Unit 2: Conflict and Cooperation (Background information)

 Conflict and cooperation among people and nations is caused by government ideas (politics) and cultural reasons (ethnicity, background, language, religion).  We are going to examine several of these issues from world wars (politics) to country divisions (cultural reasons).

 Nationalism (pride in your country) spread throughout Europe in the 1900’s The GoodThe Bad Can be constructive: bring people together Can be destructive: cause conflict between people -prevent nations from cooperating -cause nations to want to harm others

 Europeans feared their own nations and were terrified of others taking their territory  Alliances (agreements) were formed between nations for protection Alliance 1Alliance 2 Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey Great Britain, France, Russia

 The alliances went to war in 1914; most nations is Europe participated  United States joined the war in 1917 aiding Great Britain, France, and Russia  This alliance defeated Germany, Austria- Hungary, and Turkey  World War I saw 9 million soldiers and over 13 million non-soldiers die

MAP BEFORE WWIMAP AFTER WWI

 After WWI, nationalism was still alive  Alliances formed again; their goal: increase their wealth through military dominance Axis PowersAllies Germany Japan Italy Great Britain Soviet Union China France United States

 The Axis Powers captured most of Europe, parts of China, and the South Pacific  50 nations around the world soon got involved  The Allies won in 1945  WWII was the most destructive war ever fought (millions died, the most money on any war was spent)

 After WWII, the U.S. and the Soviet Union became SUPERPOWERS of the world  Europe divided itself into two regions, Eastern and Western  Western Europe  allied themselves with the U.S.  grew together as a region (cooperated)  Eastern Europe:  Followed the Soviet Union  Economies failed and people’s freedoms were taken away

 During both world wars, how did nations from around the world demonstrate COOPERATION?  During both world wars, how did nations from around the world demonstrate CONFLICT?  Using your map comparison of Europe before and after World War I, how did borders change? Were these changes cultural or political?  How did World War II define the territories of Western and Eastern Europe?

 We are going to view two Brain Pop videos on World War I and World War II.  Complete your Brain Pop guided questions and note taking guides as we watch the videos.  Be prepared to share your responses and notes.

 Historically, parts of Europe were culturally diverse (many cultures in one region)  Both peace and violence occurred because of this diversity.  We are going to study the history of Czechoslovakia, which is now two countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and the violent destruction of Yugoslavia.

CZECH culture SLOVAK culture

 Czechoslovakia had 2 main ethnic groups: Czechs and Slovaks CzechsSlovaks -lived in western regions of Bohemia and Moravia -lived in eastern region of Slovakia (Hungarians, Ukrainians, Germans, and Poles lived there, too)

 Communists took over the country after WWII  For over 20 years, protests against communism broke out as protesters wanted democracy to be their form of government  Protests led to the end of communism.

 After communism fell in Czechoslovakia, the two ethnic groups (Czechs and Slovaks) disagreed on how to run the democratic country  The conflict ended peacefully as each ethnic group formed new countries:  Czechs formed the Czech Republic  Slovaks formed Slovakia

 How did both the Czechs and Slovaks cooperate after communism took over their homeland?  How did the end of communism bring conflict between the two ethnic groups?  Was their resolution simply conflict, or a combination of both conflict and cooperation? Explain your choice.

 Cultural differences in Yugoslavia led to a violent breakup of the country.  How does this compare to that of Czechoslovakia?

 The country was formed in 1918 and consisted of many cultural groups.  Since its existence, these groups disagreed about how the Yugoslavian government should be run.  The country was divided into smaller units called republics; each republic was dominated by one cultural/ethnic group.  Serbia was the largest republic, led by the Serbs; this republic had the most power and ran the national government.  Other ethnic groups did not agree with the Serbs and their control and resented their power; this led to ethnic conflicts among the people

 Josip Broz Tito became the head of the government and made Yugoslavia communist.  Tito had good international relationships with both communist and non-communist countries.  Under Tito, Yugoslavia was stable and conflict between its people were almost nonexistent because of Yugoslavia’s success as a country.  Nationalism took over Yugoslavia: people believed they were Yugoslavians!!!

 Tito died in 1980 and the government fell apart as leaders from every ethnic group struggled for power.  Ethnic groups reformed as separate identities; nationalism died in Yugoslavia

 Yugoslavia became unstable in the 1980’s  Republics wanted to govern themselves, which ultimately led to civil wars breaking out throughout the country.  Wars led to the development and independence of newly formed countries:  Slovenia  Croatia  Bosnia & Herzegovnia  Serbia & Montenegro  Macedonia