1. Describe the main political and economic systems in the world.(10 points)
- Direct Democracy - A political system where people vote directly on issues.
- Representative Democracy - A political system where people vote for representatives who then vote on issues.
- Absolute Monarchy - A political system where the monarch has absolute power with no restrictions.
- Constitutional Monarchy - A political system where the monarch is restricted by a constitution or other power
- Communism theory - A political system Karl Marx came up with where all people are equal and businesses have to share a lot like Robin Hood.
- Communism practice - A political system where the government is oppressive to keep everyone equal, and most people are poor.
- Capitalism - An economic system where companies have most control and are not controlled much by the government.
- Socialism - An economic system where the government controls businesses heavily to keep people equal.
- Anarchy - The complete absence of a government.
2. What are the major divisions between Democrats and Republicans in the US?(20 points)
Republicans tend to want less government and more religion, and believe in laissez-faire and rugged individualism
Democrats want to help the poor more and believe in more equality.
Views on topics:
Gun Control:
Democrats are against gun control because it violates the second amendment, but want more background checks.
Republicans want to let people have guns but punish misuse to the fullest extent of the law.
Environment:
Republicans want to rewrite policies to make them more understandable, and plan on making America an energy superpower.
Democrats want to expand off-shore drilling. They made the first ever regulation on greenhouse gases, and also lowered foreign energy dependence.
Education:
Democrats prevented student loan interest from doubling for a lot of students, and want to encourage good teachers. They also wants to let states have more control.
Republicans want to encourage existing teachers to do better, and want to make becoming a teacher easier.
Abortion:
Republicans thinks abortion is OK in cases of rape and incest, but that it is killing, and that it should be state decided.
Democrats are pro-choice, but want to try to discourage abortion.
Flag Burning:
Democrats are “for” flag burning, because it is an expression of free speech.
Republicans are against because it is dishonoring our fallen troops.
Economy:
Democrats want to help fix the economy by increasing taxes on Chinese trade and lowering taxes on the middle class.
Republicans plan to strengthen the upper class so corporations have more money and can hire people.
Plan to help the economy:
Democrats want to strengthen the middle class so they can spend more, and they get money by taxing corporations.
Gay Marriage:
Democrats support gay marriage because they believe marriage should be between two people who are in love.
Republicans don't support it, they believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Military/Defense:
Republicans want to increase the military budget and decrease other spending because weapons and tanks are becoming outdated.
Democrats want to restore America's standing around the world and secure vulnerable nuclear materials.
Death Penalty:
Republicans wants the death penalty to exist for killers. They believe that if you take someone's life, you don't deserve to live.
Democrats believe that it should be legal for child rapists, but believe that it wouldn't have much of an effect on crime.
Prayer in schools:
Republicans believe that school is for education and that religion should be done on your own time.
Democrats believe that you would have to learn too many prayers to be equal, and that you should do it on your own time.
Health Care:
Democrats want to make sure that everybody has affordable health care.
Republicans believe it is too socialistic and want to repeal it and make it state decided.
Taxes:
Republicans want to focus on jobs and development, and plan to cut unnecessary programs and strengthen corporations.
Democrats plans to charge the rich more, and want to give tax cuts to the lower and middle class and small business.
Minimum Wage:
Democrats are usually more willing to raise min. wage than Republicans.
Immigration:
Republicans want to enforce it more strictly so that people don't work illegally.
Democrats want immigration to become more legalized.
3. What were the results of the 2012 Presidential election? What caused President Obama to win?(20 Points)
Obama beat Romney pretty badly. He won because he got a lot of the minorities', young people's, and poor peoples' votes, especially in urban areas.
4. What are the major social issues facing the world due to overpopulation, poverty and inequality?(20 points)
Overpopulation leads to overcrowding, slums, and poverty due to there not being enough jobs.
Poverty leads to the need to work in sweatshops and live in slums, as well as causing inequality.
Inequality leads to situations like the one in Rwanda where there was a genocide.
5. What major issues have specific areas in Africa had in the last thirty years(that we discussed in class)?(20 points)
Syria:
- Turkey controlled Syria from 1516 to 1918
- France from 1918-1946
- It became independent in 1946
- From 1946 to 1971 the government was unstable.
- In 1971, al-Assad took over in a coup d'etat.
- Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000.
- In 2011, the Arab Spring started.
- They wanted their rights back because they were being oppressed.
- They have an army now, the FSA.
- Both of their ceasefire attempts failed.
- On December 17, the vice president called for a "historic settlement".
- He wants a national unity government.
- Syria has lots of illegal chemical weapons and are planning on making nukes.
Somalia:
- It started with a civil war in 1991.
- The war started because Siad Barre, a dictator, fled the country
- The country is mainly controlled by Al Shakab, a terrorist group.
- Pirates control the entire coastline and try to steal everything.
- Battle of Mogadishu
- 18 Americans were killed and 80 wounded.
- Two Black Hawk helicopters were downed, which the movie Black Hawk Down was based on.
- There is a government, but it is weak.
- It started in September when Hussan Sheikh Mahamud became president.
Democratic Republic of the Congo:
- There is a war there.
- It gained independence from Belgium in 1960.
- It was called Zaire from 1971-1997.
- The genocide in Rwanda started the 1st Congo War, which lasted from 1996-97.
- One of the causes was ethnic tensions
- Another was people fleeing to the DRC from Rwanda.
- Mabuto Sekto was the president at the time, and he was anti-Communist, so we supported him.
- He was corrupt and violated human rights.
- He established a cult of personality which showed hia authority.
- The 2nd Congo war lasted from '98 to '03
- It was the most deadly war in African history.
- 5.4 million people were killed.
- Millions more were displaced.
- In 2003, a transitional government was formed with Joseph Kabila as its president.
- The want to unify the country.
- They also want to disarm groups.
- They finally want to hold democratic elections.
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