WWII/Private Ryan

1. In WWII, four brothers are fighting for the US army in different areas of Germany. Three out of four brothers are killed in action(KIA) and the mother is supposed to receive the letters that all three brothers were killed. The US army chief decides that the last of the four brothers is to be sent home but he is missing. A group of eight men go to search for him where they go through dangerous war territory in search of the fourth brother named private james ryan. The unit of eight men find private ryan but ryan refuses to leave the men he has fought with to go home. The US fights against Germany to recover a bridge that is essential for the US to protect. The US is victorious but nearly every one of the eight men die in the battle but ryan is alive at the end of the movie along with a few other men.

2. A day for a soldier is filled with stress and anxiety and the men must constantly be watching for enemies. A soldier can never relax during war. Soldiers sleep very little and fight to defend their territory or invade the enemies territory every minute of the day.

3. The character that I chose to analyze was private james ryan. He was a courageous soldier that cared more about the safety of his unit rather than the safety of himself. He was a young man and I think he was a little naive but I think he showed a lot of character when he chose not to go home and continued to protect the bridge. Although, I think putting the eight soldiers in danger to stay at the bridge was somewhat selfish but he had a good argument by saying that he doesnt have anymore right to go home than anyother soldier fighting in this war. I think he was an honorable soldier and was my favorite most dynamic character in the movie.

4. I would not have done well as a WWII soldier. The stress and constant anxiety would drive me crazy during wartime. Although, I do think if I was in WWII and fighting as a soldier I would put the other soldiers in the unit before myself. I would not think of myself as some hero but I believe I am a caring person that would care about the lives of my fellow soldiers more than my own life.

Society in the 1950's Teammates Response

Camisha Alexis: In 1950, the number of cars doubled from 30 to 74 million.
Coral Nolan: The United Nations created the United Nations Atomic Energy commission to safely and properly use the atom.
Lorann Pate: Many teens were rebellious during the 1950s and were involved in gangs associated with vandalism, car thefts, and random violence.
Julia Mckinney: Eisenhower felt that if one country fell to communism, all the countries around that country would fall too.
Bruce: David Reisman, a sociologist, believed the American character was changing into conformity for individualism in the 1950s.
Chris Norris: Consumerism was the product of advertising. Advertising caused consumers to purchase products.
Jimmy Warren: The economy grew by 37% in the 1950s. American families started spending 30% of their income on consumer goods.
Dillan: U-2 spy planes flied missions over Russia. One of the U-2 spy planes were shot down over Russia.

McCarthyism

A.    List three things the author said that you think are important:

- In the document he stated that he has the names of 57 communists that are presently serving in the state department.

- President Truman appointed a board to screen state department employees and found hundreds listed as “dangerous to the security of the nation”, because of communist connections.

-One group of 300 certified to the secretary for discharge, he only discharged about 80.

B. Why do you think this document was written?
-I think this document was written to inform President Truman about all the people in the state department that are communists or dangerous to the security of the nation, Also, to suggest that these people must be discharged immediately

C. What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the document.
-“I have the names of 57 communists that are presently serving in the state department.

     

D. List two things the document tells you about life in the United States at the time it was written:

- The American society feared communists and turned their backs against anyone that could possibly be a communist.

- American society also had a negative view towards the Soviet Union and feared the Soviet Union’s atomic bomb plans.

E. Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document:

-How can President Truman find McCarthy’s list of 57 communists that are presently serving in the state department?

F. Date of document

- February 11, 1950

G. Author:

-Senator Joseph McCarthy

     H. Purpose of document
      - To inform President Truman about the communists in the state department

Society in the 1950s

            The article titled " A Nation in Debt" explained the debt increase in the 1950s society. In the Fifties, the concept "buy now, pay later" was introduced along with the first credit card (the Diner's Club card). Private debt doubled from $104.8 billion to $263.3 billion in the 1950s. Credit card purchases benefited the U.S's 1950s economy. Although, the U.S and the middle class did well during this time 25% of citizens lived in poverty. The U.S. citizens who were affected were blacks who lived in urban neighborhoods and lower class whites. President Eisenhower bel;ieved his approach to the economy proved to be successful, even though it didnt reach everyone.

Labor Unions

WW1 Post

The seven causes of world war 1 were:

1. The Russian revolution-a series of revolutions in 1917 in Russia which overthrew the tsar and created the Soviet Union
2. The TransAtlantic Cable Cut- A cable linking north America to London was cut
3. The Zimmerman Telegram-In 1917, a proposal from Germany to Mexico to declare war on the United States
4. The sinking of the Luisitania-the british ship(the Luisitania) was sunk by a German U-boat
5. German U-boats- German submarines that appeared out of nowhere and attacked opposing ships without warning
6. The sinking of three other ships-three other ships were sunk by German U boats
7. The Sussex Pledge- a promise to the United States from Germany which included terms such as:

Passenger ships would not be targeted;

Merchant ships would not be sunk until the presence of weapons had been established, if necessary by a search of the ship;

Merchant ships would not be sunk without provision for the safety of passengers and crew.

American Imperialism

          This U.S. imperialism political cartoon shows how these four areas(puerto rico, hawaii, cuba, and the phillipines) were causing problems for the U.S. while America is trying to take care of them.
          The reasons the U.S. became an imperialistic country are to expand trade markets, make the nation more secure, increase nationalism, and demand for raw materials.