In this class, we began to analyze the effects of WWI on the world and world history. We began to examine continuities and changes in territorial holdings after World War I in Europe, Africa, some of the Pacific Islands and the vast expanse of the Middle East. We continued to practice the AP skill of analyzing documents to write a strong response to the DBQs on the AP exam.

As Joshua knows, the catalyst for the Russian Revolution was WWI. We reviewed how and why Lenin came to power, his party's message and why he withdrew Russia. from WWI. After Lenin's death in 1924, Stalin becomes the totalitarian dictator of the USSR. We discussed Stalin's "collectivization of agriculture," impoverished peasants and "kulaks." The USSR's experience during the Great Depression differed from that of the capitalist world.

In today's class, we looked at how the United States reacted to the Great Depression with the New Deal. Joshua worked on AP skill of analyzing documents for the DBQ. We then looked at how Italy and Germany (corporatist fascist economies) reacted to the Great Depression. Joshua practiced the AP skill of creating a strong thesis statement. We looked at how Russia under Stalin reacted to the Great Depression with its five-year plans. Joshua practiced the AP skill of analyzing documents for the DBQ

Today we reviewed the causes and effects of the Russian Revolution, the fall of the Romanov Dynasty, the Bolshevik Revolution, the rise of Lenin and Stalin. We looked at how Russia reacted to the Great Depression with its five-year plans. Joshua understands that when Russia withdrew from WWI in 1917, the U.S. enters the war. We worked on the skill of analyzing documents for the DBQ (Document Based Questions) on the AP Exam.

Today we continued to learn about the Armenian Genocide during WWI. Through AP Central, we looked at global mobilization and new military technology during World War I. We then focused on the skill of identifying the evidence used in a source to support an argument. This skill is needed to correctly respond to a variety of questions and essays on the AP exam.

We looked at how WWI became the first total war. How did internal/external factors lead to the collapse of land empires after 1900? Through AP Central we focused on the skill of contextualization, learning: A (assertion), E (evidence), C (commentary explanation). We also discussed how the rule of Czar Nicholas II is weakening and why it ends during WWI.

During World War I, the Armenian Genocide was a campaign of deportation and mass killing conducted against the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire by the Young Turk government. Armenians charge that the campaign was a deliberate attempt to destroy the Armenian people and, thus, an act of genocide. The Turkish government has resisted calls to recognize it as such, contending that, although atrocities took place, there was no official policy of extermination implemented against the Armenian people as a group. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians died during this first major genocide of the 20th century.

WWI (1914-1918) was the first "modern," weaponized war in world history. It resulted from a number of international intentions that had intensified during the late 19th into the early 20th centuries. We used the mnemonic device/acronym: MAIN, for Joshua to understand the causes of WWI: militarism, alliance system, imperialism, nationalism. Joshua focused on the AP skill of explaining a historical concept, development or process. We viewed maps of Europe before and after WWI. Understanding WWI is essential to understanding the Russian Revolution, WWII, revolutions in Asia and events still impacting our world today.

Joshua completed the written portion of his test at the beginning of this period today. We then focused on person he will be presenting for Black History Month: Dr. Henry Gates.

Joshua completed the written portion of a test during this period.