May 8

Social 30-1

I went through some discussion on the American political system, and pointed out some similarities and differences between the Canadian and American systems. The United States can be described as being a republic, a representative democracy and an example of a presidential democracy (using the congressional system). The United States also uses the first past the post (FPTP) electoral system, just as Canada does. I went through the structural diagram of the American political system that is in your Social 30-1 study booklets for much of today's class, so if you missed class today, you'll need to get these notes from a classmate. I also showed you a short video from Common Craft on how the electoral college system works, essentially how Americans elect their President and Vice-President. I'm embedding that video that I showed in class below. You have no assessments next week, so that is, I'm sure, a relief for you. It might be a good idea to start your USA-Canada Comparative Government Assignment (this is in your Social 30-1 booklet on page 227) this weekend. Remember this is the assignment that I really encourage you to work with a partner. You're essentially making a chart on standard sized paper (8 1/2" x 11" paper) comparing the American government to the Canadian government. It will probably end up being about 4 pages of this comparison chart.

Social 20-1

We started Unit 3 material today. I gave you an opinion survey with various statements, and you had to make decisions the degree to which you agreed with that statement. We then had a class discussion on some of the statements. Please remember that you have your Unit 2 Final Exam on Wednesday, May 13th. You can find the study guide below.

Unit 2 Final Exam Study Guide:

The Unit 2 Final Exam will be written on Wednesday, May 13th. It is a multiple choice exam.

1. Study the following PowerPoint presentations from Unit 2:

• The Causes of World War I
• Total War-Allied Victory in WWI-Paris Peace Conference
• Ultranationalism in WWII: Italy, Japan, Germany
• The Internment of Japanese-Canadians in WWII
• The Holocaust
• Eight Stages of Genocide (from the Genocide Watch website)
• Contemporary Examples of Genocide

2. Know the following key concepts:

• national interest
• domestic policy
• foreign policy
• Triple Alliance
• Triple Entente
• Treaty of Versailles
• Big Four (Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, Vittorio Orlando)
• appeasement
• ultranationalism
• propaganda
• conscription crisis
• Adolf Hitler
• Nazis
• Hirohito
• Tojo
• Kristallnacht
• The Way of Subjects
• League of Nations
• total war
• internment
• War Measures Act
• Great Depression
• the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
• irredentism
• genocide
• crimes against humanity
• war crimes
• Holocaust
• ethnic cleansing
• lebensraum
• Weimar Republic
• Final Solution
• decolonization
• successor state
• self-determination

3. Make sure that you review the following broad topics in your review of Unit 2 (and make sure that you can answer ALL of the questions on the Unit 2 Worksheet):

• World War I (don't concern yourself with memorizing battles though)
• Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles
• The Interwar Years
• Rise of ultranationalism in Germany, Japan, and Italy
• Causes of World War II and key events (turning points in the war)
• The Holocaust
• Contemporary examples of genocide (review case studies that were emphasized in class and in the textbook, review your notes for "Scream Bloody Murder", "Shake Hands with the Devil")
• Decolonization and self-determination (quick review of "Gandhi" film study booklet, what are successor states? What is self-determination? Kosovo case study)