Opium Wars - Imperialism in China

During the year 1839 to 1842, China fought against the British. The war was known as the Opium War. It started out when the British seem to love the tea from China and wanted to trade with them. China didn't like the idea of trading. So however, the British decided to sell Opium to China, which was a drug grown in India. Then China banned the import of Opium because the effects of the drug was left to China to pay for it.
On the other hand, China said that anyone using, selling or buying Opium would be put to death. Simple as that, but the British's technology and army was too strong for China. Therefore Britain won the war. Also China was made to legalize the imports of Opium. China still had their money problem, so it was difficult to supply their soldiers with enough weapons.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

For the last 2 days, we have watched a video called "Mountains of the Moon" (picture on the left). Some hardships for the Europeans in Africa were traveling because in Africa you travel by walking. Another was that leaders in Africa own part of land and they weren't allowed in their territory without presents and gifts. Another was the spoken language. The Europeans spoke English while the Africans spoke a different, native language. 

Imperialism Project

The class has worked on a project about imperialism. Imperialism means when one country takes over another country to gain control over their government. During this project, we had to color certain parts of different countries controlled by bigger nations. We also had to draw some sort of trade route to show where some of the products came and went. The main point of the project was to show where people from Europe went to so they can take over. Many of the European countries went to Africa and took almost every part of Africa.

I learned a lot from the project. I was able to learn what countries took over what parts of the world. I remember all the different types of products that they shipped. They had tea that came from China, all the way back to Europe. Slaves were also taken from Africa and brought over to the New World so they could work on plantations.

Karl Marx and Communism.

Karl Marx was a German communist. Communism is when everyone has the same pay and social class. No matter what occupation you have, you will still make the same amount as everyone else.

It seems unfair for those people that work harder and more hours than most people but in the communism world, wealth is equally shared among everybody. But then yet, its fair because this way the high classed people have the same amount as the low classed people.

Karl Marx and The Industrial Revolution

Karl Marx was a Communist German. He was born a Jew but his family converted to Christianity in order for him to get a job. As Karl grew older, he disagreed on the Industrial Revolution. He would think that the conditions in the Europe factories were too rough and dangerous. He strongly believed that people were born in a world were their ideas didnt count. The factories should be owned by the workers themselves and not by landlords.

Marx gathered a group of people to unite and began a movemetn. It was known as Communism. Capitalism should be taken down by this revolution, the money workers made would be equal among themselves.

Nationalism and the Creation of Italy.

What is Nationalism? Nationalism is the belief the one's greatest loyalty should not be to a king or an empire but to a nation of people who share a common culture and history. Basically National is loyalty towards one's own country or nation. Some of the ways people show they are proud of being were they from is hanging or wearing their flag. One way Americans show their loyalty is the song "Star Spangled Banner".
Its a good thing Nationalism came to Italy because Italy wouldnt be what it is now. Around 1815, a grand part of Italy was controlled by Austria. But from 1815-1848, Italy got tired of being ruled by another country. Luckly, they had two leaders that were able to help them and become their own nation.

Simon Bolivar and Latin American Revolutions.

Simon Bolivar, also known as the Liberator, is known for liberating the north position of South America. The countries that he liberated were Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, which was named after him. When Bolivar was 15, his uncle, Carlos Palacios, sent him to Spain to continue his education. He married Maria Teresa Rodriguez in 1802. In 1803, one year after their marriage, Maria Teresa died of yellow fever. Bolivar was affected deeply and vowed never to marry again. After his wife's death, he visited Europe. While in Europe he witnessed the proclamation of Napoleon as King of France. Napoleon's brother, Joseph, was King of Spain. He thought to himself "Why should I be loyal to a King that's not even Spanish?"
Bolivar was not going to let his country, Venezuela, get ruled by a non-Spanish king. He vowed that he will not rest untill the northern countires of South America was liberated.