#18 - The Amazing Eva Peron & Her Amazing Dead Body

Tell about the misadventures of Argentina's Eva Peron's corpse.

by Sam Green

In 1955, three years after her death, Eva Peron's corpse disappeared following a coup that kicked her husband, ex-Argentinian President Juan Peron, out of office. It was taken in the middle of the night by military officers who staged a coup to kick out Peron's widower. Those who supported Peron thought it was a movement taken to erase their legacy from Argentina, specifically Eva's. After moving around through Buenos Aries for a while, even staying in the Military Intelligence HQ for a while, the body made its way to the Vatican in 1957 with some Italian assistance. There, it was buried under a false name. Her body may have been missing, but she was not forgotten.

In 1970, an ex-military leader and current leader of Argentina, Gen. Pedro Aramburu, was kidnapped and assassinated. This allowed for Juan Peron, who has been exiled in Spain since the coup, to return to Argentina and potentially re-enter government. Upon regaining some power, he set out to find Eva's body, even though he had a new wife, Isabel; when he found it, her body had been beaten up and a finger was missing. In 1973, he returned to Argentina as President, and upon his death a year later, Isabel was given control. In 1974, Domingo Tellechea was chosen to make her body presentable for public viewing, like Lenin's Mausoleum. Accepting the request to restore her body would have put him at risk of suffering at the hands of the officers who originally took her body. Meanwhile, Isabel was erecting a monument taller than the Statue of Liberty to put her body in. Sadly, another coup ended those plans, and she was kicked out of office. In the end, Tellechea left in exile and Eva's body was put in the Peron Mausoleum.

#17 - World War II Maps

Analyze a multitude of maps regarding WWII.

by Sam Green

Map 1: This map shows a global view of a significant part of the world and its territories throughout the time of World War II. Map 2: The map shows a global view of the economic output of both the Allied and the Axis powers. Map 3: Map shows the continent of Europe and its newly divided territories after WWI. Map 4: Map displays the state that Japan created in order to fight China by sending out militaries within the state. Map 5: This map shows the fraction of German speakers in each of the judicial districts in the modern-day Czech Republic in the 1930’s. Map 6: Displays the territorial changes during WWII. Map 7: Map displays Russian routes of armies invading Finland in late 1939. Map 8: Displays the Maginot line constructed by France in order to protect from German invasion. Map 9: Displays routes taken by British as they escape from Dunkirk. Map 10: Map of Hitlers plans to invade Britain, but surprisingly never happened. Map 11: Displays targeted cities that were under bomb plannings within Britain. Map 12: Map showing France split in half displaying the Nazi-friendly zone or the German military zone and the free zone. Map 13: Displays German invasion routes into Russia as Hitler betrays Stalin. Map 14: German invasion routes of Leningrad. Map 15: Overall aerial view of the overview of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan. Map 16: Shows Japan's domain and empire as it expands to the East. Map 17: Japan invaded the Philippines and map displays the death march in Bataan. Map 18: Stalin invades Germany and Hitler suffers a defeat at the battle of Stalingrad. Map 19: Britain invades Northern Africa which is controlled by the Axis powers at the time. Map 20: Displays one of de Gaulles most important contributions to the Allied cause in Africa. Map 21: Invasion routes by the allies invading Italy. Map 22: Displays routes invading Normandy in France. Map 23: Displays territories apart of the allied forces within Europe. Map 24: Displays the military deaths of major powers on a global scale, the soviet unions sacrifice that dwarfed the allies. Map 25: Displays a picture of an aircraft carrier that was a boat that could carry aircrafts. Map 26: Displays British radar scale and its readings. Map 27: Displays the picture of the USA during the Manhattan project, a plan to make nuclear atomic bombs. Map 28: British and Americans had huge advantage, map displays the allied-code breaking advantage. Map 29: Showed the diagram of the German V-2 rocket. Map 30: displays the The Battle of Midway, a turning point in the Pacific War Map 31: Map of a battle between American and Japanese forces in Japan. Map 32: Maps displaying Japanese towns and cities destroyed by American atomic bomb attacks. Map 33: Radar view of atomic bomb devastation on Hiroshima. Map 34: Percentage map of the amount of Jewish victims of World War II. Map 35: Maps showing invasions of Israel by the Jewish into the promised land. Map 36: Displays the Berlin airlift saving West Germany from communist domination. Map 37: War maps of the United States defending South Korea. Map 38: Map of Africa as it becomes liberated from the Europeans losing its colonies. Map 39: Map of Germany displaying US military bases. Map 40: Map of Japan displaying US military bases. Map 41: Map displaying Europe as the European Union grows bigger and stronger. Map 42: Map of countries joining United Nations over time.

#16 - Omg, AP U.S. History is Bad for America

Tell about the current situation with Oklahoma and APUSH.

by Sam Green

In Oklahoma, legislature has been passed that calls for a change in Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH, or AP U.S. History) curriculum due to the current teachings supposedly focusing on the negative side of American history more than the positive or neutral events. Some conservatives are firmly against the new curriculum; Republican commentator Ben Carson said that the current teachings will lead to students "sign[ing] up for [ISIL]." What conservatives are calling for involves a education that leaves students with a patriotic feeling, in regards to a country with history they can be proud of; meanwhile, liberals are arguing, in the words of Winston Churchill, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Overall, I see this as a petty squabble. America is notorious for walking over people for most of history; we should be honest when we recall our past activities. Though, there are some exception; the article states that a focus on our Founding Fathers and major historical events, the Holocaust, for example, are not given adequate attention. In personal opinion, things like those should be included, but we should not be reforming the whole program or shutting it down because a select few disagree with it.

#15a - Industrial Revolution (Questions)

Answer questions on the Industrial Revolution.

by Sam Green

I. Europe

Q1. What was the impact of European population growth on industry?

Q2. What were the results of the first organization of workers?

Q3. Why did industry reach the Netherlands so relatively late?

II. Belgium

Q1. How did Napoleon impact the development of industry in Belgium?

Q2a. Which industries developed in Belgium? 

Q2b. Why did those develop?

Q3. How did infrastructure in Belgium improve?

III. France

Q1. What characteristics in France discouraged industrial innovation?

Q2. How did French social structures dictate which industries developed?

Q3a. Which industries developed in France late?

Q3b. Why did it happen late?

IV. Germany

Q1. Why did industrial development occur late in Germany?

Q2. What was the impact of the German Customs Union?

Q3. In which industries did Germany become the leader in Europe?

V. Great Britain

Q1.  Which other industries developed because of the steam engine?

VI. Luxembourg 

Q1. How did Luxembourg benefit from German industrialization?

Q2. Why were they so successful at producing iron?

VII. Netherlands 

Q1a. Was the Netherlands' economic success before the industrialization something that helped industry develop or slowed development?

Q1b. Why?

Q2. Which industries did develop in the Netherlands?

VIII. Norway

Q1. What were the earliest industries in Norway?

Q2. How did water power development change Norway's economy?

IX. Spain 

Q1. What kinds of mining industries were successful in Spain? 

#14 - Revolutions are Super Fun!

Compare and contrast two of the first revolutions.

by Sam Green

While the French and American Revolutions were similar generally in the way the were laid out, i.e. their foundation, they were different mostly in the way they were executed.

One similarity between the French and American Revolutions was the cause for it. Both revolutions resulted from financial troubles that resulted from a King's orders. The reason for these financial troubles were wars and poor economic choices that left the commoners heavily taxed.

One difference between the French and American Revolutions was the legislative document passed as a part of it. The Americans produced the Declaration of Independence; the French produced the Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen. The reason they were different is because while the DoI only gained independence, the DoRoMatC laid out plans for a real government and such.

Another similarity is that they sparked other revolutions. The U.S. Revolution led to the French Revolution, and that led to the Haitian Revolution. The reason for this is because the success of others sparked inspiration and more revolutionary ideas in other countries filled with political and economical unrest and dismay.

Another difference is the use of naval power. While the American Revolution involved the Royal Navy and colonial ships, the French Revolution was entirely fought on land. This is because the American Revolution was fought between two different bodies while the French Revolution was a domestic problem.

One last similarity is historical figured involved. Both revolutions involved Thomas Jefferson. The reason that both involved Thomas Jefferson is because he was a member of the Enlightenment that both revolutions valued in regards to his ideas and beliefs.

One last difference is the number of revolutions that involved violence. While the Americans had the one that everyone knows about, i.e. the one that didn't create the constitution, the French had multiple revolutions. The reason for this is because of what each revolution produced, i.e. the one American revolution with violence produced the independence they wanted while it took multiple French revolutions to get liberty, equality, and more.

#13 - Ottoman Art

How did the art of the Ottomans compare to others nearby?

by Sam Green

Many Ottoman architectural buildings were inspired by many other cultures and traditions, including the Byzantine, Persian, and the Islamic Mamluk traditions. The Ottoman buildings (many being mosques) contain unique architectural styles that can be seen in Byzantine styles, such as vast inner spaces covered by weightless domes. The buildings included square dome planes, large circular domes, vaults, corner minarets, small and numerous windows, and high columns. The Ottoman mosques were beautiful sanctuaries and gave perfect harmony and balance between inner and outer spaces. They all give a beautiful mixture of lightness and darkness on a perfect balance. Throughout the empire, the buildings remained uniform and unchanging with the styles of architecture. The style later fused with European style buildings in the 19th Century as rebuilding programs begin to flourish.

Many of the Mughal buildings in architectural history have Persian origin and can be found in the Indian subcontinent. Its style easily found its way in to local Indian architecture and influenced many builders around its area. The buildings are symmetrical and most tombs and other buildings are, in the majority, made of marble. They include many archways (usually found at the entrance) and have large domes, relating to the Ottoman Empire. The shapes of the domes are sometimes given the name “onion domes” due to its shape. The buildings include many columns and roofs that allow light to leak in from the top. The spires on the buildings are extremely decorative, and give an emphasis on how tall the domes are. The domes are usually gilded, which mixes Hindustani and Persian traditional decorative elements to the architecture. One of the Mughal architecture’s most prevalent characteristics is the symmetry.   

#12 - The Magna Carta

Happy 800th Birthday, Magna Carta!

by Sam Green

On June 15th, 1215, the Magna Carta was formed by King John in order to find peace. Religious conflict was prevalent during this time; King John and pope Innocent III were practically at each others necks. John alienated the barons as well, capturing a runaway's wife and son as hostages and killing them by leaving them in castle Corfe. England was in turmoil, dissidents were prosecuted or fled, and the civilians and clergy were not allowed to go to mass. King John was afraid of possible invasion by the barons and further turmoil, so he went through humiliation by kneeling for the pope in front of the clergy and barons of England. They were not pleased however, so King John's need for peace between the barons and himself was the creation of the Magna Carta, his terms for peace. It ended up failing, due to past occurrences of monarchs making promises that they didn't keep. As time went on though, future monarchs used it to weaken English rebellion. It "went out of fashion" in the 18th and 19th centuries, but instead became quite famous in the West, America.

Q1. OMG what was the king's hostage doing to her son??!!??!

Q2. At the time, what was England's relationship with its neighbors?

Q3. Why did King John agree to the Magna Carta?

Q4. What was the impact of the Magna Carta at the time?

Q5. How did later kings use the charter to their advantage?

Q6. How did Edward Coke revive the importance of the charter?

Q7. How did American colonial leaders use the Magna Carta?

Q8. Why is the Magna Carta more important to modern Americans than to the British?

A1. They were found to be chewing on his cheek. Weirdo.

A2. England was being their normal oppressive self, so the surrounding lands, i.e. Wales, France, Scotland, and Rome, chose to attempt to overthrow it.

A3. The rebels of London had gained an upper hand. As to ensure he were to receive the best results in regards to himself, he chose to submit to their demands and sign the Magna Carta.

A4. There was basically little to no impact. Though, King John did walk away as a laughing stock.

A5. Later kings decided to galvanize it, using it to impose taxes, force domestic peace, and more.

A6. He used it as a revolutionary to make sure it appeared that he was nothing to be afraid of, instead being someone that should be supported.

A7. The used it the same way the 17th Century revolutionaries did and quoted it against the British government.

A8. Lawyers and such today use it in court cases. The American Constitution, that is still used today, has roots in it.