Presentations

ADOLF HITLER

Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born politician, was the leader of the Nazi Party and a notorious dictator of Germany. Before coming to power as a dictator, he was the Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 and Head of State serving from 1934 to 1945. As a leader of the Nazi party, Hitler promoted nationalism, anti-semitism, anti-communism through establishing a Fascist dictatorship in Germany and espoused a foreign policy of world conquest. Hitler was born on 20 April 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungry to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. Of their six children, only Hitler and his younger sister, Paula could survive into adulthood. His father Alois, a custom official by profession, was tremendously violent to his wife and son, and used to beat them often. According to Hitler’s book, “he had a terrible childhood”. The regular whipping and violence committed by his father made him extremely sympathetic to his mother, while having an unfathomable bitterness towards his father. In spite of his father’s constant pressure to pursue a career like his, Hitler dropped out of high school without a diploma, as a revolt against his father. Even after his father’s death on 3 January 1903, he did not show any liking for studies and rather tried to be a painter.

Why was the Treaty of Versailles so significant?

The 'Big Four' at the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was put together at the Paris Peace Conference starting in January 1919. The main signatories of the treaty were Britain (Prime Minister David Lloyd George), the USA (President Woodrow Wilson), France (Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau) and Italy (Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando). These leaders were known as the 'Big Four' and met to decide the fate of Germany after the First World War.

So why is this treaty so significant? To answer this question, it is important to consider a number of issues.

Firstly consider the attitude of each country that attended the negotiations:

Britain (David Lloyd-George)	France (George Clemenceau)
Many in Britain (having seen their husbands, sons and friends killed in the war) were eager for revenge. A popular saying was "Squeeze them until the pips squeak". However Lloyd-George himself was worried about the dangers of treating Germany too harshly.	Clemenceau was nicknamed "The Tiger". He wanted to make Germany pay for all the damage that France suffered during the years of fighting. He wanted to punish Germany so strongly that that couldn't even start a war again.
America (Woodrow Wilson)	Italy (Vittorio Orlando)
The USA had only declared war in April 1917 and thus experienced far fewer casualties herself. Wilson arrived in Europe with his 'Fourteen Points'. These were his plans to ensure future peace in Europe. He believed Germany should be treated fairly and that a 'League of Nations' should be set up to settle future disputes between countries.	Italy had declared war on Germany in 1915, changing sides from her alliance with Germany at the beginning of the war. Italy had been promised territory as a reward for changing sides. Orlando's main aim was to get the extra land for Italy - he wanted his 'fair share' from the spoils of war.

Germany wasn't even invited to the peace treaty. The German Government expected the treaty to be based on Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points.
Clearly agreement was going to be very difficult, as each country felt they knew best. For example: the USA didn't want Italy getting their territory, France wanted an industrial area called the Rhineland, but Great Britain felt it should only be a demilitarized zone (area where any military equipment or soldiers are banned). The final treaty was published in June 1919:

It is important to actually consider what the terms of the treaty said:
A summary of the terms of the treaty includes:

• Germany had to take full responsibility for the war.
• Germany had to pay for all the war damage (reparations) - later set at £6.6billion.
• Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men.
• Germany could have no airforce or submarines, and was limited to six large ships.
• Germany to loose territory on all sides, & split in two by new nation of Poland.
• Germany to lose all her colonies.

You can read an overview of the full terms of the treaty here [from Spartacus].

Think:
1. How fair was this treaty?
2. Which of the nations would have been the most pleased with the outcome?

The impact of this treaty is the most important thing to consider:
This is the part where you need to think yourself. Remember that this treaty was to prevent another European war ever breaking out again. You know what happened in 1939....
Ordinary Germans were dismayed when they discovered the terms of the treaty. The Government had expected they would get fair treatment, based on Wilson's fourteen points. However, they were in no position to do anything and simply had to agree with the treaty.

Look at the cartoon below [click on it to get a larger image]

"Curious! I seem to hear a child weeping..." [CLICK]

The cartoon above was created (incredibly) in 1920. It was titled "Peace and future cannon fodder". There is a small child with a copy of the Treaty behind them. Above the child's head is a comment "1940 class". The leaders of the nations at Versailles are seen walking past, and there is a caption: "The Tiger: Curious! I seem to hear a child weeping!".

Think:
1. How old would a child born in 1919 be by 1940?
2. What is this cartoonist suggesting about the Treaty of Versailles?

The final treaty was not popular. Many in Britain and France were angry that Germany hadn't been treated more harshly and that the German Kaiser (King) hadn't been put on trial. Most Germans were humiliated and horrified by the treaty - disgusted at being made to take the blame for the entire war (the War Guilt clause - 231) and having to pay for it.
 

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The bitterness and resentment of the German people could be used to by someone wishing to unite the German people. This is exactly what Adolf Hitler did. This is why many historians suggest that the harshness of treaty of Versailles helped cause the Second World War. This is why the Treaty of Versailles is so significant.

Presentations - Campana/ Head

Alex Campana-   

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel occupied since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo Accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian violence between September 2003 and February 2005. In the summer of 2005, Israel unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and its military while retaining control over most points of entry into the Gaza Strip. The election of HAMAS to head the Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in March 2006 and presided over a 34-day conflict with Hizballah in Lebanon in June-August 2006 and a 23-day conflict with HAMAS in the Gaza Strip during December 2008 and January 2009. OLMERT, who in June 2007 resumed talks with PA President Mahmoud ABBAS, resigned in September 2008. Prime Minister Binyamin NETANYAHU formed a coalition in March 2009 following a February 2009 general election. Direct talks launched in September 2010 collapsed following the expiration of Israel's 10-month partial settlement construction moratorium in the West Bank.

Presentations-

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing struggle between
Israelis and Palestinians that began in the early 20th century. The
conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to
the earlier phases of the same conflict, between the Zionist yishuv
and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman and then
British rule. It forms part of the wider Arab–Israeli conflict. The
remaining key issues are: mutual recognition, borders, security, water
rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom
of movement and legalities concerning refugees. The violence resulting
from the conflict has prompted international actions, as well as other
security and human rights concerns, both within and between both
sides, and internationally. In addition, the violence has curbed
expansion of tourism in the region, which is full of historic and
religious sites that are of interest to many people around the world.

-Ronni Balko

Presentations

NOOR-
 
The last royal family of Russia led a country with full control in their hands. The ultimate power over the entire country resided in their hands, and if one got through to the Tsar, one had the access to power and rule over the whole nation. Because of this unrestrained government Grigory Efimovich Rasputin was able to manipulate the Russian government by acquiring the royal family's personal favor. 

     At the time the people of Russia, mainly poor peasants, were waging revolts against the Tsar. Their living conditions were horrid, as most had barely any food, shelter or possibility of trade, as well as a freezing climate to endure. Meanwhile, Russia had a humiliating defeat against the Japanese in the Russo-Japanese war, where many lives were lost. Shortly after the defeat Russia was engaged in World War I. The citizens of Russia needed a true leader to support them through these harsh conditions, because their Tsar, Nicholas II, was a weak man, overruled by his own wife, Alexandra. 

     The royal son and heir to the throne, Alexei, suffered from the deadly disease hemophilia. The Tsar and Tsarina enlisted the magic "man of God" Rasputin to use his "healing powers" to save their child's life. The boy lived and from that moment on Rasputin became the most important and influential person in the Russian court. This mysterious and destitute Siberian peasant manipulated the royal family and acquired immediate access to the ruling of the country. He deeply influenced the Tsarina, who in turn controlled her husband. Rasputin had gained the personal worship of the Romanov family and therefore was able to gain full access to the government of Russia. He influenced the political and religious scene. 

     The lack of a checks and balances system, and rather an unrestrained government, was the reason of Rasputin's sudden rise to power and the demise of the Russian dynasty.

Presentations Wednesday May 2

http://books.google.com/books?id=IVvnrsaIgA8C&pg=PA662&lpg=PA662&dq=transition+from+the+czar+to+vladimir+lenin&source=bl&ots=Bpobrn5nVU&sig=skM6MDEVDjYiIdirbBrYxSh4n6o&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9qGgT5eGCIqc9gSbzMiCCA&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Presentations Tuesday May 1

Miranda

Attorney General v. X.

Ireland. Supreme Court.

Abstract

KIE:

In this case in which a 14-year-old girl said she had become pregnant after being raped by her friend's father, the Attorney General of Ireland had enjoined the girl and her parents from traveling to England for an abortion. A psychologist had testified that in her present state of mind, the girl was suicidal. The Supreme Court of Ireland held that the right to life supersedes all other rights, including the right to travel. However, if there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother which can only be avoided by termination of the pregnancy, then an abortion is permissible. The Court determined that the girl's risk of suicide satisfied this condition, and therefore the girl was allowed to terminate her pregnancy.

Tyler - 

The bitter, bloody feud between the two branches of Islam, the Sunnis and the Shi’ites, has gone
on for centuries and now this vicious sectarian strife is exploding again in Bahrain, threatening to
cause an even greater conflict in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The implications of the worsening hostility for the world are nightmarish, for the entire region
could soon be gripped by turmoil, bloodshed and economic meltdown. What was naively seen
a few weeks ago as a fight between freedom and autocracy could descend into an epic clash
between two Muslim ideologies, the savagery made all the worse by their long history of enmity.

The roots of the hostility between Sunni and Shia lie not in profound theological differences,
but in the political intrigues that took place in the Muslim world in the 7th Century. When
the Prophet Mohamed died in AD 632, the question of the succession to his leadership was
dominated by family rivalries and disputes.

Essentially, there were four candidates to succeed as ‘caliph’, or leader, and one group in
particular, which went on to form the Shi’ites, strongly favoured the claims of Ali, the grandson
of Mohamed. Even the name, Shi’ite, derives from ‘party of Ali’. But three times in succession,
Ali was passed over as each of the other candidates was chosen before him.

The opposition to Ali deepened the sense of anger among his supporters. Eventually, in this
climate of tribal factionalism, Ali became the fourth caliph, though the indignation of his
followers was provoked when he was then brutally assassinated.

The tribal feuding in the post-Mohamed era reached its climax at the Battle of Karbala in AD 
680. This is really the key moment in the creation of the Shi’ite movement, the point at which the
fissure was permanently established.