Blog 16

The Soviet Union was the first country to claim that they were communist. After World War I, many organized demonstrations to express their outrage. Many trade unions arose to defend workers interests and benefits for even independence. The Provisional Government was unable to meet Russia's demands and out them out of the war which caused aggression towards the government as many were demanding for their withdrawal. A group called the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917 as their leader, Vladimir Lenin, promoted the end of the war and land for the people. The Bolsheviks eventually called their party the "communist" party. The Bolsheviks then signed a treaty that took the Soviets out of the war and temporarily lost territory.
About 30 years after the Russian Revolution, communism hit China. The party that opposed the communist party was know as the Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek. The Nationalists promoted modern development meaning the construction of railroads, light industry, banking, airline services, etc. Women also began to gain more rights as their gained their right to vote and a Marriage Law outlawed arranged marriages, and made divorce easier. Women then learned to read and write as well as produce clothing, blankets and shoes. Japans invasion of China broke down the Nationalist Party.
For women, divorce and abortion was made easier for them. women no longer had to take their husbands surnames, pregnancy leave was granted for women who worked,
The two alliances that were formed during the Cold War were NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The border that separated the East from the West was known as the Iron Curtain. Tensions grew but no shots were fired. The Cold War was basically a stand off war between the United States and their allies and the Soviet Union and their allies. The United States and Soviet Union never fought directly due to the fact that their allies basically fought their battles for them. Nuclear weapons were used aside from the hydrogen bomb.
As China began to industrialize and welcomed foreign investment, their economy grew dramatically. Improved diets, lower mortality rates, declining poverty and massive construction all helped to improve millions of peoples' lives in China.