WW- Ch 21-\22

I’ve always respected our country when we had to go to war. I believe that the freedoms we have don’t some free, and it’s the price our country has had to pay. I am very thankful for the men and women who have fought for our country.

Reading about the Great Depression reminded me of times today. Yes I know we aren’t in a depression but just the way people are struggling today. Many people lost their life savings in the depression. Today, many people are working two or even three jobs just to make ends meet.

My great grandmother lived during the great depression, and I remember growing up that she was so frugal with her money, and when we would go out to restaurants she was always putting food in napkins and then into her purse. When he passed away, she actually had food in her purse. Even though times are tough it makes a person grateful for what they have.

The government had to figure out a way to help the economy; at first they thought the problem would fix itself. President Roosevelt introduced the New Deal- minimum wage was introduced, social security, and welfare for the poor. The great depression hit all over the world, and had a lasting impact.

When I hear the name Hitler, it makes me cringe. I can honestly say I hate that man. The lives he took saddens me to my core. I have been giving the opportunity to meet people who lived through the Holocaust and their stories are heartbreaking, and how they view life now. I understand that Hitler brought Germany out of depression, but I can only wonder if living during the depression was better than living during the Holocaust.

World War II- was really a world war; many of the countries were fighting against something. I was amazed that 60 million people were killed during WW2, and the USSR had 40 percent of those deaths. Many civilians were attacked during the war. In China, 200,000-300,000 civilians were attacked and many women were raped, this was called the Rape of Nanjing.
The economic growths help end WW2 among many countries.
ch. 22
Communist regimes were wide spread throughout the world. the Soviet Union was a place that women's movement took place. In WW1- "Russia established new laws for women, marriage became a civil procedure among freely consenting adults; divorce was legalized and made easier, as was abortion; illegitmacy was abolished; women no longer had to take their husband's surnames, pregnancy leave for employed women was mandated; and women were actively mobilized as workers in the country's drive to industrialization" ( Strayer, 669).

Many male communist were not in favor of the Women's liberation acts. In 1919: USSR’s Communist Party set up Zhenotdel (Women’s Department). The group help train women to run day cares, clinics, news papers, etc. They also encouraged Muslim women to take off their veils. Even though it last awhile, in 1930 Stalin abolished the group.

China was also having similar groups appear. Women werent just staying at home, they were out working. This was a big deal for women all over. Even though they werent holding political jobs, they were getting jobs and not just staying at home taking care of the family.