New Ideas Begin to Cause Problems
During the first semester, we discussed how new ideas and inventions changed the way people viewed their governments and their place in society. Over a couple of hundred years though, those ideas began causing problems. Revolutions had torn through countries throughout the world during the 1700's and early-mid 1800's, and the need for resources to power the industrialization process made people start fighting among each other to obtain what their country needed to grow into a global superpower.
In second semester, we will begin examining how the competition for resources and territory created deeply serious conflicts which were left unresolved for many years. Countries fought over tangible things like coal and iron, and intangible things like the belief in their country's superiority. This ongoing competition would ultimately culminate in two devastating World Wars, and a long Cold War between The Soviet Union and the United States. While revolutions to form better societies were part of the main theme in first semester, wars and conflicts between those new and better societies will be part of the theme this semester. The events we discuss here will directly influence the way we live our lives today, and are integral to all aspects of our political, economic, and social values.
In second semester, we will begin examining how the competition for resources and territory created deeply serious conflicts which were left unresolved for many years. Countries fought over tangible things like coal and iron, and intangible things like the belief in their country's superiority. This ongoing competition would ultimately culminate in two devastating World Wars, and a long Cold War between The Soviet Union and the United States. While revolutions to form better societies were part of the main theme in first semester, wars and conflicts between those new and better societies will be part of the theme this semester. The events we discuss here will directly influence the way we live our lives today, and are integral to all aspects of our political, economic, and social values.