems America faces?
America is too materialistic, we do not understand how unique America is and how important our American traditions are. We are suffering from an economic crisis - materialism is causing misery and depression. Our taxes are unfair and favor the poor who use other people's taxes as an excuse to not work. The Government is too big and too overbearing.
2) What are Reagan's solutions?
We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow - these problems will not go away quickly, but we must continue to work on the economy nevertheless. We need to cut down the taxes as well.
3) What makes Reagan effective here?
He is funny and to the point - he is also witty. It is nice to have a leader who can laugh at themselves.
4) What does this reveal about Reagan?
Reagan truly does not believe that he played a part in the decline of the economy. He strongly believes that his party is RIGHT and the opposite part is WRONG.
5) What policy decisions might Reagan make according to this?
Reagan wants to increase the firepower of America - peace through strength.
6) How did this event effect Reagan's role with the American public?
Made him a public hero - he took a bullet for America. He remains stoic and leader-like.
7) Who is the audience?
The association of Evangelicals.
8) What is the argument Reagan makes here?
It is better to die sooner while still believing in God than live a long life without God at all. Communism is against God.
9) What do you think Reagan's agenda is in this speech?
To reduce the bad morals of our leaders who usually pretend to follow God, but really are selfish and immoral. Ignore the facts of history and declare the arms race over and a giant misunderstanding.
-this is as far as we got in class-
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