MAIN IDEA
Social studies includes information from five fields of learning to provide a well-rounded picture of the world and its people.
Understanding your world is essential if you are to be an informed citizen of a global society.
The Peoples of the World:
For centuries, people in different parts of the world have been trying to get along with one another, not always with success
For centuries, people in different parts of the world have been trying to get along with one another, not always with success
Part of the problem is a lack of understanding of other people’s ways of life. Certain advances in communication and transportation,such as the Internet and high-speed planes,have brought people closer together. So have increased international trade and immigration.Knowledge of other societies can be a key to understanding them.
Learning About the World
Social studies is a way to learn about the world. It draws on information from five fields of learning—geography, history, economics, government, and culture.
History and Geography
Knowing history and geography helps orient you in time and space. History is a record of the past. The people and events of the past shaped the world as it is today.Historians search for primary sources,such as newspapers,letters,journals,and other documents,to find out about past events.
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| ARCHEOLOGIST |
The Five Themes of Geography: Geography is the study of people,places,and the environment. Geography deals with the world in spatial terms. The study of geography focuses on five themes: location, region, place, movement, and humanenvironment interaction.
Government: Every country has laws and a way to govern itself. Laws are the rules by which people live.Governmentis the people and groups within a society that have the authority to make laws, to make sure they are carried out,and to settle disagreements about them. The kind of government determines who has the authority to make the laws and see that they are carried out.
Limited and Unlimited Governments: In a limited government, everyone, including those in charge, must obey the laws. Some of the laws tell the government what it cannot do. Democracy is a form of limited government. In a democracy the people have the authority to make the laws,either directly or through their elected representatives.The governments of the United States,Mexico,and India are examples of democratic governments. Rulers in an unlimited government can do whatever they want without regard to the law. Totalitarianism is a form of unlimited government. In a totalitarian government the people have no say. Rulers have total control.
Citizenship A citizen is a legal member of a country.Citizens have rights,such as the right to vote in elections, and duties, such as paying taxes. Being born in a country can make you a citizen. Another way is to move to a country,complete certain requirements,and take part in a naturalization ceremony.
Economics:Economics is the study of how people manage their resources by producing, exchanging, and using goods and services.Economics is about choice. Some economists claim that people’s desires are unlimited.Resources to satisfy these desires,however, are limited.These economists refer to the conflict between people’s desires and their limited resources as scarcity.
Resources: Economists identify three types of resources: natural, human, and capital. Natural resources are gifts of nature, such as forests, fertile soil, and water. Human resources are skills people have to produce goods and services. Capital resourcesare the things people make,such as machines and equipment,to produce goods and services.
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| NATURAL RESOURCES |
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| HUMAN RESOURCES |
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| CAPITAL RESOURCES |
Levels of Development:
Different countries and regions have different levels of economic development.In a country with a high level of development, most people are well educated, have good health, and earn decent salaries.Services such as clean running water,electricity,and transportation are plentiful.Technology is advanced,and businesses flourish.
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| JAPAN |
A country with a low level of development is marked by few jobs in industry,poor services,and low literacy rates. Life expectancy is low. These countries are often called developing countries
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| Favelas In Rio de Janeiro |
Culture:
Culture consists of the beliefs, customs, laws, art, and ways of living that a group of people share.
Religion: Is part of most cultures;so is a shared language. The ways people express themselves through music, dance, literature, and the visual arts are important parts of every culture;so are the technology and tools they use to accomplish various tasks. Each kind of food, clothing, or technology, each belief, language,or tool shared by a culture is called a culture trait. Taken together, the culture traits of a people shape their way of life.
QUIZ TIME!!!⏳
What are three characteristics that can define a culture❓
What five areas of learning does social studies include❓
What are the three main kinds of resources,and how is each one defined❓
What is the difference between limited and unlimited government❓
Does the United States have a shared,or common,culture❓
Many Regions, Many Cultures
Different Places, Different Cultures:
A culture region is an area of the world in which many people share similar beliefs, history, and languages.The people in a culture region may have religion, technology,and ways of earning a living in common as well.They may grow and eat similar foods,wear similar kinds of clothes,and build houses in similar styles.
The World’s Culture Regions
Want to learn more about Culture Regions click below 👇
More about Culture Regions👀😊
Click here 👇
REGIONS OF THE EASTERN HEMESPHERE
Culture Regions Change:
Classroom activity:
Form team's and each one will work on a different Cultural Region of the world. Must identify the region in a map and answer questions regarding
this topic. ( Teacher will assign each team a map of their region)
QUESTIONS:
1.-Identify your Cultural Region
2.-What is a Cultural Region?
3.-What is interdependance?
4.-Name 3 things people have in common in your cultural region.
5.-Name 3 cultural regions of the eastern hemisphere.
Let's do something fun🖊😀
What was your experience when you visited another country. How many culture differences can you
remember? write on your workbook and share with the class.👍.
The map above shows the major culture regions of the world. Latin America is one culture region. The Spanish and Portuguese languages help to tie its people together.So does it's common history.Southwest Asia and North Africa is another culture region. Most countries in this region share a common desert climate and landscape. People have adapted to the desert in similar ways, thus creating a common culture.Islam, which is the major religion in this region, also helps shape a common culture.
Usually, not every person in a region belongs to the dominant, or mainstream, culture. Some regions are multicultural. For example, the United States and Canada contain other cultures besides the dominant one.Although most people in this region speak English, many people in eastern Canada speak French.Many people in the United States speak Spanish, especially in the Southwest.
More about Culture Regions👀😊
Click here 👇
REGIONS OF THE EASTERN HEMESPHERE
Culture Regions Change:
For thousands of years, culture regions have changed and evolved as they have borrowed culture traits from one another. They have also come to depend upon each other economically. Decisions and events in one part of the world affect other parts. Advances in transportation and communication have increased this interdependence. When oil-producing nations in the Middle East raise the price of oil, for example, the price of gasoline at the neighborhood gas station is likely to rise. If there is an especially abundant banana crop in parts of Latin America, the price of bananas may drop at the local grocery store. More and more, people of different countries are becoming part of one world.
Form team's and each one will work on a different Cultural Region of the world. Must identify the region in a map and answer questions regarding
this topic. ( Teacher will assign each team a map of their region)
QUESTIONS:
1.-Identify your Cultural Region
2.-What is a Cultural Region?
3.-What is interdependance?
4.-Name 3 things people have in common in your cultural region.
5.-Name 3 cultural regions of the eastern hemisphere.
Let's do something fun🖊😀
What was your experience when you visited another country. How many culture differences can you
remember? write on your workbook and share with the class.👍.
WESTERN EUROPE
A Land of Varied Riches
MAIN IDEA:
Europe is a continent with varied geographic features, abundant natural resources, and a climate that can support agriculture.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW:
The development of Europe’s diverse cultures has been shaped by the continent’s diverse geography.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE:
Today, cars, airplanes, and trains are common forms of highspeed transportation across Europe. Before the 19th century, however, the fastest form of transportation was to travel by water––on top of it, rather than under it. Eurostar trains make the 31-mile trip under the English Channel in only 20 minutes.
Location • The Channel Tunnel connects England and France.
👀 Take a look at this video. (Click on the titel)
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL
👀 Take a look at this video. (Click on the titel)
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL
Waterways:
Water surrounds the continent to the north, south and west. The southern coast of Europe borders the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Europe also has many rivers.The highly traveled Rhine and Danube rivers are two of the most important. The Volga, which flows nearly 2,200 miles through western Russia, is the continent’s longest. For hundreds of years, these and other waterways have been home to boats and barges carrying people and goods inland across great distances.
Click on this 👇
EUROPE WATERWAY MAPS
Vocabulary:
Barge= A long boat with a flat bottom used to carry heavy loads.
😏
Why were waterways important for the movement of people and goods?
Landforms:
Several large peninsulas, or bodies of land surrounded by water on three sides, form the European continent. In Northern Europe, the Scandinavian Peninsula is home to Norway and Sweden. Along the jagged shoreline of this peninsula are beautiful fjords (fyawrdz).A fjord is a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea located between steep cliffs. In Western Europe, the Iberian Peninsula includes Portugal and Spain. The Iberian Peninsula is separated from the rest of the continent by a mountain range called the Pyrenees (PEER•uh•neez).The entire continent of Europe, itself surrounded by water on three sides, is a giant peninsula.
ACTIVITY:
With the aid of the link: 👇
Europe: Peninsulas, Islands, Mountains and Water
On a map of Europe that your teacher will supply please identify the following places using different colors.
Pyrenees, Italian Peninsula, Scandinavian Peninsula, Danube River, Mediterranean sea, Rhine River, Volga River, Danube River, European plain, Iberian Peninsula, Swis Alps and Fjords.
Click in this 👇
How to pronounce Fjord
F Y I:
Europe can be divided into four areas: Western Europe, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Russia and its neighboring countries
Place • The Scandinavian Peninsula is the location of many spectacular fjords, such as this one in Norway.
Mountain ranges, including the towering Alps, also stretch across much of the continent. A long Europe’s eastern border, the Ural Mountains (YUR•uhl) divide the continent from Asia. The many mountain ranges of Europe separated groups of people from one another as they settled the land thousands of years ago. This is one of the reasons why different cultures developed across the continent.
What natural landform separates Europe from Asia?😏
The Great European Plain:
Not all of Europe is mountainous. A vast region called the Great European Plain stretches from the coast of France to the Ural Mountains. A plain is a large flat area of land, usually without many trees. The Great European Plain is the location of some of the world’s richest farmland. Ancient trading centers attracted many people to this area, which today includes some of the largest cities in Europe—Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, and Moscow.
Click on this link 👉 European-Plain
LAND USE IN EUROPE TODAY
Europe also has rich soil and plentiful rainfall. The average precipitation for the Great European Plain, for example, is between 20 and 40 inches per year. The map above shows the agricultural uses of the land,highlighting the major crops.Notice that few parts of the continent are too cold or too hot and dry to support some form of agriculture. These characteristics have made Europe a world leader in crop production.
Climate :
Although the Gulf Stream brings warm air and water to Europe, the winters are still severe in the mountains and in the far north. In some of these areas, cold winds blow southward from the Arctic Circle and make the average temperature fall below 0°F in January. The Alps and the Pyrenees, however, protect the European countries along the Mediterranean Sea from these chilling winds. In these warmer par0ts of southern Europe, the average temperature in January stays above 50°F.
The summers in the south are usually hot and dry, with an average July temperature around 80°F.This makes the Mediterranean coast a popular vacation spot. Elsewhere in Europe, in all but the coldest areas of the mountains and the far north, the average July temperature ranges from 50°F to 70°F.
Natural Resources:
Europe has a large variety of natural resources, including minerals.The rich coal deposits of Germany’s Ruhr (roor) Valley region have helped to make that area one of the world’s major industrial centers.Russia and Ukraine have large deposits of iron ore, which is used to make iron for automobiles and countless other products.
ACTIVITY: Students must research what countries are located in the North, South, West, and East of Europe and make a list of natural resources found in each country.
Click here 👇
EUROPES NATURAL RESOURCES
Region • Western Europe benefits from a varied landscape rich in natural resources.
👑EUROPEAN EMPIRES👑
DID YOU KNOW?😮
NORWAY, SEPTEMBER 1905
It could have been war in the Scandinavian Peninsula. The armies of Norway and Sweden had begun preparations. Instead, Sweden ended the crisis peacefully by granting Norway independence. Norway had been under Swedish control since 1814. Although Norway ran its own affairs within the country, Sweden set foreign policy and controlled Norway’s international shipping and trade. Prince Charles of Denmark has been invited to become king of Norway. The Norwegians will vote to approve their new leader. If chosen, he will become King Haakon VII. The king’s role will be largely ceremonial. His chief task will be to help unite the newly independent people of Norway.
The Spread of Nationalism: Norway’s independence from Sweden was a sign of new ideas that were sweeping across Europe at the time. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, nationalism, or strong pride in one’s nation or ethnic group, influenced the feelings of many Europeans. An ethnic group includes people with similar languages and traditions, but who are not necessarily ruled by a common government.
Constitutional Monarchies: In part, the spread of nationalism was fueled by the fact that more Europeans than ever before could vote. For centuries, many monarchs had unlimited power. In country after country, however, citizens demanded the right to elect lawmakers who would limit their monarch’s authority.This kind of government is called a constitutional monarchy.A constitutional monarchy not only has a king or queen, but also a ruling body of elected officials.The United Kingdom is one example of a constitutional monarchy. By 1900, many countries in Western Europe had become constitutional monarchies. Citizens of these countries strongly supported the governments that they helped to elect. When one country threatened another, most citizens were willing to go to war to defend their homeland.
The Defense of Colonial Empires: At the beginning of the 20th century, many Western European countries—including France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and even tiny Belgium— had colonies in Asia and Africa.Colonies supplied the raw materials that the ruling countries needed to produce goods in their factories back home. Asian and African colonies, sometimes larger than the ruling country, were also important markets for manufactured goods.
GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER:
Interpreting a Map
1. Location • Which Western European country possessed the most land?
2. Location • On which continent were most colonies located.
ACTIVITIES:
Taking Notes 2. Look at the map that shows European colonial territories. Create a chart to list the major colonial powers and their colonies.
During this period of colonialism, Western European nations spent much of their wealth on building strong armies and navies. Their military forces helped to defend borders at home as well as colonies in other parts of the world. Colonies were so important that the ruling countries sometimes fought one another for control of them.They also struggled to extend their territories.
ACTIVITIES:
Taking Notes 2. Look at the map that shows European colonial territories. Create a chart to list the major colonial powers and their colonies.
During this period of colonialism, Western European nations spent much of their wealth on building strong armies and navies. Their military forces helped to defend borders at home as well as colonies in other parts of the world. Colonies were so important that the ruling countries sometimes fought one another for control of them.They also struggled to extend their territories.
Austria-Hungary By the end of the 19th century, most nations of Western and Northern Europe had become industrialized. The majority of Eastern Europe, including Russia, remained agricultural.These Eastern European countries imported most of their manufactured goods from Western and Northern Europe. The largest empire in Eastern Europe in 1900 was Austria-Hungary. The empire was a dual monarchy, in which one ruler governs two nations. As you can see in the map above, Austria-Hungary also included parts of many other present-day countries, including Romania, the Czech Republic, and portions of Poland.
ACTIVITIES:
Terms & Names
1. Identify: (a) nationalism (b) colonialism (c) Austria-Hungary (d) dual monarchy
Main Ideas
(a) Identify one reason for the spread of nationalism in Europe.
(b) Why did Western European nations spend much of their wealth on armies and navies?
(c) How did the nations of Eastern Europe differ from those of Western and Northern Europe at the end of the 19th century?
Critical Thinking Drawing Conclusions
Why were their colonies so important to European nations?
EUROPE AT WAR
MAIN IDEA.
During the first half of the 20th century, European countries fought each other over land, wealth, and ideals.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW.
The changes brought about by the two world wars continue to affect Europe today.
SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, JUNE 28, 1914—Today, Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Duchess Sophie, were murdered as they drove through Sarajevo. A nineteen-year-old Serb, Gavrilo Princip, jumped on the Archduke’s automobile and fired two shots. The first killed the Duchess. The second killed the Archduke, who was next in line to be emperor of Austria-Hungary. The Serbians have protested against Austria-Hungary since 1908 when the empire took over Bosnia-Herzegovina (BOZ•nee•uh HAIR•tsuh• goh•VEE•nuh). Princip has been arrested.
Learn more THE TRAGEDY OF SARAJEVO 👇
The World at War
Because of the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914,the emperor of Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. When Russia sent troops to defend Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Russia supported Serbia because both Russians and Serbians share a similar ethnic background—they are both Slavic peoples.This was the beginning of World War I.
Gavrilo Princip assassinated the future emperor of Austria-Hungary and his wife.
World War I Alliances
European rulers wanted other leaders to think twice before declaring war on their countries. To help defend themselves, several countries joined alliances (uh•LY•uhn•sez). An alliance is an agreement among people or nations to unite for a common cause. Each member of an alliance agrees to help the other members in case one of them is attacked. When Germany joined the war to support Austria-Hungary, France came in on the side of Russia.
Germany then invaded Belgium, which was neutral, to attack France. Because Great Britain had promised to protect Belgium, it, too, declared war on Germany. After German submarines sank four American merchant ships, the United States joined the side of Russia, France, and Great Britain.
The chart above shows the major powers on both sides of World War I.Italy had originally been allied with Germany and Austria Hungary but joined the Allies after the war began. Russia dropped out of the war completely after the revolution in that country in 1917.
Place • World War I was primarily fought in trenches, which were dug by the armies for better defense
Europe After World War I
More people were killed during World War I than during all the wars of the 19th century combined. Afterward, people in many countries on both sides of the costly war—and even those not directly involved—were poor, homeless,and without work. The Allies blamed Germany for much of the killing and damage during the war. In 1919, Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles (ver•SIGH).
The Treaty of Versailles demanded that Germany be punished by being forced to pay for the damage done to the Allied countries.Germany was also made to give up valuable territory.
ACTIVITIE.-😏👇
A New Map of Europe Additional treaties during the following year also altered the political boundaries of many European countries. As the map shows, Austria-Hungary was divided as a result of the war, becoming two separate countries. This allowed several Eastern European ethnic groups that had been part of Austria-Hungary to gain their independence.
World War II
By the 1930s, Germany was still paying for the damage done to the Allied countries during World War I. The German economy was in ruins, and the Germans greatly wished to rebuild their own country. In 1933, citizens elected Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist,or Nazi, Party. The Nazi Party believed in fascism. Fascism (FASH•IHZ•uhm) is a philosophy that supports a strong, central government controlled by the military and led by a powerful dictator. People believed that this new leader would help Germany recover.
ACTIVITIE:
Finding Causes😊
What conditions led Germans to find hope in Adolf Hitler?
Like Germany,Italy was also ruled by a fascist dictator after World War I: Benito Mussolini (1883–1945).
Hitler and the Nazi Party
Fascists practiced an extreme form of patriotism and nationalism.Fascists also had racist beliefs. In the 1930's, Hitler unjustly blamed the Jewish citizens of Germany, among other specific groups, for the country’s problems.
His Nazi followers seized Jewish property and began to send Jews, along with disabled people, political opponents, and others,to concentration camps. During this Holocaust, millions of people were deliberately killed,and others starved or died from disease.
In 1934, Hitler took command of the armed forces.Then, in 1939, Hitler’s army invaded Poland. World War II had begun. By June 1940, Hitler’s army had swept through Western Europe, conquering Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, and Norway. A year later, Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
Place • The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin was nearly destroyed by Allied bombs. The ruins still stand today as a World War II monument.👇
BIOGRAPHY 💭👌
Anne Frank In July 1942,during World War II,Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in Amsterdam—a city in the Netherlands. The Frank family were Jewish and were afraid they would be sent to a concentration camp.Anne was only thirteen. For two years,Anne, her father, mother, sister, and four other people lived in rooms in an attic.Their rooms were sealed off from the rest of the building.While in hiding,Anne kept a diary. Although the family was discovered and Anne died in a concentration camp, her diary was eventually published.Today, this famous book—translated into many languages and the basis for a play and a film—lives on.
The Marshall Plan
United States Secretary of State George C. Marshall created the Economic Cooperation Act of 1948, also known as the Marshall Plan.This plan offered U.S.aid—agricultural, industrial, and financial—to countries of Western Europe. The Marshall Plan greatly benefited war-torn Europe. It may also have prevented economic depression or political instability.
ACTIVITIES😀👌
Terms & Names
Identify: (a) World War I (b) alliance (c) Adolf Hitler (d) fascism (e) Holocaust (f) World War II (g) NATO
Taking Notes
Use a Venn diagram to compare the countries that were involved in World War I and World War II.
Involved in WWI.
Involved in WWII.
Involved in Both.
Main Ideas
(a) What event set off World War I?
(b) When did World War II begin and end? Which countries won?
(c) What happened at the end of World War II?
Critical Thinking
Making Inferences How did World War I change Europe?
Think About
The destruction and many deaths
The Treaty of Versailles
Austria-Hungary
Learn more THE TRAGEDY OF SARAJEVO 👇
The World at War
Because of the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914,the emperor of Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. When Russia sent troops to defend Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia. Russia supported Serbia because both Russians and Serbians share a similar ethnic background—they are both Slavic peoples.This was the beginning of World War I.
Gavrilo Princip assassinated the future emperor of Austria-Hungary and his wife.
World War I Alliances
European rulers wanted other leaders to think twice before declaring war on their countries. To help defend themselves, several countries joined alliances (uh•LY•uhn•sez). An alliance is an agreement among people or nations to unite for a common cause. Each member of an alliance agrees to help the other members in case one of them is attacked. When Germany joined the war to support Austria-Hungary, France came in on the side of Russia.
Germany then invaded Belgium, which was neutral, to attack France. Because Great Britain had promised to protect Belgium, it, too, declared war on Germany. After German submarines sank four American merchant ships, the United States joined the side of Russia, France, and Great Britain.
The chart above shows the major powers on both sides of World War I.Italy had originally been allied with Germany and Austria Hungary but joined the Allies after the war began. Russia dropped out of the war completely after the revolution in that country in 1917.
World War I was costly in terms of human life. When it was over, nearly 22 million civilians and soldiers on both sides were dead. The Allies had won, and Europe had been devastated.
FACTS
World War I Alliances (1914–1918) 👇
Europe After World War I
More people were killed during World War I than during all the wars of the 19th century combined. Afterward, people in many countries on both sides of the costly war—and even those not directly involved—were poor, homeless,and without work. The Allies blamed Germany for much of the killing and damage during the war. In 1919, Germany and the Allies signed the Treaty of Versailles (ver•SIGH).
The Treaty of Versailles demanded that Germany be punished by being forced to pay for the damage done to the Allied countries.Germany was also made to give up valuable territory.
ACTIVITIE.-😏👇
A New Map of Europe Additional treaties during the following year also altered the political boundaries of many European countries. As the map shows, Austria-Hungary was divided as a result of the war, becoming two separate countries. This allowed several Eastern European ethnic groups that had been part of Austria-Hungary to gain their independence.
World War II
By the 1930s, Germany was still paying for the damage done to the Allied countries during World War I. The German economy was in ruins, and the Germans greatly wished to rebuild their own country. In 1933, citizens elected Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist,or Nazi, Party. The Nazi Party believed in fascism. Fascism (FASH•IHZ•uhm) is a philosophy that supports a strong, central government controlled by the military and led by a powerful dictator. People believed that this new leader would help Germany recover.
World War II Alliances (1939–1945)
THE AXIS POWERS THE ALLIES
Germany United Kingdom
Italy France (Until June 1940)
Japan Soviet Union (formerly Russia)
United States (Joined in 1941)
ACTIVITIE:
Finding Causes😊
What conditions led Germans to find hope in Adolf Hitler?
Like Germany,Italy was also ruled by a fascist dictator after World War I: Benito Mussolini (1883–1945).
Hitler and the Nazi Party
Fascists practiced an extreme form of patriotism and nationalism.Fascists also had racist beliefs. In the 1930's, Hitler unjustly blamed the Jewish citizens of Germany, among other specific groups, for the country’s problems.
His Nazi followers seized Jewish property and began to send Jews, along with disabled people, political opponents, and others,to concentration camps. During this Holocaust, millions of people were deliberately killed,and others starved or died from disease.
In 1934, Hitler took command of the armed forces.Then, in 1939, Hitler’s army invaded Poland. World War II had begun. By June 1940, Hitler’s army had swept through Western Europe, conquering Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, and Norway. A year later, Germany invaded the Soviet Union.
WWII Alliances
The chart on page 130 shows the major powers on both sides of World War II. As in World War I, the United States at first tried to stay out of the conflict but entered the war after Japan bombed U.S. military bases at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7,1941.
BIOGRAPHY 💭👌
Anne Frank In July 1942,during World War II,Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in Amsterdam—a city in the Netherlands. The Frank family were Jewish and were afraid they would be sent to a concentration camp.Anne was only thirteen. For two years,Anne, her father, mother, sister, and four other people lived in rooms in an attic.Their rooms were sealed off from the rest of the building.While in hiding,Anne kept a diary. Although the family was discovered and Anne died in a concentration camp, her diary was eventually published.Today, this famous book—translated into many languages and the basis for a play and a film—lives on.
The Marshall Plan
United States Secretary of State George C. Marshall created the Economic Cooperation Act of 1948, also known as the Marshall Plan.This plan offered U.S.aid—agricultural, industrial, and financial—to countries of Western Europe. The Marshall Plan greatly benefited war-torn Europe. It may also have prevented economic depression or political instability.
ACTIVITIES😀👌
Terms & Names
Identify: (a) World War I (b) alliance (c) Adolf Hitler (d) fascism (e) Holocaust (f) World War II (g) NATO
Taking Notes
Use a Venn diagram to compare the countries that were involved in World War I and World War II.
Involved in WWI.
Involved in WWII.
Involved in Both.
Main Ideas
(a) What event set off World War I?
(b) When did World War II begin and end? Which countries won?
(c) What happened at the end of World War II?
Critical Thinking
Making Inferences How did World War I change Europe?
Think About
The destruction and many deaths
The Treaty of Versailles
Austria-Hungary
The Soviet Union
MAIN IDEA
After World War II, the Soviet Union was the most powerful country in Europe, but life for most Soviet citizens was difficult.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Russia, the former Soviet Union, remains powerful and is currently experiencing great change.
WARSAW, POLAND, MAY 14, 1955
Today, the Soviet Union and most Eastern European countries announced that they have signed the Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. The members of this alliance agree to offer military defense to one another for a period of 20 years. Yugoslavia is the only country in Eastern Europe that did not sign the agreement. The new treaty, also called the Warsaw Pact, allows the Soviet Union to keep troops in the countries that are located between the Soviet Union and Western Europe. The Warsaw Pact is a response to the formation of NATO, an alliance that Western European countries joined six years ago.
Region • Warsaw hosted Eastern European officials who signed a military alliance here in the Palace of Culture. 👇
East Against West
After World War II, political differences divided the Soviet controlled countries of Eastern Europe from those of Western Europe.These differences gave rise to an invisible wall known as the Iron Curtain. While there was no actual curtain, people of the East were restricted from traveling outside of their countries. Westerners who wished to visit the East also faced restrictions.
The Strongest Nation in Europe
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, was the official name of the Soviet Union. It included 15 republics, of which Russia was the largest. The Soviet Union entered World War II in 1941, when Germany invaded its borders. German troops destroyed much of the western Soviet Union and killed millions of people.This invasion brought the Soviet Union close to collapse. However, with the defeat of Germany, the Soviet Union rose to become the strongest nation in Europe.
Region • The hammer and sickle became the symbol of Soviet communism. The tools represent the unity of the peasants (sickle) with the workers (hammer).
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Communism
After World War II, the Soviet Union established Communist governments in Eastern Europe.The Soviets made sure—either by politics or by force—that these new Eastern European governments were loyal to the Soviet Union.
Soviet Control of Eastern Europe
The Soviet Union controlled the countries of Eastern Europe through puppet governments.A puppet government is one that does what it is told by an outside force. In this case, the Eastern European governments followed orders from Soviet leaders in Moscow.
Most Eastern Europeans did have the chance to vote,but they had only one political party to choose from: the Communist Party.All other parties were outlawed.This meant that there was only one candidate to choose from for each government position.
This is an example of a one-party system.Soviet citizens could not complain about the government.In fact,they could be jailed for expressing any view that the Soviet leaders did not like.
Movement • The government controlled factories in the Soviet Union did not produce enough of certain items. When goods that were often in short supply— such as bread and shoes— finally became available, people had to wait in long lines to buy them.
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin (STAH•lin) (1879–1953) ruled the Soviet Union during World War II. Stalin took power after the death of Vladimir Lenin. Lenin was a Communist leader who had helped overthrow the czar and ruled the Soviet Union from 1917 until his death in 1924.
The name Stalin is related to the Russian word for “steel.” Stalin was greatly feared, and his rule was indeed as tough as steel. He controlled the government until his death.
Region • Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union from 1928 to 1953.
The Five-Year Plans
Under Stalin, the government controlled every aspect of Soviet life. Stalin hoped to strengthen the country with his five-year plans, which were sets of economic goals. For example, Stalin ordered many new factories to be built. The Soviet government decided where and what types of factories to build, how many goods to produce, and how to distribute them. These decisions were based on the Communist theory that this would benefit the most people.
Region • The Soviet government managed the factories while citizens provided the actual labor.
The Iron Curtain and the Warsaw Pact Nations, 1955
Soviet Agriculture
Stalin also hoped to strengthen the Soviet Union by controlling the country’s agriculture. During the 1930's, peasants were forced to move to collective farms.A collective farm was government-owned and employed large numbers of workers. All the crops produced by the collective farms were distributed by the government. Sometimes farm workers did not receive enough food to feed themselves and their families.
Region • Similar to urban factory workers, Russian peasants labored on government controlled collective farms.
The Secret Police
Stalin used his secret police to get rid of citizens he did not trust.The secret police arrested those who did not support the Soviet government. Suspects were transported to slave-labor camps in Siberia. Millions of men and women were sent to this remote and bitterly cold region of northeastern Russia.Many never returned home.
The Cold War
From 1941 to 1945,the United Kingdom,the United States,and the Soviet Union shared a goal: to defeat the Axis Powers.They became allies to make that happen.Once the war ended,however, these countries no longer had a common enemy—and had little reason to work together. Most Western European countries were constitutional monarchies or democracies, and most Eastern European countries had Communist, largely Soviet-controlled, governments.
Region • The Brandenberg Gate was a part of the Berlin Wall that separated East Berlin from West Berlin.
The members of NATO and the nations in the Warsaw Pact— the alliance of Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain—refused to trade or cooperate with each other.
The countries never actually fought,so this period of political noncooperation is called the Cold War. Both sides in the Cold War were hesitant to start a war that would involve the use of newly developed nuclear weapons,which could cause destruction on a global scale.
The United States and Western Europe feared that the Soviet Union would influence other countries to become Communist. At the same time, the Soviet Union wanted to protect itself against invasion.
This led the countries on either side of the Iron Curtain to view and treat each other as possible threats.The tense international situation caused by the Cold War would continue for almost 40 years.
ACTIVITIES.-😏
Terms & Names
1. Identify:
(a) Iron Curtain
(b) puppet government
(c) one-party system
(d) Joseph Stalin
(e) collective farm
(f) Warsaw Pact
(g) Cold War
Main Ideas
(a) What happened to the Soviet Union during World War II?
(b) How did the governments of most Western and Eastern European countries differ?
(c) How did Joseph Stalin rule the Soviet Union?
Critical Thinking
Analyzing Motives Why do you think the Soviet Union wanted to control the countries of Eastern Europe?
Taking Notes
Use a chart like this one to describe three elements of Joseph Stalin’s rule of the Soviet Union.
Eastern Europe Under Communism
MAIN IDEA
The Communist government of the Soviet Union controlled the lives of its citizens.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Today, many republics of the former Soviet Union have become independent nations.
TERMS & NAMES
propaganda, private property rights, Nikita Khrushchev, deposed, détente
TERMS & NAMES
propaganda, private property rights, Nikita Khrushchev, deposed, détente
THE KREMLIN,MOSCOW,APRIL 12, 1961
A 27-year-old Soviet pilot has become the first person to travel into space. Soviet officials proudly announced today that cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had orbited Earth in 1 hour and 29 minutes. His 4.75-ton spacecraft, Vostok I, flew at a maximum altitude of 187 miles above the planet. Its top speed was 18,000 miles per hour.
Gagarin graduated from the Soviet Air Force cadet school just four years ago. He is the son of a carpenter and began to study flying while in college. Gagarin’s space flight puts the Soviet Union a giant step ahead of the United States in the space race.
Movement • Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space.
STRANGE BUT TRUE
Space Dogs Four years before Yuri Gagarin blasted into space, a Russian dog orbited the planet. Her name was Laika (LIE•kuh), which means “Barker.” Laika, pictured below, was launched into space on Sputnik 2 in November 1957.The Soviets did not then have the ability to bring a spacecraft down safely, and Laika lived in space for only a few days. In August 1960, however, the Russians sent two other dogs into space. Named Belka and Strelka, they were the first living creatures to go into space and return safely to Earth.
Soviet Culture The Soviet space program of the 1950s and 1960s brought international attention to that country. Daily life for citizens of the Soviet Union and of the Eastern European countries under its control, however, was difficult. Most people were poor and had little,if any,say in their government.
Creating a National Identity
The Soviet government was fearful that some ethnic groups might want to break away from the Soviet Union. To keep this from happening, Soviet leaders tried to create a strong national identity.
They wanted people in the republic of Latvia, for example, to think of themselves as Soviets, not as Latvians. To help achieve its goals, the Soviet government created and distributed propaganda (proh•puh•GAN•duh), or material designed to spread certain beliefs. Soviet propaganda included pamphlets, posters, artwork, statues, songs,and films.It praised the Soviet Union,its leaders,and communism.
They wanted people in the republic of Latvia, for example, to think of themselves as Soviets, not as Latvians. To help achieve its goals, the Soviet government created and distributed propaganda (proh•puh•GAN•duh), or material designed to spread certain beliefs. Soviet propaganda included pamphlets, posters, artwork, statues, songs,and films.It praised the Soviet Union,its leaders,and communism.
Soviet Control of Daily Life
To prevent different ethnic groups from identifying with their individual cultures rather than with the Soviet Union,the Soviet government outlawed many cultural celebrations. It destroyed churches and other religious buildings and killed thousands of religious leaders.
The members of many ethnic groups were not allowed to speak their native languages or celebrate certain holidays. The Soviet government also controlled communications media, such as newspapers, books, and radio. This meant that most Soviet citizens could not learn much about other nations around the world.
To prevent different ethnic groups from identifying with their individual cultures rather than with the Soviet Union,the Soviet government outlawed many cultural celebrations. It destroyed churches and other religious buildings and killed thousands of religious leaders.
The members of many ethnic groups were not allowed to speak their native languages or celebrate certain holidays. The Soviet government also controlled communications media, such as newspapers, books, and radio. This meant that most Soviet citizens could not learn much about other nations around the world.
Region • This statue, a form of propaganda, displays the Soviet belief in the unity of the worker (hammer) and the farmer (sickle).
Literature and the Arts
The works of many writers,poets,and other artists who lived during the Soviet era often were banned or censored. Soviet artists were forced to join government run unions.
These unions told artists what kinds of works they could create. Artists who disobeyed were punished. Some were imprisoned or even killed.
The Soviet government supported its top athletes and provided for all their basic needs. It even hired and paid for the coaches and paid for all training. The hockey teams and gymnasts of the Soviet Union were among the best in the world.
Region • Romanian gymnasts, like Nadia Comaneci, won medals at the Olympics.
Please click on this link.👇
Nadia's Theme
The Soviet Economy
In addition to controlling the governments of the Soviet Union and of those Eastern European countries under its influence,Soviet leaders also ran the economy.When the Soviets installed Communist governments in Eastern Europe after World War II, they promised to improve industry and to bring new wealth to be shared among all citizens.This did not happen.
Government Control
Communism in the Soviet Union did not support private property rights, or the right of individuals to own land or an industry. The Soviets wanted all major industries to be owned by the government rather than by private citizens. So the government took over factories,railroads,and businesses.
The Soviet government decided what would be produced,how it would be produced, and who would get what was produced. These choices were made based on Soviet interests, not on the interests of the republics or of individuals. Communist countries of Eastern Europe were often unable to meet the needs—including bread,meat,and clothing—of their citizens.
Attempts at Change Starting in the 1950s,Eastern Europeans began to demand more goods of better quality.They also wanted changes in the government. In 1956, Hungary and Poland tried to free their governments and economies from Soviet control. But the Communist army put an end to these attempts at change.
Khrushchev From 1958 until 1964, Nikita Khrushchev (KROOSH•chev) ruled the Soviet Union. During this period, called “The Thaw,” writers and other citizens began to have greater freedoms. Khrushchev even visited the United States in 1959,but the thaw in the Cold War did not last.In 1964,with the Soviet economy growing weaker, Khrushchev was deposed, or removed from power.
SPOTLIGHT ON CULTURE
Solzhenitsyn In 1945, army officer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (sohl•zhuh•NEET•sin), far right, called the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin “the boss.” For this, he was sentenced to eight years in slave-labor camps. Later, Solzhenitsyn wrote books about his experiences in those camps. He also wrote a letter against censorship.
The government called him a traitor, and in 1969 it forced Solzhenitsyn to leave the writers’ union. Five years later, Solzhenitsyn left the country. Although Solzhenitsyn’s works were banned, many Soviet citizens read them in secret.
Copies of his and other banned books were passed from person to person across the nation.Through such writings, Soviet citizens learned many things that the government had tried to hide from them.
Solzhenitsyn In 1945, army officer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (sohl•zhuh•NEET•sin), far right, called the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin “the boss.” For this, he was sentenced to eight years in slave-labor camps. Later, Solzhenitsyn wrote books about his experiences in those camps. He also wrote a letter against censorship.
The government called him a traitor, and in 1969 it forced Solzhenitsyn to leave the writers’ union. Five years later, Solzhenitsyn left the country. Although Solzhenitsyn’s works were banned, many Soviet citizens read them in secret.
Copies of his and other banned books were passed from person to person across the nation.Through such writings, Soviet citizens learned many things that the government had tried to hide from them.
THINKING CRITICALLY
1. Analyzing Motives:Why would the Soviet government stop people from reading Solzhenitsyn’s books?
2. Comparing: Compare the censorship of literature in the Soviet Union with censorship in the United States.
The Prague Spring In January 1968 in Czechoslovakia, Alexander Dubcek (DOOB•chek) became the First Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. His attempts to lessen the Soviet Union’s control over Czechoslovakia led to a period of improvement called the “Prague Spring.”Czech citizens enjoyed greater freedoms,including more contact with Western Europe. In August of that year, however, the Soviet Union sent troops to force a return to strict Communist control. Dubcˇek was later replaced, and Soviet controls were back in place.
Détente The member nations of NATO,which were concerned about starting an all-out war with the Soviet Union,were unable to stop the Soviet control of Eastern Europe.In the 1970s,however,leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States began to have more contact with each other. This led to a period of détente (day•TAHNT),or lessening tension,between the members of NATO and the Warsaw Pact nations.
Place • Nikita Khrushchev, the son of a miner and grandson of a peasant, lessened government control of Soviet citizens.
Recognizing Important Details How did the Soviet Union maintain control over other Eastern European nations.
Region • Citizens of Czechoslovakia protested Soviet control in 1968.
Place • The old city of Dubrovnik is in Croatia, a part of the former Yugoslavia, which was a Communist country in Eastern Europe.
Economic Crisis
By the 1980s,economic conditions in the Soviet Union and in those countries under its control had still not improved.Even after détente,the Soviet government continued to spend most of its money on the armed forces and nuclear weapons.
In addition, people who lived in the non-Russian republics of the Soviet Union now wanted more control over their own affairs. Many citizens began to reject the Soviet economic system,but the Soviet leaders refused to give up any of their power or control.
ACTIVITIES!! 💓😙💥
Terms & Names
1. Identify:
(a) propaganda
(b) private property rights
(c) Nikita Khrushchev
(d) deposed
(e) détente
MAIN IDEAS:
Why did Soviet leaders try to create a strong national identity?
What began to happen in Eastern Europe in the 1950s?
Describe the significance of the “Prague Spring.”s
Eastern Europe and Russia
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, many former Soviet republics and countries of Eastern Europe became independent.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Nations once under Soviet rule are taking steps toward new economies and democratic governments.
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW, 1988—
To reduce military spending, the Soviet Union has begun removing large numbers of troops and arms from Eastern Europe. This latest news is just one of many changes in the Soviet government since Mikhail Gorbachev (GORE•buh•chawf) came to power three years ago.
Although Gorbachev believes in the ideals of the Soviet system, he thinks that change is necessary to help solve the country’s economic and political problems. Since 1985, Gorbachev has reduced Cold War tensions with the United States. At home in the Soviet Union, he has allowed more political and economic freedom.
Region • Mikhail Gorbachev leads the Soviet Union toward a freer society
GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER:
Interpreting a Map
1. Location • Which former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact members border Russia?
2. Region • On which continent are most of these countries located?
New Economies
Under Soviet rule, Eastern Europe struggled economically and its people’s freedoms were severely restricted. Although Eastern Europeans gained their freedom, they also faced problems such as inflation and unemployment. Eastern Europe’s countries are changing from command economies to free-market economies. Some countries, such as Slovakia, made this change slowly.
Others, such as Poland, reformed their economic system and achieved economic success. Many former Soviet republics, which did not quickly reform their economic systems, are in bad economic shape. Some of these nations are terribly poor. Struggles for power have led to violence and sometimes civil war.Pollution from the Soviet era threatens people’s health. Still, some republics, including Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, are making progress as independent nations.
Comparing
Compare a command economy with a free-market economy.
Defense
After the breakup of the Soviet Union,Eastern European nations no longer looked to the Soviet government to defend them. Many wanted to become members of NATO.Belonging to NATO would help assure them of protection in case of invasion.
In 1999, three new members joined NATO: Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. In 2001, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Baltic States were also working to become NATO members.
SPOTLIGHT ON CULTURE
Easter in Ukraine
In Ukraine, most Christians belong to the Orthodox Church.These Ukrainians are known for the special way in which they celebrate the Easter holiday.They create beautiful Easter eggs, which are dyed bright colors and covered with intricate designs.These eggs are so beautiful that people around the world collect them. Ukrainian families also bake a special bread for Easter.They decorate this bread with designs made from pieces of dough. Families bring the bread and other foods to church to be blessed on Easter.These foods then make up the family’s holiday feast.
THINKING CRITICALLY
1. Analyzing Issues Why were Ukrainian Easter eggs not common during the Soviet era?
2. Comparing Compare how your family prepares for holidays with preparations made by Ukrainians in the Orthodox Church.
War in the Balkan Peninsula
Since the late 1980s,much of Eastern Europe has been a place of turmoil and struggle.Yugoslavia, one of the countries located on Europe’s Balkan Peninsula,has experienced terrible wars,extreme hardships,and great change.
Under Tito After World War II,Yugoslavia came under Marshal Tito’s (TEE•toe) dictatorship.Tito controlled all the country’s many different ethnic groups, which included Serbs, Croats, and Muslims. His rule continued until his death in 1980. Slobodan Milosevic (SLOW•boe•don muh•LOW•suh•vitch) became Yugoslavia’s president in 1989,after years of political turmoil.
Milosevic Slobodan Milosevic, a Serb, wanted the Serbs to rule Yugoslavia.The Serbs in Bosnia began fighting the Croats and Muslims living there.The Bosnian Serbs murdered many Muslims so that Serbs would be in the majority.The Serbs called these killings of members of minority ethnic groups ethnic cleansing. Finally,NATO attacked the Bosnian Serbs and ended the war.
In 1995, the Serbs, Croats, and Muslims of Bosnia signed a peace treaty. In 1999, Milosevic began using ethnic cleansing against the Albanians in Kosovo, a region of Serbia. NATO launched an air war against Yugoslavia that ended with the defeat of the Serbs. In 2000, public protests led to Milosevic’s removal. He was subsequently arrested and tried for war crimes by the United Nations.
Vocabulary Baltic States: Estonia,Latvia, and Lithuania— former Soviet republics that are on the Baltic Sea
CONNECTIONS TO SCIENCE
Pollution Soviet leaders thought that industry would improve life for everyone. Developing industry was so important that the Soviet government did not worry about pollution. Few laws were passed to protect the environment. In the 1970s and 1980s, there was not enough money to modernize industry or to reduce pollution. Some areas also could not afford proper sewage systems or recycling plants. Today, Eastern Europe has some of the worst pollution problems on the continent.
BACKGROUND
By 1991,Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia,and Bosnia-Herzegovina had gained independence from Yugoslavia. Only Serbia and Montenegro were still part of the Yugoslavian federation.
Modern Russia Life in Russia has improved since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russian citizens can elect their own leaders. They enjoy more freedom of speech.New businesses have sprung up.And some Russians have become wealthy. Unfortunately,Russia still faces serious problems. Many leaders are dishonest.
The nation has been slow to reform its economic system. Most of the nation’s new wealth has gone to a small number of people, so that many Russians remain poor.The crime rate has grown tremendously. The government has also fought a war against Chechnya (CHECH•nee•yah), a region of Russia that wants to become independent.
Russian Culture The fall of communism helped most Russians to follow their cultural practices more freely. Russians gained the freedom to practice the religion of their choice. They can also buy and read the great works of Russian literature that once were banned.
At the beginning of the 21st century,writers and other artists also have far more freedom to express themselves. New magazines and newspapers are being published. Even new history books are being written. For the first time in decades, these publications are telling more of the truth about the Soviet Union.
Russia’s Government Russia has a democratic form of government. The president is elected by the people. The people also elect members of the Duma (DOO•muh), which is part of the legislature.
Prices are no longer controlled by the government.This means that companies can charge a price that is high enough for them to make a profit. At the beginning of the 21st century, however, people’s wages have not risen as fast as prices.
Many people cannot afford to buy new products. Some Russians have done well in the new economy. On the other hand, people with less education and less access to power have not done as well. Also, today most new businesses and jobs are in the cities, which means that people in small towns have fewer job opportunities.
F Y I..
Identifying Problems
What are the main problems that face Russia today?
BACKGROUND FYI👍
One of the most popular pastimes in Russia is the game of chess.In fact,many of the world’s greatest chess players, such as Boris Spassky,have been Russian.
Russian highways are in poor condition.Also, many rivers and major ports are closed by ice in the winter.As a result,most Russian goods are transported by railroad.
ACTIVITIES
Terms & Names / Identify
(a) Mikhail Gorbachev
(b) parliamentary republic
(c) coalition government
(d) ethnic cleansing
(e) Duma
Use a flow chart to outline the changes in Eastern Europe and Russia from 1988 through 2000.
MAIN IDEA
1.- What happened to the governments of the former Soviet republics after independence?
2.- How have the economies of Eastern European countries changed now that those countries are free?
3.-In what ways has life in Russia improved since the breakup of the Soviet Union?
Critical Thinking / Making Inferences
Why do you think many Eastern European countries would like to join NATO?
1. Analyzing Motives:Why would the Soviet government stop people from reading Solzhenitsyn’s books?
2. Comparing: Compare the censorship of literature in the Soviet Union with censorship in the United States.
The Prague Spring In January 1968 in Czechoslovakia, Alexander Dubcek (DOOB•chek) became the First Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. His attempts to lessen the Soviet Union’s control over Czechoslovakia led to a period of improvement called the “Prague Spring.”Czech citizens enjoyed greater freedoms,including more contact with Western Europe. In August of that year, however, the Soviet Union sent troops to force a return to strict Communist control. Dubcˇek was later replaced, and Soviet controls were back in place.
Détente The member nations of NATO,which were concerned about starting an all-out war with the Soviet Union,were unable to stop the Soviet control of Eastern Europe.In the 1970s,however,leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States began to have more contact with each other. This led to a period of détente (day•TAHNT),or lessening tension,between the members of NATO and the Warsaw Pact nations.
Place • Nikita Khrushchev, the son of a miner and grandson of a peasant, lessened government control of Soviet citizens.
Recognizing Important Details How did the Soviet Union maintain control over other Eastern European nations.
Region • Citizens of Czechoslovakia protested Soviet control in 1968.
Place • The old city of Dubrovnik is in Croatia, a part of the former Yugoslavia, which was a Communist country in Eastern Europe.
Economic Crisis
By the 1980s,economic conditions in the Soviet Union and in those countries under its control had still not improved.Even after détente,the Soviet government continued to spend most of its money on the armed forces and nuclear weapons.
In addition, people who lived in the non-Russian republics of the Soviet Union now wanted more control over their own affairs. Many citizens began to reject the Soviet economic system,but the Soviet leaders refused to give up any of their power or control.
ACTIVITIES!! 💓😙💥
Terms & Names
1. Identify:
(a) propaganda
(b) private property rights
(c) Nikita Khrushchev
(d) deposed
(e) détente
Taking Notes:
Create a list and describe major aspects of Soviet culture.
MAIN IDEAS:
Why did Soviet leaders try to create a strong national identity?
What began to happen in Eastern Europe in the 1950s?
Describe the significance of the “Prague Spring.”s
Critical Thinking / Analyzing Motives
Why do you think the works of many writers,poets,and artists were banned or censored during the Soviet era?
Think About
what Soviet citizens learned from Solzhenitsyn’s works
the government’s use of propaganda
what life was like for most Soviet citizens
Eastern Europe and Russia
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Nations once under Soviet rule are taking steps toward new economies and democratic governments.
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW, 1988—
To reduce military spending, the Soviet Union has begun removing large numbers of troops and arms from Eastern Europe. This latest news is just one of many changes in the Soviet government since Mikhail Gorbachev (GORE•buh•chawf) came to power three years ago.
Although Gorbachev believes in the ideals of the Soviet system, he thinks that change is necessary to help solve the country’s economic and political problems. Since 1985, Gorbachev has reduced Cold War tensions with the United States. At home in the Soviet Union, he has allowed more political and economic freedom.
Region • Mikhail Gorbachev leads the Soviet Union toward a freer society
The Breakup of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms did not solve the problems of the Soviet Union. The economy continued to get worse. When Gorbachev did not force the countries of Eastern Europe to remain Communist,this further displeased many Communists.
In 1991,a group of more traditional Soviet leaders tried to take over the Soviet government. Thousands of people opposed this coup d’état (koo•day•TAH), and the coup failed. Then, one by one, the Soviet republics declared independence. The Warsaw Pact was dissolved. By the end of 1991, the Soviet Union no longer existed.The huge country had become 15 different nations.
Vocabulary coup d’état:
The overthrow of a government, usually by a small group in a position of power;often shortened to “coup”
Modern Eastern Europe
Each former Soviet republic set up its own non-Communist government.The countries of Eastern Europe that had been under Soviet control held democratic elections, and many wrote or revised their constitutions. In some countries, such as the Czech Republic, former Communists were banned from important government posts. In other countries, such as Bulgaria, the former Communists reorganized themselves into a new political party and have won elections.Many different ethnic groups also tried to create new states within a nation or to reestablish old states that had not existed in many years.
Parliamentary Republics
Today, most of the countries of Eastern Europe are parliamentary republics.A parliamentary republicis a form of government led by the head of the political party with the most members in parliament.
The head of government, usually a prime minister, proposes the programs that the government will undertake. Most of these countries also have a president who has ceremonial,rather than political,duties.
In some countries,small political parties have joined forces to work together to form a government. This is called a coalition government. Each former Soviet republic set up its own non-Communist government.The countries of Eastern Europe that had been under Soviet control held democratic elections, and many wrote or revised their constitutions. In some countries, such as the Czech Republic, former Communists were banned from important government posts. In other countries, such as Bulgaria, the former Communists reorganized themselves into a new political party and have won elections.Many different ethnic groups also tried to create new states within a nation or to reestablish old states that had not existed in many years.
Parliamentary Republics
Today, most of the countries of Eastern Europe are parliamentary republics.A parliamentary republicis a form of government led by the head of the political party with the most members in parliament.
The head of government, usually a prime minister, proposes the programs that the government will undertake. Most of these countries also have a president who has ceremonial,rather than political,duties.
GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER:
Interpreting a Map
1. Location • Which former Soviet republics and Warsaw Pact members border Russia?
2. Region • On which continent are most of these countries located?
New Economies
Under Soviet rule, Eastern Europe struggled economically and its people’s freedoms were severely restricted. Although Eastern Europeans gained their freedom, they also faced problems such as inflation and unemployment. Eastern Europe’s countries are changing from command economies to free-market economies. Some countries, such as Slovakia, made this change slowly.
Others, such as Poland, reformed their economic system and achieved economic success. Many former Soviet republics, which did not quickly reform their economic systems, are in bad economic shape. Some of these nations are terribly poor. Struggles for power have led to violence and sometimes civil war.Pollution from the Soviet era threatens people’s health. Still, some republics, including Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, are making progress as independent nations.
Comparing
Compare a command economy with a free-market economy.
Defense
After the breakup of the Soviet Union,Eastern European nations no longer looked to the Soviet government to defend them. Many wanted to become members of NATO.Belonging to NATO would help assure them of protection in case of invasion.
In 1999, three new members joined NATO: Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. In 2001, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Baltic States were also working to become NATO members.
SPOTLIGHT ON CULTURE
Easter in Ukraine
In Ukraine, most Christians belong to the Orthodox Church.These Ukrainians are known for the special way in which they celebrate the Easter holiday.They create beautiful Easter eggs, which are dyed bright colors and covered with intricate designs.These eggs are so beautiful that people around the world collect them. Ukrainian families also bake a special bread for Easter.They decorate this bread with designs made from pieces of dough. Families bring the bread and other foods to church to be blessed on Easter.These foods then make up the family’s holiday feast.
THINKING CRITICALLY
1. Analyzing Issues Why were Ukrainian Easter eggs not common during the Soviet era?
2. Comparing Compare how your family prepares for holidays with preparations made by Ukrainians in the Orthodox Church.
War in the Balkan Peninsula
Since the late 1980s,much of Eastern Europe has been a place of turmoil and struggle.Yugoslavia, one of the countries located on Europe’s Balkan Peninsula,has experienced terrible wars,extreme hardships,and great change.
Under Tito After World War II,Yugoslavia came under Marshal Tito’s (TEE•toe) dictatorship.Tito controlled all the country’s many different ethnic groups, which included Serbs, Croats, and Muslims. His rule continued until his death in 1980. Slobodan Milosevic (SLOW•boe•don muh•LOW•suh•vitch) became Yugoslavia’s president in 1989,after years of political turmoil.
Milosevic Slobodan Milosevic, a Serb, wanted the Serbs to rule Yugoslavia.The Serbs in Bosnia began fighting the Croats and Muslims living there.The Bosnian Serbs murdered many Muslims so that Serbs would be in the majority.The Serbs called these killings of members of minority ethnic groups ethnic cleansing. Finally,NATO attacked the Bosnian Serbs and ended the war.
In 1995, the Serbs, Croats, and Muslims of Bosnia signed a peace treaty. In 1999, Milosevic began using ethnic cleansing against the Albanians in Kosovo, a region of Serbia. NATO launched an air war against Yugoslavia that ended with the defeat of the Serbs. In 2000, public protests led to Milosevic’s removal. He was subsequently arrested and tried for war crimes by the United Nations.
Vocabulary Baltic States: Estonia,Latvia, and Lithuania— former Soviet republics that are on the Baltic Sea
CONNECTIONS TO SCIENCE
Pollution Soviet leaders thought that industry would improve life for everyone. Developing industry was so important that the Soviet government did not worry about pollution. Few laws were passed to protect the environment. In the 1970s and 1980s, there was not enough money to modernize industry or to reduce pollution. Some areas also could not afford proper sewage systems or recycling plants. Today, Eastern Europe has some of the worst pollution problems on the continent.
BACKGROUND
By 1991,Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia,and Bosnia-Herzegovina had gained independence from Yugoslavia. Only Serbia and Montenegro were still part of the Yugoslavian federation.
Modern Russia Life in Russia has improved since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russian citizens can elect their own leaders. They enjoy more freedom of speech.New businesses have sprung up.And some Russians have become wealthy. Unfortunately,Russia still faces serious problems. Many leaders are dishonest.
The nation has been slow to reform its economic system. Most of the nation’s new wealth has gone to a small number of people, so that many Russians remain poor.The crime rate has grown tremendously. The government has also fought a war against Chechnya (CHECH•nee•yah), a region of Russia that wants to become independent.
Russian Culture The fall of communism helped most Russians to follow their cultural practices more freely. Russians gained the freedom to practice the religion of their choice. They can also buy and read the great works of Russian literature that once were banned.
At the beginning of the 21st century,writers and other artists also have far more freedom to express themselves. New magazines and newspapers are being published. Even new history books are being written. For the first time in decades, these publications are telling more of the truth about the Soviet Union.
Russia’s Government Russia has a democratic form of government. The president is elected by the people. The people also elect members of the Duma (DOO•muh), which is part of the legislature.
Democracy is still new to the Russian people. Some citizens are working to improve the system to reduce corruption and to ensure that everyone receives fair treatment. Even the thought of changing the government is new to most Russians.Under the Soviets,people had to accept things the way they were.
Resources and Industry The map above shows Russia’s major natural resources.The country is one of the world’s largest producers of oil. Russia also contains the world’s largest forests. Its trees are made into lumber,paper,and other wood products. Russian factories produce steel from iron ore. Other factories use that steel to make tractors and other large machines. Since Russian ships can reach both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, Russia also has a large fishing industry.
Economics
Following the lead of Eastern European countries, Russia has been moving toward a free-market economy. Citizens can own land, and foreign companies are encouraged to do business in Russia. These changes have given many Russians more opportunities, but they have also brought difficulties.
Following the lead of Eastern European countries, Russia has been moving toward a free-market economy. Citizens can own land, and foreign companies are encouraged to do business in Russia. These changes have given many Russians more opportunities, but they have also brought difficulties.
Prices are no longer controlled by the government.This means that companies can charge a price that is high enough for them to make a profit. At the beginning of the 21st century, however, people’s wages have not risen as fast as prices.
Many people cannot afford to buy new products. Some Russians have done well in the new economy. On the other hand, people with less education and less access to power have not done as well. Also, today most new businesses and jobs are in the cities, which means that people in small towns have fewer job opportunities.
F Y I..
Identifying Problems
What are the main problems that face Russia today?
BACKGROUND FYI👍
One of the most popular pastimes in Russia is the game of chess.In fact,many of the world’s greatest chess players, such as Boris Spassky,have been Russian.
Russian highways are in poor condition.Also, many rivers and major ports are closed by ice in the winter.As a result,most Russian goods are transported by railroad.
The Russian government is unable to enforce tax laws. Many people don’t pay their taxes. Without that money,the government cannot provide basic services,such as health care.
CONNECTIONS TO LANGUAGE.
The Russian Language More than 150 million people speak Russian.It is related to other Slavic languages of Eastern Europe,including Polish, Serbian,and Bulgarian. Russian is written using the Cyrillic (suh•RIL•ik) alphabet, which has 33 characters. Many of the newly independent republics are now returning to the Latin alphabet,used to write English and most other languages of the Western world.The major powers in the world economy base their languages on the Latin alphabet, and clearer communication may improve the economies of these new countries.
Place • Forestry is a major industry in Russia. These harvested logs are being floated downriver to be processed.
ACTIVITIES
Terms & Names / Identify
(a) Mikhail Gorbachev
(b) parliamentary republic
(c) coalition government
(d) ethnic cleansing
(e) Duma
Use a flow chart to outline the changes in Eastern Europe and Russia from 1988 through 2000.
MAIN IDEA
1.- What happened to the governments of the former Soviet republics after independence?
2.- How have the economies of Eastern European countries changed now that those countries are free?
3.-In what ways has life in Russia improved since the breakup of the Soviet Union?
Critical Thinking / Making Inferences
Why do you think many Eastern European countries would like to join NATO?
