Current Events Summary # 5

Domestic Policies of China

The people of China have been dealing with sexual harassment and related matters for a while now. For the first time, China established gender equality as a national policy. Women in China are now allowed to charge their husbands or any other men that are abusive to them and/or harass them. Even though women can now charge men for sexual harassment, they are still far from becoming completely equal in their society. Meanwhile, domestic violence still remains a huge problem in China. Although women now have a stand in free speech to take legal action against men who are abusive, it will still take a lot of legislative power to change and make an effect towards the way women are viewed in the Chinesse society.

Another issue that China is currently dealing with in the society is a teacher who took advantage of more than 20 young girls. The Chinesse government took action once they found out Chi Yao and his wife, Zhao Qingmei, had a "child-sex ring". These people are a disapointment to the society because of the involvement in such an action. The couple just got of the lane of death last week, but is facing a lifetime in jail.

These two articles are involved in the domestic policies of China because the people are being mistreated. Between these articles it seems that China has issues mainly dealing with girls/women. Although young girls were horribly mistreated, China seems to be making an effort to change the rights of women in their society.

Project Plan

1. Demonstrate the evolution of the concepts of personal freedom, individual responsibility, and respect for human dignity.

• USII.17 Explain important domestic events that took place during WWII. (Chapter 24-1,3,&4) (Chapter 25)


• USII.25 Analyze the origins, goals, and key events of the Civil Rights movement.(Chapter 29)


• USII.27 Analyze the causes and courses of the women's rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s.(Chapter 31-2&3)


• USII.30 Describe some of the major economic and social trends of the late 20th century.(Chapter 32, Chapter 33-1,2&4, Chapter 34)

*Standard Essay

Chapter 23-5: Critical Thinking # 4

How successful do you think Franklin Roosevelt was as a president? Support your answer with details from the text.

Franklin Roosevelt, as a president, was quit successful. In favor of the environment, President Roosevelt was "highly committed to conservation and promoted policies designed to protect the nation's natural resources (pg. 725). His commitments to the environment showed how he wasn't just in it for the power, but he cared for the social and environmental effects. FDR must have been pretty successful also because each election he had high ratings and was popular among the working-class Americans. Even today some of his reforms under the New Deal continue to direct American politics and society. He supported the people of the country and made an effort to rebuild everything that they all once had. Even though President Roosevelt gave more power to the federal government, it was needed to shape the economy. FDR also was a successful president because he made many acts that benefited the country and helped rebuild their finances and economy.

Chapter 23-5: Critical Thinking # 3

Some critics have charged that the New Deal was antibusiness and anti-free enterprise. Explain why you agree or disagree with this charge. Think About:

• the expanded power of the federal government
• the New Deal's effect on the economy
• the New Deal's effect on the American people

Chapter 23-4: Critical Thinking # 3

What type of movies do you think might have been produced if the government had supported moviemaking as part of the New Deal? Use evidence from the chapter to support you response.

If the government had supported moviemaking as part of the New Deal, many movies would have been able to be made. A lot of the movies made would most likely be comical and about topics that everyone in that time frame could relate to. Movies would have probably consisted of a lot of made up things and fantasy plots, such as The Wizard of Oz and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. These movies both had people going through difficult times, like the people who were suffering from the Great Depression, but in the end had a happy and good result. As a result, if movies were allowed to be part of the New Deal, they would probably have related to each person and held the point that everything was going to get better. The movies could show how the government could help the people and win over those who were greedy and unkind. If moviemaking was allowed as a part of the New Deal, many social and political accomplishments would be made.

Chapter 23-1: Critical Thinking # 3

Of the New Deal programs discussed in this section, which do you consider the most important? Explain your choice. Think About:

• the type of assistance offered by each program
• the scope of each program
• the impact of each program

The New Deal program focused on three general goals: relief for the needy, economic recovery, and financial reform. The most important seemed to be the financial reform. FDR made a huge effort to improve the financial reform and showed less focus on the relief for the needy and economic recovery. A huge part of the financial reform dealt with banks and the rebuilding of the people's confidence. To reorganize the banking system, the Glass-Steagall Act was passed, establishing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (pg. 696.) The FDIC provided insurance for individual banks accounts which reassured the people that their money was safe. To rebuild financial reform Congress and the president also regulated the stock market. Due to the crash of 1929, many people lost their faith in the stock market. For this matter, the Federal Securities Act was passed, "requiring corporations to provide complete information on all stock offerings and made them liable for any misrepresentations" (pg. 696.) The financial reform focused on rebuilding the economy and their confidence in public affairs.

Current Events Summary # 4

Domestic Policies of China

The president of China, Hu Jintao, is extremely powerful but is almost completely unknown around the world. By the year 2012, the people of China can expect Xi Jinping to take over for Hu Jintao and become the new president. Recently, four new members have joined the Standing Committee, in favor of President Hu Jintao. The Standing Committee is currently trying to change the balance of power in order to give more power to Mr. Hu. Giving Mr. Hu more power will lead to a success in his agenda of economic reform. If Mr. Hu's plan of economic reform is accomplished, the people of China and China as a whole will be better off, due to the fact that their economic issues would be in a better condition. The party's decision to cherish the presidents "scientific outlook on development" into its constitution is seen as a success for him and the people of China. The considerable changes in power will leave the new generation of leaders in control. The attempts to change the economic issues with leave the people of China with higher hopes to get back on on the right foot. The reform of economics will get a grip on the country's political system. Everything that is undergoing harsh conditions could be changed by the movement of President Hu Jintao.

Another form of power that has been portrayed in China is dealing with the copper mining company. Recently the Chinese mining company has won the ability to make one of the largest copper mines in Afghanistan. Although this relation is more of a foreign trade issue, the outcome will benefit for the people of China. For the tons of people who work in the mining company, this ability will lead to a much greater income than usual. China will be known for their great mining works and the huge outcome of winning the major project in Afghanistan. This investment will be the largest one in Afghans history.

Chapter 22-3: Critical Thinking # 3

How did Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shape his policies during the Great Depression? Think About:

• what his belief implies about his view of people
• how that translates into the told of government
• Hoover's policies

Hoover's belief in "rugged individualism" shaped his policies during the Great Depression because he believed that "people should succeed through their own efforts" (pg. 685). Hoover also believed that the government should step in when businesses and labor were in conflict to find a solution that would serve their mutual interests. Hoover didn't believe in any form of welfare because he thought that it was a hand out to the needy. He thought that welfare and direct relief to the needy would "weaken people's self-respect and moral fiber" (page 685). This policy of his told the needy that individuals, charities, and local organizations should all join in and help care for those who were less fortunate. In Hoover's opinion, he thought that direct relief measures were demoralizing and a lack of character. Hoover wanted to strengthen character and preserve the sense of real government that the nation had.

Chapter 22-2: Critical Thinking # 3

How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? children? Think About:

• each group's role in their families
• the changes each group had to make
• what help was available to them

During the Great Depression, men were effected differently compared to what happened to women and children. Men had such a hard time during the Great Depression because they were used to working ans supporting their family. Day by day men would have to go out and search for new jobs, even if they continually got turned down. Some men were under so much pressure and tension that they left their families. As a result to leaving their families, there were as many as 300, 000 "hoboes" around the country. These men would turn up at homeless shelters in big cities every so often. During this time the women worked to keep their families going. Many would can food and sew clothes. They also controlled their household budgets. Other than at home, women also worked outside the home, but they received less than men did. As the Great Depression continued, many people began to "attack" the role of women, saying that they shouldn't be working when there were men who couldn't even get jobs. Eventually, people began to refuse to hire women. What happened to men was different from what happened to women because men were seen begging in the streets and standing in lines to get bread, while women were portrayed as if they had it easier. Although, many women would "starve to death in cold attics and rooming houses" (pg.682). They had less of a chance now to get a job, for example as a schoolteacher. During the time of the Great Depression, what happened to children was different from men and women too. Many children suffered with poor diets and diet-related diseases. Their education was cut short because school boards shortened the school year due to falling tax revenues. Instead of going to school, children often worked in sweatshops. Also, teenagers who wanted to avoid the suffering found a way to get out of the country and look for jobs, usually jumping onto trains. Even though the people who jumped into trains were just teenagers, many were jailed, beaten, or eventually killed (adults were also included in this treatment.) As a result, even though men, women, and children all suffered during the Great Depression, they were very much different. They all were treated differently and suffered in their own ways.

Chapter 22-1: Critical Thinking # 4

Judging from the events of the late 1920s and early 1930s, how important do you think public confidence is to the health of the economy? Explain. Think About:

• what happened when overconfidence in the stock market led people to speculate and buy on margin
• how confidence affects consumer borrowing

Judging from the events of the late 1920s and early 1930s, the public confidence was very important and had an effect on the economy. People began to have great confidence in the stock market, leading to more and more investments. When the stock prices continued to rise, people took advantage of the situation. They rushed to buy stocks and bonds, having more confidence than usual. Over time the confidence in the stock market grew even more and people began to engage in speculation. This meant that they were buying stocks and bonds on the chance of a fast profit, ignoring the the risks they were taking. Many people began to buy on margin, leaving people most likely unable to pay off the loans if the value of the stocks declined. Eventually the stock hit its peak and then feel, which made the confidence of people very weak. Some people sold their stocks right away and pulled out. When the stock market finally hit the bottom, the nation's confidence fell with it as well. Everyone then panicked, which probably made the situation even worse. As a result, the confidence of the people in the late 1920s and early 1930s had a huge effect on the health of the economy because it factored into making the depression more severe.