Iran

Oxford IB History Ch. 6.5 - Iran

a. explain how Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi modernized and Westernized Iran - give specific examples! why did he do this? how did different groups benefit or suffer under the reforms? how did the people of Iran respond?
He modernized Iran through his White Revolution, which he had massive land reforms giving land to peasants, Nationalizing and Privatizing specific companies and forests in Iran and also social reforms which gave women rights making them equal to men. He did this in order to make Iran become a power in the Middle East, this also got investors and foreign interest from the West.The Tuddeh and Mossadegh were banned and assassinations were put into place. Iran essentially became a politically party which benefited the middle and upper class but the lower classes were hurt and could not keep up, having to migrate to other places were living standards were just as bad. Politically Iran was happy with the modernized Iran, however socially people were upset with his choices and wanted a new leader in charge Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini because they felt that Reza Sha had had plagued Iran by Westernizing it. Business's went under because the government promoted by foreign goods rather than the domestic ones, and also the government never anticipated the modernizing to the extent of which the goods were sent to them.

b. impact of Western influence - again, how did different groups respond? what benefits and drawbacks were there?
The British refused to give profits or pay taxes to the Iranian government for using the oil, which caused the Iranians to kick the British out because this, which affected all groups because of the boycotting of oil after this. The US promised aid, money, weapons and training to the Iranian government on the permise that they didn't become involved with any other country expect for the US. The government was happy with this but not everyone was because of the modernizing that the US was employing, this would ultimately lead to the banning of the Tuddeh party because of its afflictions with communism.

c. White Revolution - explain who led the revolution; why did they revolt? who in society were their supporters? did they have outside help? how successful were they? why were they successful (or not)?
The Shah led the revolution, this was in order to reform the country and make it stand out as a powerful nation. Shah's political parties peasant farms and wealthier farmers because they were not forced to give up land due to the money that they had they didn't have to get land. Western influence. It was successful in reforming the nation and giving the land out and equal opportunities to them to run politically. However the poor became more poor and could not had no living standards and were forced to constantly immigrate.

d. nature of society - explain:
i. religious issues- Replaced the calendar with the Shahanshah which was a Islamic one but didn't hold true to the Muslim countries calendar that started with hegira. This lead to people being pissed off because they didn't want to change their calendar because it was to confusing and didn't fit their society.
ii. gender issues- Shah had women not were their veils, allowed them to become educated, hold high jobs such as judges, vote and be voted in and also they were able to divorce and keep the children. This goes into more of the cultural values since there was a paradigm shift of cultural tradition system.
iii. cultural issues - Shah wanted to change and make a remembrance day, that was dedicated to the Pre-Islamic background of Iran, which infuriated people, who only wanted to be associated with their islamic background.
iv. health care - health care was increased and reach out to everyone.
vi. education - education was increased, doubling within ten years, then more further education was provided to the people.
vii. what else? - Political issues, the people didn't have a say who was in power since Iran became a SPS so once the news paper article was put in place denouncing Khomeini, Shah had to be removed and they did this putting the Khomeini in power and he placed a prime Minster in power one whom he thought could help run the country better.

e. 1979 Revolution - explain who led the revolution; why did they revolt? who in society were their supporters? did they have outside help? how successful were they? why were they successful (or not)?

IRL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12488908
News Story
BBC
Talks about the whole Arab-Israeli crisis. We've learned about Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon's conflicts with Israeli, this adds more incite to the middle east crisis especially 60 years after the independence of Israeli.
It adds value because we just learned about Egypt nationalizing the Suez Canal, now we see Iran using the canal to send battleships towards the way of Israeli though they are only heading to Syria. Though it adds more to the tensions between the middle east because of the growing nuclear fears and now arming Syria.
Limitations of the document are hard to see, though there a Anglo-Israeli relations they don't seem to affect the article at all in making one sided.

Lebanon

Oxford IB History Ch. 6.4 - Lebanon

a. civil wars - why? who was on each side? who won? did either side have outside help? what was the regional or world context while the civil war(s) was/were being fought?
Due to the huge diverse of Christians and Muslims, which lead to a disagreement over the fishing industry, thus leading into a civil war. On the Christian side Israeli,in the middle saw the Syrians, the UN, Americans and the French trying to keep peace. And then it was the Muslims and the PLO. Christians won because, the Israeli's were able to force out the PLO. During this time major detentes was occurring, America was making peace relations with China. And in UK the counter culture and welfare states arisen.
b. outside interference and reconstruction - post-civil war; explain...
The Syrian Army, American and French troops were sent in in order to keep the peace and try to promote a ceasefire. While the Israeli's interference was to give the training to Christians. Taif Agreement was formed in 1989 this would give reconstruction to the political system in Lebanon, giving increase power to the Prime Minister and the speaker of the Parliament. This way Christian's could not become more powerful than the Muslims. 1991, the Lebanon government passed a pardon of all civil war crimes. While Israeli invaded twice, so that they could make sure that their southern border was protected from Lebanon in case of future attacks.

c. confessional state - explain...
Because they were divided on religious affiliations and also the amount of support for these religious afflictions.

d. economic tensions - why? who benefited? who suffered? what changes took place?
Due to the massive migration of Palestinians immigrants that caused competition in job market place. The Palestinians benefited because they were able to escape Israeli and now settle down in Lebanon. The shi'a community suffered the most due to the competition. that area was a target for attacks from Israeli and also the political geography also changed cause of the Shi'a having to move north.

e. growth of militias and PLO - who joined? why? goals? successes? failures?
The Druze fought alongside of the PLO, in order to create political stabilizability and help the Palestinians. The PLO wasn't successful in causing a ceasefire and were forced out of Lebanon by the growing tensions from Israeli.
IRL:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/lebwith.html
Website
Israeli Government Press Office
It adds hindsight to what we read in class already, because now we know whats going to happen so if asked a question relating from 1945-2000, then we can end a essay with implementation of Resolution 425.
It enhances value because the chapter we read stops with the the troops being removed, so that we know what happened after the invasion. Though it casts a good light for Israeli.
Limitations faced with this is the source is a Israeli one, therefore it is more likely casting a good light on Israeli though they invaded Lebanon.

Verdict Activity: Nasser

Nasser was the President and leader that put Egypt on the map but this was due to the support he drew from the people which also helped him create a cult of personality. The cult of personality that Nasser created in his state can be seen in the picture from Source G, thousands of people looked grief stricken for his funeral. This may be due to the shock because his cult of personality and ability to lead, led the people to believe in him. Source F, claimed that the magic he presented was shown in the dreams he had promised for the Egyptians. Also Source C claims that he had a hypnotic power over the Egyptians in his cult of personality so that would explain the grief shown in the image because the realization of Nasser has not set in yet.
Egypt was put back on the map by Nasser, but he did this by playing off of the old traditions that he abandoned in his domestic policies.Shown in Source B. While he is a leader for the Suez crisis and leading Egypt away from imperialism, also as a Arab leader. He put Egypt back on the map through historical routes such as the problems with Israel and problems with British and French intervention with the Suez Canal.

“Discuss the long-term and the short-term causes for the rise of Nasser to power.”

Nasser was able to come to power because the Free Officers proved more effective and had less of a embarrassment on the Egyptian people, than the constitutional monarchy did because, King Farouk was never independent from the Uk. And he continually embarrassed Egypt. The short term causes that effected Nasser coming to power, are that in 1953 once the complete take over was put into place. Monarchy was abolished, the 1923 constitution was withdrawn, political parties were banded and though Egypt proclaimed to be a Republic RCC. Made Nasser vice and Naghib president. This gave put him right into power that he could become President eventually. While his long term goals consisted of treaties and humiliation from Britain in such as the 1923 Constitution which made a constitutional monarchy in Britain even thought the British still interfered. Which showed no independence from Britain. Then in 1936 the Anglo-Egyptian lead to more humiliation between the Egyptians and the government.. The Arab-Israeli War in 1948 could arguable be a leading point for Nasser's rise because it lead to the humiliation of the Egyptian government. Especially King Farouk. January 1952 saw the "Black Saturday" saw dangerous riots in Cairo “Last straw that broke the camel’s back” which was around the time that Nasser began playing a role in taking over the government. The establishment of the Free Officers as a long term goal as well because this group would lead a "bloodless coupe" in July 1952, which replaced King Farouk with Revolutionary Command Council. How Nasser became involved. Then finally in 1954 saw the finally long term goal because Nasser and Naghib has a disagreement and led to resignation leads to constructing a his Nasserist State, once he was able to become President.

Assignment: Music in Britain 1960s

Different music types appeared in the UK after the 1960s, we saw the rise of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Different music genres also rose in the UK due to the socio-economic issues such as unemployment and unfair opportunities. Though there was no solution by creating genres such as Punk rock (THe Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols), the bands were able to incite the youth with rage from their lyrics and general concert appearances. Music was the counter-culture to past, Punk and other prototype generes such as ska, and reggae stood as anti-establishment. Which began in the 1960s, "Swinging Sixties" where old culture values were abandoned and new ones were adopted.

Once the 60s had ended the transition of the anti-establishment had gone into the 1970s with the formation of punk rock, except the music was a little different. Though many of the Clash is early music had chord riffs and drew much influence from the Beatles, and the New York Dolls. Even though many of the bands were rising up against elite pop bands. Most punk bands, before becoming evolved were religious and also were part of the middle class. However most switched to nihilism in their anti everything attitude.

Historians on the topic ( my ee) believed that people in London used punk rock in order to make money in a tough economy. Malcolm McLaren, manager to most Punk bands used the creation of punk to make money.

The Age of Prosperity

1. a.(State of Prosperity) - referenced in Source A suggest that living standards and working conditions had improved greatly for everyone, doesn't really sound like "classes" anymore as much as equality among classes. This would make sense as well since this is post World War II and UK was devastated by this.

b. (mother's little helper) - The song seems to reference a child to help out her mother, when in fact it's talking about the mother taking drugs, and getting more drugs from the "doctor". The helper is the drug and it's taking away the mother/wife from doing her daily old custom duties.

2. Source A and C depict polar opposites of consumers in UK at the time. Source A shows that everyone was happy and prosperous. Where you could go to any part of the UK and see this. While Source C depicts this differently, where Joe Strummer a citizen in the UK finds it difficult to shop in the grocery store. Showing that the "state of prosperity" wasn't for everyone, especially in the consumer society.

3. Source A's origin is a speech to a rally of Conservative supporters by the Prime Minister Harold MacMillian in 1957. It's purpose is to show how England had reached a "state of prosperity" and that everyone was happy for the first time in a long time. It's valuable because it was written in 1957, giving hindsight to the historian studying the time period. It's origin is also valuable because a historian needs primary sources, which this is and it is also from a Prime Minister, someone who has authority in the country. While this can also be a limitation because though little is given on it's origins, it however could be fully untrue. Prime Minister Harold MacMillian may have said these things for his own personal gain not exactly the truth. But to make this limitation a value, historians look at this primary source and others by regular people since this speech is directed towards them in order to compare validity.
Source C's origin is a song called, "Lost in the Supermarket" from the Clash's Strummer Jones written in 1979. It's purpose to is to convey how Strummer is feeling with society in London. Also how he feels he is unhappy and lost his personality due to the "prosperity". It's valuable to a historian studying the time period because not only does it give it hindsight but also the song is written by a more regular person than the Prime Minister so it also adds incite on how things really were from his perspective. This could also be a limitation because due to it being a song he may have been pressured into writing a song like this to meet the demands of the label.

4. According to Source A around the 1950s the economy was great and prosperous for everyone that lived in the UK. While in Source B it depicts the wife, changing her role a little bit. For example it says "Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag, so she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak". The song is a drug reference that was written in the 1960s, between 1950 to 1980 there was a cultural role change that affected the consumer economy.Source C however depicts the consumer economy as a degression in the late 1970s. Strummer Jones, is highly unhappy with the situation and feels like there is a loss of identity. Seems like everyone is becoming one and joining this consumer economy and to him its not for the better of the UK. According to the graph (http://tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/economics/comments/timetric-uk-real-gdp-since-1950/) the consumer economy more than triples between 1950 to 1980. Due to problems with the consumer economy in the 1970s this led to massive unemployment which could be seen as both a good and a bad thing, because this lead to more popular culture such as the New Wave of Music and also Punk Rock music but once the two started to merge this is where Source C takes a play. Due to Strummer feeling he lost his personality and also being unhappy.

Activity: UK education

1. Source A shows that education wasn't as big or valued. It isn't a elite school, it's a school for everyone so according to Source A the education was classless.
Source B shows that education was valued and due to economic pressure, leaving it up to the government to take care of education and give opportunities. It agrees with Source A with the fact that most of British society higher ups were able to to access this education.
Source C Agrees with both sources because it shows that middle class students were and had more educational advantages then working class students.

2.1906 "Working men lacked the educational and social skills of their middle- and upper-class counterparts, most of whom had been educated at public school and university. They faced hostility or indifference when they presented themselves as prospective parliamentary candidates, from working-class voters imbued with a deferential preference for representatives drawn from among their social superiors as much as from middle-class election committees reluctant to support a working man. "
"The examination is called the eleven plus . Partly due to the failure to fully implement the tri-partite system prescribed by the 1944 Education Act, the examination came to be seen as delivering a pass/fail result with the academically selected pupils passing and attending grammar schools and the remaining pupils being deemed to have failed and being consigned to the poorly funded schools euphemistically designated Secondary Modern Schools ."
Structure after 1945:
Structure of Educational System
Pre-higher Education System
Higher Education System
Administrative structure of higher education
Admissions to Higher Education and Recognition

3. From the three sources it would appear that education wasn't something that everyone could have in the social structure, do to only upper class or elites being able to obtain higher education. Also with the fact that when that middle class could obtain higher education over working class. This left little social mobility for working class. education became more democratic though in 1973, 20% of British 18 years old received education compared to 75% in America. This left a huge class diverges in Britain at the time with a rich, middle, and lower class. I feel when answering the question it is also important to include women, since gender diverge went down while the social class diverge widened. Since the economy took a dip in the 1970s unemployment soared this meant that little educational opportunities could be provided for the working class, and lower middle class.