Goals

One of my goals for the future is to find a solution to alternative resources. This is important because if we do not find new sources we will soon run out of those precious resources we consume every day. it is important to start developing new ways of production and new things we can begin using. For example oil is one day going to become a scarce resource therefore we need to find a substitute. another reason why we need to find a replacement is because some of the resources we use really affect the environment in harmful way. It ruins the environment therefore we need to use Eco-friendly alternatives to this issue. This is important in order for us to keep the environment safe for future generations to come. We may not seem to find this important at this time but soon we will become a huge problem for all of us since the use of the natural resources is contributing to global warming and the green house effect.

ch 18

Explaining the Industrial Revolution

At the heart of the Industrial Revolution lay a great acceleration in the rate of technological innovation leading to an enormously increased output of goods and services.

Early signs of the technological creativity that spawned the industrial revolution appeared in the eighteenth-century Britain, where a variety of innovations transformed cotton textile production.

In the twentieth century, the industrial revolution became global when a number of Asian and Latin American countries developed substantial industrial sectors.

Why Europe?

The industrial revolution has long been a source of great controversy among scholars.

First, other areas of the world had experienced times of great technological and scientific flourishing.

Nor did Europe enjoy any overall economic advantage as late as 1750.

A final reason for doubting any unique European capacity for industrial development lies in the relatively rapid spread of industrial techniques to many parts of the world over the past 250 years.

Thus contemporary historians are inclined to see the industrial revolution erupting rather quickly and quite unexpectedly between 1750 and 1850.

Furthermore, the relative newness of these European states and their monarchs’ desperate need for revenue in the absence of an effective tax-collecting bureaucracy pushed European royals into an unusual alliance with their merchant classes.

Europe’s societies, of course, were not alone in developing market-based economies by the eighteenth century.

For example, Asia, home to the world’s richest and most sophisticated societies, was the initial destination of European voyages of exploration.

In the Americas, Europeans found a windfall of silver that allowed them to operate in Asian markets.

Thus the intersection of new, highly commercialized, competitive European societies with the novel global network of their own making provides a context for understanding Europe’s industrial revolution.

ch 17

Comparing Atlantic Revolutions

 Voltaire was on target: in the century that followed, revolutionary outbreaks punctuated the histories of three continents, with the influences and echoes even farther afiel

Beyond such direct connections, the various Atlantic revolutionaries shared a set of common ideas.

The Atlantic basin had become a world of intellectual and cultural exchange as well as one of commercial and biological intercourse.

Such ideas generated endless controversy.

Although women, slaves, Native Americans, and men without property did not gain much from these revolutions, the ideas that accompanied these upheavals gave them ammunition for the future.

 Beneath a common political vocabulary and broadly democratic character, the Atlantic revolutions differed substantially from one another

The North American Revolution, 1775-1787

Every schoolchild in the United States learns early that the American Revolution was a struggle for independence from oppressive British rule In its break with Britain, the American Revolution marked a decisive political change, but in other ways it was, strangely enough, a conservative movement, because it originated in an effort to preserve the existing liberties of the colonies rather than to create new ones

Thus the American Revolution did not grow out of social tensions within the colonies, but from a quite sudden and unexpected effort by the British government to tighten its control over the colonies and to extract more revenue from them.

What was revolutionary about the American experience was not so much the revolution itself but the kind of society that had already emerged within the colonies.

This widening of political participation gradually eroded the power of traditional gentlemen, but no women or people of color shared in these gains.

 Nonetheless, many American patriots felt passionately that they were creating “a new order for the ages. 

The French Revolution, 1789-1815

Act two in the drama of the Atlantic revolutions took place in France, beginning in 1789, although it was closely connected to Act One in North America

 In a desperate effort to raise taxes against the opposition of the privileged classes, the French king, Louis XVI, had called into session an ancient parliamentary body, the Estates General.

That revolution was quite different from its North American predecess

These social conflicts gave the French Revolution, especially during its first five years, a much more violent, far-reaching, and radical character than its American counterpart. 

In early 1793, King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette, were executed, an act of regicide that shocked traditionalists al across Europe and marked a new stage in revolutionary violence.

 Accompanying attacks on the old order were efforts to create a wholly new society, symbolized by a new calendar with the Year I n 1792, marking a fresh start for France.

The impact of the revolution was felt in many ways.

 More radical revolutionary leaders deliberately sought to convey a sense of new beginnings.

The French Revolution differed from the American Revolution also in the way its influence spread. Like many of the revolution’s ardent supporters, Napoleon was intent on spreading it benefits far and wide.

ch 23

            This chapter focuses on the independence of third world countries and the development in the global south. One of the sections that caught my attention was the section that talks about India ending British rule. India was a colony of Britain for quite some time in the past until Gandhi influenced a country to fight for their liberty. Gandhi was a very influential man who was born in India but spend most of his time in South Africa after going to study in Great Britain. While in South Africa he experienced racism and other forms of discrimination that got him thinking when he returned back to India. When he returned he became an important figure and began to assume power in the INC. this lead to him being able to interact on a more personal level with the people of India. He began to speak about independence for their country that had a right to be free of colonial rule. As he began to teach the people of his ideas Britain became concerned with the actions that he was doing. They began to place order and stopped protests that were occurring due to his teachings. Gandhi’s whole idea was to protest with nonviolent acts. There was a point where he stopped eating to get his point across to the people of India and Britain. This action influenced people to follow him and believe that they had a right to be free. Although he had revolts that were peaceful he was put into jail for some of his actions which did not please the Indian people. After the struggles that he had to overcome and all his hard work he was able to make a difference for his country and his actions lead to the freedom of India. A similar thing occurred with the country of South Africa. there was a man named Nelson Mandela who had Similar to Gandhi, Mandela was able to do things that were trying to rid South Africa from colonial rule. He was in an important figure to the people due to all the actions that he took against Britain.  He began to protest and have boycotts just like Gandhi once did and just like him he ended up in prison serving a long term. This began irritate the native people and they began to turn their backs against the whites that were in control. This incidents lead to deaths of people who were protesting. As well as Gandhi, Mandela’s actions were a step in the right direction that soon led to the liberty of South Africa.

intro pargraph

For years people of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa have been living in a state of oppression in which they have no voice in the authority of the government. Nowadays people do not realize how lucky they are to live a life in the United States and take advantage of all the opportunities and freedoms that are presented to them. Today in the present time there areas in the world that are not as fortunate to have these privileges. People in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are struggling to fight for the right of freedom which is not a simple task. In this region of the world where there is so much turmoil from the events that have been occurring there are many people who live in a land in which they have no control or power. The only ones that have the rights in this area are those with government positions. This is a society in which the poor are struggling because they are only getting poorer and the rich seem to be getting richer.  The harsh reality of the situation is that it is not a simple task for the people of this region to ascend and have a say in their society. Although it is a difficult task people are finally following examples of previous people in history and are beginning to make a change. After living in these conditions for many years the people of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa are finally gaining the courage to make a statement and are following the echoes of Tunisia in order to search for equality.

ch 21

In chapter 21 there is a section that talks about Hitler and the Nazi’s. Throughout many history classes that I have taken in the past I have heard about this topic. I found it interesting because this section made me think about all the past ideas and history facts that I have of the Nazi’s during Hitler’s leadership. From what I have heard and studied about this issue I know that Hitler was a very influential man because he was able to manipulate a whole country. During his time as the leader of Nazi Germany he was able to change the way of thinking of many people. There are different opinions about Hitler. Some say that he was a terrible person because of the destruction that he caused and the many lives that were lost due to his actions. . As for the other nations in the world Hitler was seen as a monster that had to be stopped because his ideas and actions were out of control.On the other hand many people found Hitler to be an inspiring person. Although he caused so much mayhem during World War II he was able to lead a country and do so much damage to the world all on his own. This was due to the fact that he was able to influence many people and was a very smart man who knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish. During the time that he was in power he was able to get rid of all other political parties in Germany and this helped him keep all the power and no one was able to oppose his ideas. He was also a very likeable man because of the fact that he was able to get Germany out of the Depression that they were suffering from. This helped him win the support of most people in his country. The fact that he was able to do this while he was in power helped him win the support if many of the people in his country and for these types of actions he was seen as a great leader. One of the negative things about him and his time in power was what he did to the Jewish population in Europe. He and his Nazi group were able to take the lives of many innocent people based on Hitler’s ideas that they didn’t fit his perfect race, the Arian race. He wanted to humiliate the Jewish people and he decided to point them out everywhere they were so he made them wear the Star of David. 

ch 20

There are many issues that erupted during the command of the British empire. The overruling power of the British caused a lot of tension between many group of colonies and different groups of people. Although it caused many issues some people were able to find ways in which it could benefit them. They used the power of the overruling country to their advantage at the same time that many people were upset.

The group that benefited from the European rule was those who were able to make the best of the situation. Many people were able to find jobs and security. One of the things that the Europeans wanted to do was start European education in the colonies. Many people cooperated in were able to make a great living due the innovation of the new source of power. After the education phase some people were able to receive higher education and become something such as lawyers and doctors. The colonies became a lot more civilized and this made a western class that was sophisticated which was of great importance to the Europeans.

While this is occurring there are also people who are not very pleased by the idea of being a colony and not independent. This idea that was in people’s heads cause many rebellions during this time. Between 1857-58 there was an Indian rebellion that erupted due to the British military doing things that ticked off the Hindus and the Muslim. These people were upset because they did not want to get converted into Christians. This triggered the rise of many people who had other problems with the rule of Great Britain previously to this matter. This rebellion made the British aware of the things that could occur when the people of India were provoked. Although there attempt was a good one the rebellion only lasted for a year and then was stopped causing Britain to seize governmental control of all of India.

In my opinion I think that it is interesting how the idea of colonial power had a great affect on every one who was a part of it. For some it was a positive thing while for others not so much. I understand that for the country in control could benefit but I never knew that people from the colonized area also found a way to live a more prosperous life so I found that of great interest.