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The Aztecs
The Aztecs were a great nation of nomadic warriors who traveled Mexico about 700 years ago in search of a land to call their own. The Aztec chief had a dream in which their God
appeared to him and declared that the Aztecs would build a great nation where the Eagle with a snake in its talons lands on a cactus. The warriors searched for many days and came upon a lake. They were tired and hungry. They gazed out upon the lake and guess what they saw. Exactly!! A huge eagle swooped down and grabbed a snake in its talons and landed on a cactus that was on an island in the middle of the lake. The Aztecs began to build a great nation in the middle of a huge lake. They named their city, Tenochtitlan. It has been
likened to Venice because of its great gardens and streams. They traveled by boat much like in Venice. It was a city built of gold. The Aztecs were very educated. They were the first to create an advanced calendar that is more accurate than our own. They performed brain surgery. They were great in mathematics, architecture, building, astronomy, medicine, surgery, and
farming. The Aztecs were forced to be at constant war to obtain prisoners to sacrifice. They captured them and held them for daily sacrifice. They were placed on a bench and their heart was cut out and placed in a stone statue of Chac-mool. The Aztecs were feared and hated by all of the other Indian tribes of Mexico.
The Aztecs were a great nation of nomadic warriors who traveled Mexico about 700 years ago in search of a land to call their own. The Aztec chief had a dream in which their God
appeared to him and declared that the Aztecs would build a great nation where the Eagle with a snake in its talons lands on a cactus. The warriors searched for many days and came upon a lake. They were tired and hungry. They gazed out upon the lake and guess what they saw. Exactly!! A huge eagle swooped down and grabbed a snake in its talons and landed on a cactus that was on an island in the middle of the lake. The Aztecs began to build a great nation in the middle of a huge lake. They named their city, Tenochtitlan. It has been
likened to Venice because of its great gardens and streams. They traveled by boat much like in Venice. It was a city built of gold. The Aztecs were very educated. They were the first to create an advanced calendar that is more accurate than our own. They performed brain surgery. They were great in mathematics, architecture, building, astronomy, medicine, surgery, and
farming. The Aztecs were forced to be at constant war to obtain prisoners to sacrifice. They captured them and held them for daily sacrifice. They were placed on a bench and their heart was cut out and placed in a stone statue of Chac-mool. The Aztecs were feared and hated by all of the other Indian tribes of Mexico.
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The Incas
The Inca built their empire in South America. They started out as a small clan that conquered nearby peoples. Cuzco became their capital city around the year 1200 CE. After a series of emperors, the Inca expanded throughout the Andes Mountain region. They had an empire of over 12 million people living in present day Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. The Inca originally did not have written records. Their history was passed down orally until the Spanish conquest.
The Inca economy was based on agriculture. Most Inca were farmers. They
cultivated crops of corn, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, chili peppers, and cotton.
The Inca also raised animals such as dogs, guinea pigs, and alpacas. The
Inca had a rigid social structure. They were divided into two main classes: nobles and farmers. The
farmers were the common people and were divided into ayullu. The ayullu were groups of families that lived together and shared crops, animals, and land. The Inca stayed in the ayullu for life.
The Inca government was very developed. At the top was the emperor, who was believed to be a descendant of the sun god. The emperor ruled with the help of bureaucrats, people who carried out orders. Many nobles worked with the emperor to carry out military and religious matters. Their government system also included governors and district governors.
Ten years after the conquest of the Aztecs, Francisco Pizzaro led an expedition to Peru. Pizzaro heard of fabulous wealth of Inca Empire and hoped to win wealth for himself. The Inca Empire was already weakened by smallpox; many killed, including the emperor. Civil War had also broken out. In 1532, a new ruler, Atahualpa, agreed to meet with the Spanish. Pizarro demanded Atahualpa accept Christianity, AND hand over the empire to
Spain. Atahualpa refused and the Spanish killed Atahualpa, destroyed the Inca army, and took over the Inca.
The Inca built their empire in South America. They started out as a small clan that conquered nearby peoples. Cuzco became their capital city around the year 1200 CE. After a series of emperors, the Inca expanded throughout the Andes Mountain region. They had an empire of over 12 million people living in present day Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina. The Inca originally did not have written records. Their history was passed down orally until the Spanish conquest.
The Inca economy was based on agriculture. Most Inca were farmers. They
cultivated crops of corn, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, chili peppers, and cotton.
The Inca also raised animals such as dogs, guinea pigs, and alpacas. The
Inca had a rigid social structure. They were divided into two main classes: nobles and farmers. The
farmers were the common people and were divided into ayullu. The ayullu were groups of families that lived together and shared crops, animals, and land. The Inca stayed in the ayullu for life.
The Inca government was very developed. At the top was the emperor, who was believed to be a descendant of the sun god. The emperor ruled with the help of bureaucrats, people who carried out orders. Many nobles worked with the emperor to carry out military and religious matters. Their government system also included governors and district governors.
Ten years after the conquest of the Aztecs, Francisco Pizzaro led an expedition to Peru. Pizzaro heard of fabulous wealth of Inca Empire and hoped to win wealth for himself. The Inca Empire was already weakened by smallpox; many killed, including the emperor. Civil War had also broken out. In 1532, a new ruler, Atahualpa, agreed to meet with the Spanish. Pizarro demanded Atahualpa accept Christianity, AND hand over the empire to
Spain. Atahualpa refused and the Spanish killed Atahualpa, destroyed the Inca army, and took over the Inca.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/1/8/23182346/7700069.jpg)
The Columbian Exchange
The widespread exchange of plants, animals, food, humans, disease and ideas. It began with the European arrival to the Western Hemisphere. The Columbians exchanged potatoes, beans, maize, tomatoes, and turkeys with the Americas. They exchanged wheat, rice, sugar, bananas, pigs, horses, and cattle with Europe. Latin America had no large domesticated animals except for llamas. Until this time, there were no horses in the Americas. This had a big impact on land use, economies and lifestyles. The imported animals became the center of Latin America livestock industry.
The widespread exchange of plants, animals, food, humans, disease and ideas. It began with the European arrival to the Western Hemisphere. The Columbians exchanged potatoes, beans, maize, tomatoes, and turkeys with the Americas. They exchanged wheat, rice, sugar, bananas, pigs, horses, and cattle with Europe. Latin America had no large domesticated animals except for llamas. Until this time, there were no horses in the Americas. This had a big impact on land use, economies and lifestyles. The imported animals became the center of Latin America livestock industry.
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The culture of the Aborigines and the impact of European contact on the Aborigines
Aborigines are the native people of Australia. The Aborigines occupied Australia for at least 40,000 years. They arrived from Southeast Asia and entered the continent from the north. Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea were one large landmass at that time. The word aborigines means “the people who were here from the beginning.” The Aborigines developed efficient ways to adapt to the harsh Australian environment. They built containers for storing water and built wells to connect with underground water. They were hunters and gatherers and ate animals, fruits, wild nuts and berries. They were nomadic, moving from place to place in search of food. Aborigines created some of the earliest rock art as well as the first boomerangs, ground axes, and grindstones in the world. There is no written record of prehistoric Aborigines. What we know of the ancient Aborigines is found in archaeological evidence. The Aborigines kept their history by telling stories that were passed
down from generation to generation.
Before the Europeans arrived in 1788, 250,000 to 500,000 people lived in Australia. The Aborigines settled in the same places as present-day Australians, where the climate was most pleasant and water was available. In the tropical north, most Aborigines lived along the coasts and rivers. Their religious structure was divided into two “moieties.” The moiety system divided all the members of a tribe into two groups based on a connection with “totems.” The totems were certain animals, plants, or other things in the environment. A person was born into a moiety group and stayed in that group throughout her or his life. A person in one moiety had to marry a person of an opposite moiety.
The traditional social structure of the Aborigines consisted of a tribe or “language group” of as many as 500 people. A tribe included bands called “hordes,” of 10 to 20 people. Hordes joined for daily food gathering and hunting.
The independence of the thirteen American colonies led British to colonize Australia in 1788. Before American independence, the British sent prisoners to be colonists in the Georgia colony of America. Britain created a new penal (prison) colony by shipping prisoners from Great Britain to Australia.
There were four main reasons for the British to colonize Australia. First, the British wanted to colonize Australia to relieve the overcrowding in Great Britain’s jails. Second, the British government recognized the importance of having its navy stationed in Australia in the southern hemisphere. The British viewed Australia as an economic base to expand trade. Finally, the
British government did not want its rivals, especially the French, to start a colony on the Australian continent.
Aborigines are the native people of Australia. The Aborigines occupied Australia for at least 40,000 years. They arrived from Southeast Asia and entered the continent from the north. Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea were one large landmass at that time. The word aborigines means “the people who were here from the beginning.” The Aborigines developed efficient ways to adapt to the harsh Australian environment. They built containers for storing water and built wells to connect with underground water. They were hunters and gatherers and ate animals, fruits, wild nuts and berries. They were nomadic, moving from place to place in search of food. Aborigines created some of the earliest rock art as well as the first boomerangs, ground axes, and grindstones in the world. There is no written record of prehistoric Aborigines. What we know of the ancient Aborigines is found in archaeological evidence. The Aborigines kept their history by telling stories that were passed
down from generation to generation.
Before the Europeans arrived in 1788, 250,000 to 500,000 people lived in Australia. The Aborigines settled in the same places as present-day Australians, where the climate was most pleasant and water was available. In the tropical north, most Aborigines lived along the coasts and rivers. Their religious structure was divided into two “moieties.” The moiety system divided all the members of a tribe into two groups based on a connection with “totems.” The totems were certain animals, plants, or other things in the environment. A person was born into a moiety group and stayed in that group throughout her or his life. A person in one moiety had to marry a person of an opposite moiety.
The traditional social structure of the Aborigines consisted of a tribe or “language group” of as many as 500 people. A tribe included bands called “hordes,” of 10 to 20 people. Hordes joined for daily food gathering and hunting.
The independence of the thirteen American colonies led British to colonize Australia in 1788. Before American independence, the British sent prisoners to be colonists in the Georgia colony of America. Britain created a new penal (prison) colony by shipping prisoners from Great Britain to Australia.
There were four main reasons for the British to colonize Australia. First, the British wanted to colonize Australia to relieve the overcrowding in Great Britain’s jails. Second, the British government recognized the importance of having its navy stationed in Australia in the southern hemisphere. The British viewed Australia as an economic base to expand trade. Finally, the
British government did not want its rivals, especially the French, to start a colony on the Australian continent.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/1/8/23182346/3144781.jpg)
The influence of African slavery on the development of the Americas
European officials governed American holdings. Disease and mistreatment reduced the native population, so reformers recommended replacing Native American laborers with imported African slaves. Spain took slaves to the Caribbean. Portugal took slaves to Brazil. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come into contact with the people of Sub-Saharan Africa. When Portugal and Spain established the first American colonies, they first introduced Africans as a labor source in the New World. It was sugar that first made slavery important and Caribbean sugar islands became enormously important. The European countries which conquered native American civilizations in the 16th century enslaved millions in Brazil and South America to work in mines and the tremendously profitable sugar plantations. The conditions were so brutal and European diseases so bad, that native American populations were destroyed . The Spanish and Portuguese turned to Africans. Millions of Africans were transported across the Atlantic and sold into slavery in the Americas. Slavery in earlier epochs had no racial connotations. With the growth of the African slave trade, slavery in the Western mind became associated with race as with the collapse of Native American populations, it was Africans who were enslaved in huge numbers.
European officials governed American holdings. Disease and mistreatment reduced the native population, so reformers recommended replacing Native American laborers with imported African slaves. Spain took slaves to the Caribbean. Portugal took slaves to Brazil. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to come into contact with the people of Sub-Saharan Africa. When Portugal and Spain established the first American colonies, they first introduced Africans as a labor source in the New World. It was sugar that first made slavery important and Caribbean sugar islands became enormously important. The European countries which conquered native American civilizations in the 16th century enslaved millions in Brazil and South America to work in mines and the tremendously profitable sugar plantations. The conditions were so brutal and European diseases so bad, that native American populations were destroyed . The Spanish and Portuguese turned to Africans. Millions of Africans were transported across the Atlantic and sold into slavery in the Americas. Slavery in earlier epochs had no racial connotations. With the growth of the African slave trade, slavery in the Western mind became associated with race as with the collapse of Native American populations, it was Africans who were enslaved in huge numbers.
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The three Latin American Liberators
Toussaint L’Ouverture
Toussaint L’Ouverture was a famous black freedom fighter. He was a major leader of the slave revolts in Saint Domingue (present day Haiti). He was later made governor of Saint Domingue. Francois-Domingue Toussaint was born a slave in the mid-1700s. His father had been a free African who was captured and sold into slavery in Saint Domingue. He told his son about freedom and what life was like before his capture. Toussaint was lucky because the plantation owner allowed him to learn to read and write. Toussaint read every book that he could. Some of these books had ideas about freedom and equality for all men. In 1789, the French revolution
occurred. The new government in France granted freedom for all blacks and mulattoes (those with African and European ancestors). However, the plantation owners in Saint Domingue were furious. In 1791, the French
government changed its mind and took back the freedom it had given to black and mulattoes. This time, the slaves were furious. Toussaint led a slave army and defeated the French troops. By 1793, the French government
abolished slavery altogether. Toussaint then led his men against invading British and Spanish troops. During this time, he was nicknamed Toussaint L’Ouverture, or “opening” because he seemed to be able to find openings in the defenses of his enemies. In the end, Toussaint L’Ouverture was left in charge of Saint Domingue even though it was officially a French colony.
In 1802, the French emperor Napoleon sent troops to regain control. Some thought that he also wanted to reinstate slavery. Toussaint L’Ouverture was invited to a meeting with a French general to discuss a peace treaty. Instead, Toussaint was captured, arrested, and sent to France. He was imprisoned and died shortly after. Within two years, the people of Saint Dominigue declared their independence and renamed their country Haiti.
Simon Bolivar
Simon Bolivar was a leader in the wars for independence in South America. He and other leaders fought against Spanish rule. They wanted independence for all the people in Latin America. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela won their independence through his efforts. Bolivar was born in 1783, in Caracas, which is now Venezuela. He was from a wealthy family. He had an excellent education and read many books with ideas on freedom and equality. He lived at the time of the French Revolution and through that learned of the defeat of the French royal family. From 1810 to 1824, Bolivar led different groups of troops against Spanish rule. He fought in the lands that are now Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama. He was able to finally defeat the Spanish in 1824 and end Spanish rule in South America. The country of Bolivia was named for Bolivar, and he wrote a
constitution to organize the country.
Bolivar is known as “The Liberator” in South America. He is also sometimes called the “George Washington of South America.” He became dictator and tried to create a single, large South American country called Gran Colombia. It covered the entire northern part of South America. Fights among different groups caused the different countries to break up. Bolivar became infected with tuberculosis and died from the disease in 1830.
Miguel Hidalgo
Miguel Hidalgo is known as the father of Mexican independence. He was a priest who led a peasant army against the Spanish army in Mexico, which was then called New Spain. His force won some victories, but
Hidalgo did not live to see independence. Hidalgo was born in 1753. His family saw that there was not equality for the peasant workers in Mexico. He saw that those born in Spain got special treatment, compared to citizens born in Mexico. After training to be a priest, he worked among the native people and peasants.
In 1808, France invaded Spain, and the king was removed. This created problems in Mexico. People were not sure they supported the new French government. Others did not support the old Spanish government. A
third group thought it was time for Mexico to be independent. Hidalgo and his friends were for the third choice.
In 1810, Hidalgo was warned that he was going to be arrested. Those loyal to the French government turned him in. On September 16, instead of running away, he ran to his church and rang the bell. People from the
countryside came in. Instead of having a church service, the people got a speech. In this speech, Hidalgo said it was time for Mexico to be free. At first, thousands of people followed Hidalgo. They won several victories against the Spanish army. However, they did not have training, and they did not have many weapons. Eventually, the Spanish army pulled its forces together and mounted an attack. They defeated a group of the rebels and captured Hidalgo. He was tried for treason and found guilty. He was executed by Spanish soldiers on July 30, 1811, but the war for independence continued. Mexico did not win its independence for another ten years. In 1821, Spain withdrew the last of its troops from Mexico.
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The Cuban Revolution
In the late 1950s, Fulgencio Batista was ruler of Cuba. He had been elected president at one time, but he later made himself dictator. That meant that he ruled without any controls on his power. Many people in Cuba were unhappy with his rule. There was much poverty. Education and health care were not good for most Cubans. Fidel Castro led a group of rebels against Batista. Because Batista was so unpopular, many followed Castro. Castro defeated the Batista government and made himself dictator in 1959.
Castro began right away to organize a communist government. He declared that all the property belonging to
Americans now belonged to the government. All farms, factories, and businesses owned by Cubans also became government property. Castro had people who supported Batista arrested. Most were executed by firing squad. Some spent decades in prison. Cubans no longer had the right to protest against the government. Cuban
newspapers, radio, and television were shut down. The government became the only source for news. Churches were closed, and all church property was taken by the government. Because of these harsh events, the United States placed an embargo on Cuban goods. That meant that Cuba’s sugar cane crop could not be sold to the United States. The Soviet Union became friends with Cuba. They bought the country’s sugar cane each year. They also supplied weapons and other goods to the Cubans. The soviets helped to educate young Cubans and
trained their military.
Under Castro’s rule, the Cuban people had some benefits. Hospitals and schools were improved. Women and
blacks became better educated and had better jobs. However, most parts of people’s lives were controlled by the government. People who practiced their Christian religion were discriminated against. Although everyone was guaranteed a wage, the incomes of most Cubans were low. The country was one of the poorest in the region. Its people lived in one of the least free countries in the world. Castro’s government and the U.S. government did not get along well. The United States did not like having a communist country so close to Florida. Americans who owned land and businesses in Cuba did not like the loss of their property. The United States decided to keep the pressure on Cuba. It did not allow travel by Americans to or from Cuba. It also tried to keep other
countries from trading with the Cubans. Cuba tried to spread communism into Latin America. It supported revolutionary ideas in many countries by providing military training, money, and weapons. One event, the Cuban Missile Crisis, almost started a nuclear war. In 1962, Cuba gave the Soviet Union permission to build a missile launching complex. Missiles launched from the site could reach U.S. cities. U.S. President John F. Kennedy demanded the missiles be removed. A tense time followed. Finally, the Soviets agreed to remove the
missiles, and the United States said it would not invade Cuba.
Relations between the United States and Cuba have not improved much in the past fifty years. There is still an
embargo on goods from Cuba. Americans, however, can send money to their families in Cuba. In the early 1980s and again in the 1990s, there were periods in which large numbers of Cubans escaped their island for America. The United States had been accepting Cubans who escaped. However, thousands were being “allowed” to
escape. This caused a strain on relations between the two countries. In 1994, the United States agreed to allow 20,000 Cubans a year to enter the United States. The Cubans agreed to stop allowing so many Cubans to
“escape.”
In the late 1950s, Fulgencio Batista was ruler of Cuba. He had been elected president at one time, but he later made himself dictator. That meant that he ruled without any controls on his power. Many people in Cuba were unhappy with his rule. There was much poverty. Education and health care were not good for most Cubans. Fidel Castro led a group of rebels against Batista. Because Batista was so unpopular, many followed Castro. Castro defeated the Batista government and made himself dictator in 1959.
Castro began right away to organize a communist government. He declared that all the property belonging to
Americans now belonged to the government. All farms, factories, and businesses owned by Cubans also became government property. Castro had people who supported Batista arrested. Most were executed by firing squad. Some spent decades in prison. Cubans no longer had the right to protest against the government. Cuban
newspapers, radio, and television were shut down. The government became the only source for news. Churches were closed, and all church property was taken by the government. Because of these harsh events, the United States placed an embargo on Cuban goods. That meant that Cuba’s sugar cane crop could not be sold to the United States. The Soviet Union became friends with Cuba. They bought the country’s sugar cane each year. They also supplied weapons and other goods to the Cubans. The soviets helped to educate young Cubans and
trained their military.
Under Castro’s rule, the Cuban people had some benefits. Hospitals and schools were improved. Women and
blacks became better educated and had better jobs. However, most parts of people’s lives were controlled by the government. People who practiced their Christian religion were discriminated against. Although everyone was guaranteed a wage, the incomes of most Cubans were low. The country was one of the poorest in the region. Its people lived in one of the least free countries in the world. Castro’s government and the U.S. government did not get along well. The United States did not like having a communist country so close to Florida. Americans who owned land and businesses in Cuba did not like the loss of their property. The United States decided to keep the pressure on Cuba. It did not allow travel by Americans to or from Cuba. It also tried to keep other
countries from trading with the Cubans. Cuba tried to spread communism into Latin America. It supported revolutionary ideas in many countries by providing military training, money, and weapons. One event, the Cuban Missile Crisis, almost started a nuclear war. In 1962, Cuba gave the Soviet Union permission to build a missile launching complex. Missiles launched from the site could reach U.S. cities. U.S. President John F. Kennedy demanded the missiles be removed. A tense time followed. Finally, the Soviets agreed to remove the
missiles, and the United States said it would not invade Cuba.
Relations between the United States and Cuba have not improved much in the past fifty years. There is still an
embargo on goods from Cuba. Americans, however, can send money to their families in Cuba. In the early 1980s and again in the 1990s, there were periods in which large numbers of Cubans escaped their island for America. The United States had been accepting Cubans who escaped. However, thousands were being “allowed” to
escape. This caused a strain on relations between the two countries. In 1994, the United States agreed to allow 20,000 Cubans a year to enter the United States. The Cubans agreed to stop allowing so many Cubans to
“escape.”
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/1/8/23182346/3745922.jpg)
How Canada became an independent country
Great Britain colonized lands around the world. In North America, the thirteen colonies declared their independence and fought a war with Great Britain to secure it. They created the United States of America. Other colonies fought for
their freedom, too. Some colonies were able to get their independence through peaceful means. Canada was one of those countries. Canada became part of Great Britain in 1763. This was a result of Great Britain’s defeat of France in the French and Indian War. The country expanded, and pioneers and settlers found ways to use the resources of the country. By the mid-1860s, people in Canada wanted to be united. They asked
the British Parliament to create a constitution for self-government. Some Canadians worried that the United States might invade parts of Canada to gain new lands. The British North American Act of 1867 put together the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec, and the new constitution titled the country the Dominion of Canada. The country was allowed to have its own parliament and prime minister. It was not allowed to make treaties with other countries, and it had to be a part of the military with the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). The monarch, king or queen, would be the same for Canada and Great
Britain. This system worked well for many years. However, many Canadian soldiers were used by the United Kingdom in World War I. The loss of life was very high. Canadians decided they wanted more control in foreign affairs. After the war was over, Canadians began to work toward independence. In 1931, the British Parliament granted independence to Canada. It was 1982 before the final links were broken between the British Parliament and the Canadian government. The two countries still share the same monarch.
Great Britain colonized lands around the world. In North America, the thirteen colonies declared their independence and fought a war with Great Britain to secure it. They created the United States of America. Other colonies fought for
their freedom, too. Some colonies were able to get their independence through peaceful means. Canada was one of those countries. Canada became part of Great Britain in 1763. This was a result of Great Britain’s defeat of France in the French and Indian War. The country expanded, and pioneers and settlers found ways to use the resources of the country. By the mid-1860s, people in Canada wanted to be united. They asked
the British Parliament to create a constitution for self-government. Some Canadians worried that the United States might invade parts of Canada to gain new lands. The British North American Act of 1867 put together the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec, and the new constitution titled the country the Dominion of Canada. The country was allowed to have its own parliament and prime minister. It was not allowed to make treaties with other countries, and it had to be a part of the military with the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). The monarch, king or queen, would be the same for Canada and Great
Britain. This system worked well for many years. However, many Canadian soldiers were used by the United Kingdom in World War I. The loss of life was very high. Canadians decided they wanted more control in foreign affairs. After the war was over, Canadians began to work toward independence. In 1931, the British Parliament granted independence to Canada. It was 1982 before the final links were broken between the British Parliament and the Canadian government. The two countries still share the same monarch.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/1/8/23182346/6230012.jpg)
WWI & WWII
World War I was a global war centered in Europe that began on July 28,1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918. From the time of its occurrence until the approach of World War II, it was called simply the World War or the Great War, and thereafter the First World War or World War I. In America, it was initially called the European War. More than 9 million combatants were killed; it was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world's economic great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Although Italy had also been a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance. These alliances were both reorganized and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.
Germany faced many problems after World War I. It had lost lands that contained valuable natural resources. About 2 ½ million Germans had lost their lives. About 4 million were wounded. The industry and farms in the country had been destroyed. Highways, bridges, and railroads had to be rebuilt. The German government worked to solve the country’s problems. However, the country had another obstacle. It had to pay back the Allied countries for the war. Millions of dollars were leaving Germany for France and Britain. Germany was forbidden to have a large army or navy, so many military people lost their jobs. As things got worse, people blamed the government. They wanted their leaders to find solutions to their problems. Then, the stock market crashed in the United States. This made conditions even worse for Germans. Businesses and people around the world stopped buying as much. They worried about losing their money. Adolf Hitler came on the scene with a big plan. He and his followers, called National Socialist or Nazi Party, said they could fix the problems in Germany. They blamed the Treaty of Versailles for many of the problems. They also said that Jews in the country were controlling the banks and money. They blamed Jews for the fact that many Germans were not able to make a good living. Hitler was named chancellor of Germany in 1933. He made sure that laws were quickly passed to give him more power. Soon he had complete control of the government. He had the powers of a dictator. He and the Nazis began the work to rebuild Germany’s military. He opened factories to build weapons. He put unemployed people to work by building a superior highway system. The economy improved for a time, but people lost many of their civil rights. However, many decided that it was better to lose rights than go without food. The Nazis continued to build their military power. Germans who spoke against them were put in prison or murdered. As Hitler’s strength grew, he made plans to go to war. In 1936, Hitler sent troops into some of Germany’s former territory. By 1938, German troops controlled Austria and Czechoslovakia. Other European countries protested, but did nothing to stop Hitler. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland. With that, France and Great Britain decided something must be done. They declared war on Germany, and World War II began. World War II was the largest war in human history. It involved countries, colonies, and territories around the entire world. By the end, over 70 million were dead. It lasted from 1939 until 1945. It started when Germany invaded Poland. The Allies declared war on Germany. Germany then invaded France, Belgium, etc. Then, Hitler invaded Russia. The Germans used a “blitzkrieg” to overwhelm other armies. Allies divide Germany up between them. This helps start the Cold War. Trials are held in Germany (and Japan) to try the people responsible for the war. Many are executed and jailed for war crimes.
World War I was a global war centered in Europe that began on July 28,1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918. From the time of its occurrence until the approach of World War II, it was called simply the World War or the Great War, and thereafter the First World War or World War I. In America, it was initially called the European War. More than 9 million combatants were killed; it was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world's economic great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Although Italy had also been a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance. These alliances were both reorganized and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.
Germany faced many problems after World War I. It had lost lands that contained valuable natural resources. About 2 ½ million Germans had lost their lives. About 4 million were wounded. The industry and farms in the country had been destroyed. Highways, bridges, and railroads had to be rebuilt. The German government worked to solve the country’s problems. However, the country had another obstacle. It had to pay back the Allied countries for the war. Millions of dollars were leaving Germany for France and Britain. Germany was forbidden to have a large army or navy, so many military people lost their jobs. As things got worse, people blamed the government. They wanted their leaders to find solutions to their problems. Then, the stock market crashed in the United States. This made conditions even worse for Germans. Businesses and people around the world stopped buying as much. They worried about losing their money. Adolf Hitler came on the scene with a big plan. He and his followers, called National Socialist or Nazi Party, said they could fix the problems in Germany. They blamed the Treaty of Versailles for many of the problems. They also said that Jews in the country were controlling the banks and money. They blamed Jews for the fact that many Germans were not able to make a good living. Hitler was named chancellor of Germany in 1933. He made sure that laws were quickly passed to give him more power. Soon he had complete control of the government. He had the powers of a dictator. He and the Nazis began the work to rebuild Germany’s military. He opened factories to build weapons. He put unemployed people to work by building a superior highway system. The economy improved for a time, but people lost many of their civil rights. However, many decided that it was better to lose rights than go without food. The Nazis continued to build their military power. Germans who spoke against them were put in prison or murdered. As Hitler’s strength grew, he made plans to go to war. In 1936, Hitler sent troops into some of Germany’s former territory. By 1938, German troops controlled Austria and Czechoslovakia. Other European countries protested, but did nothing to stop Hitler. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland. With that, France and Great Britain decided something must be done. They declared war on Germany, and World War II began. World War II was the largest war in human history. It involved countries, colonies, and territories around the entire world. By the end, over 70 million were dead. It lasted from 1939 until 1945. It started when Germany invaded Poland. The Allies declared war on Germany. Germany then invaded France, Belgium, etc. Then, Hitler invaded Russia. The Germans used a “blitzkrieg” to overwhelm other armies. Allies divide Germany up between them. This helps start the Cold War. Trials are held in Germany (and Japan) to try the people responsible for the war. Many are executed and jailed for war crimes.
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The Russian Revolution
Before 1917, Russia was an autocracy. The czar was the absolute ruler. The last of the czars was Nicholas II. During World War I, Russia did not do so well. Millions of people were killed, wounded or missing. Citizens did not have enough food. Soldiers did not have enough clothes, shoes or weapons. Germany seemed to be winning the war. The czar ignored the signs that people were unhappy. He did not see that changes were needed in the way his country was run.
In early 1917, there were riots in the streets. Women, factory workers, and farmers shouting for change outnumbered police. The military could not keep the peace. Many in the czar’s army turned against the rulers. The czar and his family were captured. A government was set up to try to run the country. However, there were too many problems. Later in the year, there was another revolution. Communists led by Vladmir Lenin took control. The czar and his family were executed. Lenin reorganized the country and renamed it the Soviet Union. The new Soviet Union signed a peace treaty with Germany. The Soviets gave up a large amount of land to Germany. This land was good for farming and had many natural resources. The Soviets had little choice. Their country was falling apart around them.
Before 1917, Russia was an autocracy. The czar was the absolute ruler. The last of the czars was Nicholas II. During World War I, Russia did not do so well. Millions of people were killed, wounded or missing. Citizens did not have enough food. Soldiers did not have enough clothes, shoes or weapons. Germany seemed to be winning the war. The czar ignored the signs that people were unhappy. He did not see that changes were needed in the way his country was run.
In early 1917, there were riots in the streets. Women, factory workers, and farmers shouting for change outnumbered police. The military could not keep the peace. Many in the czar’s army turned against the rulers. The czar and his family were captured. A government was set up to try to run the country. However, there were too many problems. Later in the year, there was another revolution. Communists led by Vladmir Lenin took control. The czar and his family were executed. Lenin reorganized the country and renamed it the Soviet Union. The new Soviet Union signed a peace treaty with Germany. The Soviets gave up a large amount of land to Germany. This land was good for farming and had many natural resources. The Soviets had little choice. Their country was falling apart around them.