Semester test blog
Maddie Bak
1. What were President Obama's accomplishments/issues as President?(10 points)
accomplishments
*stopped use of “enhanced interrogation techniques”
* American recovery and reinvestment act or 2009-aka economic stimulus package
* patient protection and affordable care act-aka Obamacare
*ended war in Iraq in 2010
*ending war in Afghanistan in 2014
*killed osama bin laden
*ended “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
*lilly ledbetter fair pay act(equal pay for women)
*instituted part of the dream act by executive order in 2012
*helped topple muammar gaddafi in Libya in 2011
*race to the top (edu)
Issues
*the bad US economy
*the huge national debt
*the war in Iraq and Afghanistan
*ending enhanced interrogation methods
*obamacare
*GM bailout
*obama’s a socialist
*supporting gay marriage
*gun control
*SOPA/PIPPA
2. Describe the main political and economic systems in the world.(10 points)
Direct democracy- no country in the world that practices this
* Government where people have complete power in the government
*have no reps or congress or senate or house
* country could be dangerous without some type of government
* countries strive to have more direct democracy in their government to let people have their say
Representative democracy
* a lot of countries have
* people elect representative to make laws for them
*US is best example
*people in the state choose reps and congress that go and vote and make laws for us
* want to make sure the people you elect will make laws comfortable for you
*US Canada Mexico much of Western Europe
Communism Theory
*Carl Marx and Frederick Engles made a book called Communist Manifest; marx says capitalism is evil b/c rich have control of everything in a country. His theory says the poor people or working class people will rise up as a group and overthrow the rich and powerful like government leaders and big business owners. Called the proletariat (rich people ) to create a society with no classes and where everyone is equal.
*attracks a lot of poor people
*sounds good but it’ll make the motivation of people not want to work
*create chaos and make people just want and not work so someone would have to take charge and there is a government forming.
*in book he never outlined how to achieve this perfect society with no classes; has never happened in world history
Communism
*government controls the means of production (has complete control over businesses and people) ; controls what people do, what they say, control businesses and run and control everything; people’s rights are generally kept down; freedom of speech and press gone
*doesn’t seem like a nice type of government to have
*only 5 countries left in the world that have it-china largest (starting to phase out of it at some degree) north korea, Laos, Vietnam, and Cuba
Dictatorship
*one person has complete or total control over power
*example: Adolf Hitler-Germany, benito mussolini – italy
*communist dictator – joseph stalin, fidel castro
Constitutional Monarchy
*is king or queen but power limited by constitution
*constitution is like US but still says that king and queen have limited power –not a lot of power
*European countries-great Britain (queen Elizabeth) – don’t have any political power, more like a figure or tradition
Absolute Monarchy
*King or queen have complete power (like dictatorship)
*more traditional from 1000s to 1300s
*middle east – saudia Arabia, bruni
*not all kings were bad
Socialism
*political and economic system
*government controls some businesses
* Softer communism (government controls everything) some, not all businesses
*communism and socialism is kind of alike
*China is becoming socialist; more and more are being owned in china and run by individual people, becoming more capitalist
*US and Europe are socialist some businesses are owned by government (schools)
*in Canada and many European countires some college educations are paid for; healthcare; hospital doctors and visits all paid for by US government
*everyone gets paid the same-negative
Capitalism
*economic system which people own and run businesses. Private ownership. Lazie fair-lets businesses do as they please
*if you work hard you do better and make more money
* criticisms- you have a small percent controlling the money –negative
*better so people can control their own stuff
Mixed Economy
*US, UK, Canda, China have this
* most countries are mixed , meaning some businesses are controlled by government, others controlled by people. (US) schools UPS
3. What are the major divisions between Democrats and Republicans in the US?(10 points)
Republicans-conservative
*favor traditional institutions and the status quo
*favor laissez-faire system
*favor a limited role for government in society and believe that people should help themselves, not rely on the government
*favor low taxes
*believe in the trickle-down theory
*believe in rugged individualism
*abortion should be illegal by government
*protect flag from burning b/c constitution
*oppose/gun control is unconstitutional
*oppose/do not raise the minimum wage b/c it hurts businesses
*Private insurers are preferable to government controlled system
*cutting taxes for everyone helps the economy
Democratic-Liberal
*Favor change in society
*oppose government intervention into one’s private and social life
*support regulations on economic activity and businesses
*favor an active role for government in society
*believe that involvement – be it environmental regulations against polluting or anti-discrimination laws- can improve the quality of our lives
*willing to increase taxes to support programs
*for abortion and women’s rights
* believe flag burning is in constitution
* favor/gun control is needed
*favor/increase the minimum wage to help workers
*government should require universal access to healthcare
*Increases taxes on the wealthy to pay for public programs
4. What happened on 9-11-2001 and what impact did it have on the US?(10 points)
On September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers took four planes and crashed them into major US landmarks. Among these places, two crashed into the twin towers sending them down. It was around 8:30 in the morning when the first plane hit the north tower. A few minutes later, a second plane hit the south tower. Another place that got hit was the Pentagon. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. I went to DC in eighth grade, and we went to the Pentagon. There are benches that look like air plane wings on the side that got hit. I thought it was super sad when we went there. They didn’t let us take pictures because they are scared that someone will try to scope the place out. The man who led this is Osama bin Laden who was killed on May 2, 2011. He was the leader of al-Qaeda, the largest world terrorist group. The United States helped out Afghanistan rebels to stop their communism, so that is why they hate us. We declared war on Afghanistan on October 7, 2001
5. Why did the US go to war in Iraq and what impact did that war have on the US?(10 points)
The United States went to war with Iraq because we suspected they had weapons of mass destruction, and Saddam Hussein was supporting al-Qaeda. Saddam Hussein kept kicking weapon inspectors out and letting them back in, so President Bush said that if they didn’t let them in, they would have to have consequences. We went to war with them in 2003 and stayed there for eight years. Saddam Hussein was later found in a hole a put on trial. He was sentenced the death penalty. President Bush said that if he would have known earlier, he would have taken him out then. Nobody though it was a good idea to go to war in the first place, so nobody supported Bush, even Obama voted against it. Everyone wanted Bush to put a time limit on the war, but Bush never said anything, instead he actually had a surge which was really successful. Obama pulled out troops in late 2011.
6. Describe the problems the following African countries(and Middle East) have had or are currently having as discussed in class: Rwanda, Darfur in Sudan, South Sudan vs Sudan, Somalia, Lords Resistance Army(Joseph Kony) in Uganda/Central African Republic, Syria(Two of the following-20 points)
1. Rwanda(1993)
1. Parties involved
- majority hutus (harder work, not treated right)
- minority tutsis(europe favored b/c they looked more like white people--better jobs, better educational opportuinities) (taller, skinnier, and smaller noses, lighter skinned, smaller lips)
2. What happened or is happening
- all started due to ethnic tension created by the immigrating Europeans
- hutus were violent, b/c not as many opportunites.. attacks tutsis whenever they could
- hutus shot down helicopter after coming back from uganda that had the president of rwanda and his son.. wanted an excuse to kill their leader
- hutus took ever government
- hutus started fighting and took tutsis by surprised and most of the dead one were tutsis
- threw tutsis bodies into rivers "being sent back to ethiopia"
- those who helped government were greatly rewarded.. governemtn wanted hutus dead
3. Why did it happen
4. How did the international community(UN, US, African Union, NATO) get involved
- UN troops withdrew afte the murder of 10 soldiers(in there as peace keepers only)
5. Current situation/How did it end
- hutus were forced to emigrate from rwanda to zaire (The west)
- average 400 deaths/day in matter of 100 days
- tutsis were able to get a force together and get the hutus out
- tutsis won and took over power
2. Darfur in Sudan
- 1. Parties involved
- janjaweed-arab militia in darfur
- Justice and Equality Movement and Sudanese Liberation Movement
- vs. sudanese government and janjaweed
- janjaweed wants back rebel land
- kill men and torture who try to get away
- hurt black people
- janjaweed works for government
- 2003, black africans tried to overthrow government of Khartoum (capital)
- they were pushed from their homes
- 2. What happened or is happening
- 3. Why did it happen
- sudanese government is prefer arab over african/black
- didn't geed the blacks
- sudanese government is prefer arab over african/black
- 4. How did the international community(UN, US, African Union, NATO) get involved
- un has sanctions on government
- 5. Current situation/How did it end
- 400,000 died-killed and malnutrition
- 3million in camps
- violence still going on
- 200,000 fled in Darfur, caused more violence
- doha agreement 2011 ended the disagreements and gave back money to where it was needed
3. South Sudan vs Sudan
1. Parties involved
- arab-muslims
- christians
- sudanese government vs. the sudan people's liberation army
- UMMA party
2. What happened or is happening
- oil
- civil wars (2)
- 1955-1972 first civil war .5 million killed
- 1983-2005 second civil war 2 million killed
- south seceded from sudan
- south gained july 9, 2011
- most oil in south sudan
- oil revenues were divided equally between the government
- split the jobs equally along with oil boundries
3. Why did it happen
- oil-rich regions
- religious
- power
- some wanted freedom
4. How did the international community(UN, US, African Union, NATO) get involved
- britain went in and tried to take down mutiny
- didn't want to take sides, but to stop the fighting
- britain didn't want to waste soldiers down there
- sudan won't let countries in to help
5. Current situation/How did it end
- affected children (what they saw)
- famine and disease sperad
- 2.5 million people died
- sudan interferes with south - oil
- south sudan is own country
- christain was in the south
- musslim and islamic in north
4. Somalia
1. Parties involved
- somalia national government
- unisom 1 unisom 2 unitaft(americans)
2. What happened or is happening
- somalia civil war
- Somali National Gov. gained control of most of the north
- united somali congress gained control of the south and capital
- terrorist group--al shabaab
- all about food and control
3. Why did it happen
- land occupied by several countries put together to form Syria
- socialist government put in place
- 1991-rebels defeated Barre
- chaos and anarchy followed
4. How did the international community(UN, US, African Union, NATO) get involved
- US and UN sent over troops and aid to people in the country
5. Current situation/How did it end
- no stable government
- 14 attempts at government since 1991
- currently has federal government of somalia
- government has little control
- dominated by al Shabaab (comali terrorist group)
5.Lords Resistance Army(Joseph Kony) in Uganda/Central African Republic:
- 1. Parties involved--Joseph Rao Kony (proclaims himself as a spokesman of god, had 88 wives and 42 kids, inspired by an overthrow of his president to start the Lord's Resistance Army/Movement)
- 2. What happened or is happening--Began in 1987, Guerrilla group, he believes he is purifying his ethnic group, he abducts children and puts them in his army, very much like a cult, believes he is doing it for God. Threatens kids and hurts them so that they do what Kony wants.
- 3. Why did it happen--Kony inspired by an overthrow of the government he was under inspired him to create the Lord's Resistance Army
- 4. How did the international community(UN, US, African Union, NATO) get involved--Jason Russel, came across a boy on a mission trip in Africa hiding from the LRA and Russel created Kony 2012 to try to stop Kony and they use social media to track and stop Kony and move people to join the effort.
- 5. Current situation/How did it end-- The LRA is still going on, but Kony 2012 is trying their very best to spread the word about how horrible the LRA is and how to stop them.
6. Syria
- 1. Parties involved
- Ba'ath party(party in charge), Hafez al-assad, bashar al-assad, people of the country (against the gov.)
- 2. What happened or is happening
- syrian civil war began on march 2011, still going
- arab spring-demonstration, protests and civil wars in arab
- 3. Why did it happen
- school kids arrested for writing anti-gov graffiti on walls
- protest started killing people , army shot at mounrers to those dead
- protestors wanted democracy and greater freedom
- president refused to resign, and promised to change the ways or the way the country was run
- 4. How did the international community(UN, US, African Union, NATO) get involved
- hasn't
- helping people leave the country: can't go into country to solve problems
- 5. Current situation/How did it end
- fighting probably won't end soon
7. What are some of the major problems the world is facing, what are the causes of these problems and what is being done to help solve these problems?(Two of the following-20 points)
•End poverty and hunger
- Extreme poverty (living that are living on less than $1.25 a day. 3 billion less than $2/day) and hunger
- Goal was met in 2010, 2015 still 1 billion people –still major problem less than $1.25/day
- Make sure that everyone has a job. Women and children can work. Everyone has opportunity to get jobs. Allowing women to get jobs
- Has gotten better
- World hunger- the poverty don’t eat 3 meals a day 850 million in world are starving mainly in eastern asia and Africa
•Universal education
- Teachers don’t speak language. Preschoolers and kindergartener’s don’t understand. They’re educating older people that speak same language to teach their own children
- Try to get every child elementary education
- Goal not yet reached
•Gender equality
- Women aren’t getting treated the same as men. Some places women don’t get to leave their homes
- Women are “property” and get raped and get married at 16
- Women don’t get paid as much as men
- Most people don’t think it’ll go away
- Target- get women the same rights as men(school, jobs, government)
- Gov.-get laws that benefit women
•Child health
- Reduce child mortality
- Not achieved, probably won’t
- Make sure the # of babies that die, go down
- First 5 years of life, women not educated or jobless
- Born into poverty
- Lack of medicine
- Sub-saharian Africa and southern asia – lowest decresase
- Don’t have this problem in America
- Getting better
- Decreases by 5.5 million total
- Common with African countries
- 6.9 million died each year before their 5th birthday
- 14,000 fewer die each day
•Maternal health
- Goal- reduce by ¾
- 1990-2015
- Been cut in half
- Mother deaths during pregnancy, during or after giving birth
- Southern asia and sub-saharian Africa
- No education
- Raped and don’t have proper care or doctors that they die
- Cant afford it
- No check ups
- Not in hospitals during birth
- Reduced by 47% since 1990
- Go 4 times before baby is born
- Get birth control
- Undeveloped regions is still 15x higher than in developed regions
•Combat HIV/AIDS
- 8 million people are receiving lifesaving medicine for HIV or aids
- Malaria death fell by 25% since 2000
- 7 million people still lack access to antiretroviral therapy for HIN
80% of malaria deaths occur in just 14 countries - Stop the spread of diseases
- An epidemic in Africa
- Aids have side effects that cause you do die and destroys your immune system
- In Africa they sleep outside and get malaria
•Environmental sustainability
- Deforestation
- 2.5 billion do not have basic sanitation such as toilets or latrines
- More than 2 billion people gained access to clean drinking water since 1990
- Some places are planting trees back
- Amazon keeps getting cut down
- Amazon rainforest is the size of the USA
- Amazon provides most of world’s oxygen
- Get people safe drinking water all over the world
•Global partnership
- Other countries are helping lesser countries to help them out
- Economic, health, medical and electronic communication
- Resources to make essential medicines available increased in 2011 despite the global economic downturn
- A widening gap in delivering/crucial aid threatens MDG momentum
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