On ‘Nuremberg’ the Movie

‘Nuremberg’ examines and presents the importance and role of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials in terms of Superior Might versus Superior Reality. In the Allied perception of ‘Superior Reality’ Allied officials portray the trial as creating a change in the perception of ‘criminal acts’ committed during war, forcing Nazi leaders to face trial and be held responsible.
In the German or Nazi perception of the trials the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials is simply a ‘trial by victors’ and a mockery. The judges are by no means impartial and are viewed by former Nazi leaders as vengeful victors seeking retribution.
The prosecution emphasizes the human cost of acts committed by Nazi leaders by exhibiting the horrors of war and the atrocities committed in Jewish concentration camps whereas Goering and other Nazi leaders in their defense emphasize their roles as part of the machinery of Nazi Government during war. In the prosecution of Goering, in the movie Goering is portrayed as essentially pleading negligence and defending the laws of the Nazi government. The prosecution’s emphasis on the atrocities committed shows the actions of the Nazi government as the sole cause of guilt ,however, the actions and the principles of the Nazi government were inherently flawed. The removal of ‘democratic systems’ of government and the beliefs espoused by Hitler in Mein Kempf were important and in many ways at the root of the action of Nazi government.
Ultimately on the basis of the trial and espoused ‘democratic principles’ the Nazi leaders could be found ‘guilty’ of war crimes ,however this declaration would not only create an immediate contradiction and friction in Allied treatment of and relationships with Russia ,but would also create inherent problems in the U.S.’s role in war in that U.S. or Allied forces war atrocities might go unprosecuted.
The legacy of the Nuremberg Trials is complex because of the contradictions and hypocrisies it immediately created, the bias of the court, the inherent problem of defining war crimes and the difficulty of fairly administering justice in crimes committed during war. However, the trials as presented in ‘Nuremberg’ the movie nevertheless show the importance of principle and action in government, placing the actions of government as inherently greater and more significant in the judgment of that government and its leaders. As a viewer and student, one is called to recognize the principles of government as at the root of the functioning of government and as centrally important in the actions of government.

Self Reflection: AP European History

As a student, this AP level European History has helped me identify my own strengths and weaknesses and gain a better general understanding of European History. I have worked hard to keep up with notes and extracurricular assignments. I personally made a concerted effort to complete class projects to the best of my ability and focused on honing my writing skills.
Things I could do that would help me to be more successful in class include consistently using the History of Western Society companion study guide to prepare for tests, focusing more closely on timelines and dates, utilizing the Barron AP Prep book to review material throughout the entire school year, keeping a consistent study schedule, and practicing speaking prior to presentations in class.
Some things that helped me to succeed in my American U.S.History class were the general schedule of covering roughly between 1 and 2 chapters per week, schedules showing test dates, in-class tests including DBQs and FRQs as part of the test material for each student, smaller class size, and in class review of chapter materials.
Things that helped me to succeed in AP European History include typing notes, covering chapter information in class in a lecture format, and the use of maps and other visual aids to illustrate changing European borders or the movement of trade. I enjoyed the online blog feature of the course and the emphasis on debate and discussion. I would be interested to try using an online wiki to compile information similar to the way the class used PowerPoint’s to cover different topics within a chapter and also to have more opportunities for formal debate in class. At times the blog component of the chapter could be overwhelming, however, overall I enjoyed this feature of the class and would have liked to be able to view other people’s work and blogs to post comments. Obstacles to succeeding in this course include, larger class size, class interruptions (PSSAs), sometimes an unclear schedule of test dates, and a lack of clarity in the pace and amount of work to be covered week by week. Something I struggle with is synthesizing dates with covering historical material. Oftentimes I can readily understand the general ideas and significance of a time period ,but have trouble recalling dates and general time periods something that using timelines and reviewing chapter material using practice tests from the A History of Western Society Study Guide seems to help me with.
In conclusion, I enjoyed AP European History and found the course topics interesting and at times compelling. This course has helped lay the foundation for me to feel confident going into a college level European History Course and with a more dedicated study schedule, personal goal and focus this course would allow me to test out of European History. However, it has really provided me with general information on European History that will help me to succeed at the college level and also has helped prepare for the sheer amount of reading and writing required in upper level Humanities. At times the extracurricular work seemed overwhelming and the textbook not nearly as comprehensive as the AP U.S. History book ,but overall I enjoyed the course and find the information presented valuable to me in my studies and my understanding of the world from a historical context and perspective. Thank you for your time and effort to make this course comprehensive and interesting. I appreciate your effort to incorporate blogs and online components into class curriculum and to provide me with resources like the AP Barrons Review Book. All these things and many more elements of the class helped me succeed as a student and kept me interested in the class. Thank you again for all your efforts.

A Reaction: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

President Truman, 1945,
“I have hundreds of thousands who are anxious for the success of Zionism: I do not have hundreds of thousands of Arabs among my constituents”(US History,1)

U.S. involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict seems to be primarily motivated by U.S. trade and oil interests in the Middle East rather than for humanitarian reasons. The U.S. appears to be primarily motivated to resolve conflict in Israel and Palestine simply as a means to control the perception and feeling towards the U.S. in the Middle East. The U.S.’s involvement in Israel-Palestine is a function of foreign policy rather than a sincere humanitarian effort to end violence. The U.S. wields considerable control over the UN and sway in the world. U.S. foreign policy in regards to other ‘humanitarian crisis’ like Rwanda and Darfur suggest that the U.S.’s foreign policy is motivated first and foremost by U.S. trade interests rather than by a desire to provide humanitarian aid. The creation of Israel as a state for the Jews in 1948 was a post WWII decision made by Britain and the U.S. This makes the U.S. and Britain directly responsible for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and leaves the U.S. not as an impartial third party in U.S. backed peace negotiations ,but rather as one that is bias and has vested interests in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If the U.S. found new sources of energy perhaps a discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be less prevalent in U.S. politics

Art of the 20th Century: Andy Warhol (1960s)

Andy Warhol’s Pop Art is exactly that and is an important offshoot of popular culture ,in his own way, Warhol is a cult legend for his work and his zany character. His screen prints use color to create high contrast. Using high contrast Warhol created images that literally pop and his artwork was and is ‘hot’ in more ways than one. Warhol was an icon of the 20th century whether he was designing a soup can label or depicting of Mao Tse Tung. Warhol’s work is iconographic. Today, in the 21st century, his art is still a ‘hot’ item and a focal point of pop culture. (Chap.31-Art)

Images & Thought- Surrealism and the Modern Thinker

Salvador Dali’s surrealist works mark significant changes in thought as well as in visual concepts and perception. In many ways changes in visual perception can either lead to or indicate changes in thought. Dali’s use of optical illusions and purposefully abstract principles create paintings with an intellectual interest in their ability to suggest concepts or ideas.
Galatea of Spheres, painted by Dali in 1952 and was surprisingly ahead of its time in its use of repeated overlapping shapes to create form and shape to display one image. Although this could be said of a mosaic, Dali’s work stands out because in many ways it appears and draws on modern ideas of computer graphics and a more advanced understanding of shape and form in sketching and painting as a visual technique. In this way Dali captivates his viewer visually while at the same time playing with new, innovative ideas that overcome the pure photographic depictions of realism, or the complete spontaneity of free form art work that can often leave something to be desired in terms of realistic depiction of human form or the natural environment. In conclusion, thought + realistic depiction = Dali and Surrealism.(Chap. 31 Art)

From Reflections: Photographs from the Moscow Times (1992-2002): Storming of the White House

This photograph depicts Russian soldiers attacking the Russian ‘White House’ on the orders of then President Boris Yeltsin. The Russian parliament meeting there in 1993 was strongly opposed to President Yeltsin’s government and policies. Just a year earlier Yeltsin had began his ‘Shock Therapy’ program to rapidly privatize Russia and in the year this photograph was taken a new Russian constitution would be passed giving along with a referendum calling for early elections both measures that would give Yeltsin unprecedented control over the Russian government. The use of force against the Russian Parliament symbolizes Yeltsin’s ‘blowing away of opposition.’ The storming of parliament shows Yeltsin’s victory in the struggle between parliament and the presidency over who would take precedence and greater control in the new Russian constitution and government.
President Putin, Yeltsin’s hand-picked successor, led a government perceived by Western Powers as anti-democratic and bordering on authoritarianism. Putin, under the Constitution supported by Yeltsin, had significant control over parliament and opposition parties in government and was a former member of the KGB. Today, President Dimitry Medvedev retains that power under the Russian Constitution and is allied with Putin, the current prime minister of Russia. In 2008, an amendment to the Russian Constitution lengthened the presidential term from four to six years and lengthened the congressional term from four to five years. Opposition parties in Russia were unable to prevent the signing of the amendment or to gain the year long discussion of the amendment that they felt was required by law. Russian Opposition Parties significantly sighted the lack of a constitutional court like the U.S. Supreme Court as one obstacle to fairly abiding by the laws of government and further allowing the Russian President power over the Russian parliament and government. (Chap. 31 Art)

Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1113655.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6584481.stm
http://www.answers.com/topic/constitution-of-1993
http://www.answers.com/topic/referendum-of-april-1993
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/30/AR2008123000839.html
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/reflections/reflect-exhibit.html

On Patrick Buchanan’s ‘America Held Captive to Utopian Ideology’

A stronger environmental focus and limitations on oil well drilling and nuclear power are not an impediment to economic progress ,but rather a sign of progress. The U.S. desperately needs to transitions to alternative energy sources to wean the country off of fossil fuels and provide sources of power that neither place the U.S. at the mercy of Middle Eastern foreign policy or pollute the environment in which people live. It is important to note that China’s Three Gorges Dam “the largest power source on earth” produces energy using hydroelectric power, a renewable resource that creates minimal amounts of waste and Carbon Dioxide Gas emissions.
Buchannan’s claims that the U.S. “cannot defend her borders are simply unfounded. Antiterrorism measures have made U.S. borders even more tightly controlled and have caused tension between the U.S. and people from other nations because of that strict, overbearing control. If Mr. Buchanan is alluding to ‘illegal’ Mexican immigration, then perhaps he should touch on poor immigration laws and an unwillingness of many American to accept the Mexican immigrants working and living inside the U.S. as contributing members of society who deserve to be recognized as such under the rule of law. While it is founded that the U.S.’ s ‘War on Terror’ has put the U.S. in a situation where it cannot decisively ‘win’ the war and has caused the U.S. to take on large debt, the invasion of Afghanistan was an act of retaliation in the aftermath of September 11 and the U.S. invasion of Iraq was motivated by U.S. oil interests. If Mr. Buchanan would like to criticize anything it should be the U.S.’s dependence on oil and Americans reluctance to quickly and progressively adopt alternative, renewable energy sources rather than to allow further oil and natural gas drilling.(Chap. 31- In-Class Response)

Caddell's Return from the Bush (1945)

In this painting one is called to see the desolation of war and also a primitive almost animalistic depiction of man through the depiction of natives. There is something eerie about the man looking out over the empty land perhaps the sticks are the remains of his village. The dark colors in the sky are foreboding. The viewer wonders, “Will the man take revenge?” One sees most in this work the empty desolation of the world. There is a strong sense of loss, in the space and emptiness of the work. The depiction in its colors presents a kind of grief-stricken desolation that echoes the desolation of war. The viewer can almost become lost in the work, seeing not what the man pointing is seeing ,but what the man standing silently looking out over empty space and desolation sees in the destruction of his world. The man ape-like gnawing on a stick in the foreground suggests the primitiveness of the people and of the scene. The viewer almost cannot help becoming one with the primitive man and the man silently contemplating the destruction, desolation, and nature (represented by the mountains and sky in the background) of his world.(Chap. 29-Art)

George Grosz’s Hitler in Hell

In this work one can see the skeleton’s piled up beneath Hitler in the foreground. On the right there is a decaying body and around Hitler in the background is what looks like a kind of cloud or river of red. Hitler is holding a sponge to his own head perhaps where he shot himself. Ironically Hitler does not appear tortured in death. The painting suggests Hitler’s responsibility for death and shows his own final punishment as death. In a sense it seems as if much death has been ended by Hitler’s death. Yet there is no revenge in the after life, not torturous punishment, only many many skeletons and the decaying body of Hitler beside the decaying body of an unnamed man. In this way there is created a kind of insignificance in Hitler’s death as he sits besides a nameless man and is surrounded by skeletons. Hitler appears almost to have a headache as he sits eternally surrounded by death. (Chap. 29 Art)

Nuremburg Trials: Fair?

As a student, I often find myself confused by the Nuremburg Trials. Hitler committed heinous acts in his treatment of the jews during World War II ,but at the same time Stalin killed huge numbers of his own people and yet because the U.S. and the U.K. were allied with Stalin in World War II there were no war crime trials against Stalin. I often feel conflicted and find it hard to view the trials as fair and objective yet at the same time recognize the horrors and atrocities committed by Hitler's Regime.

Jean Renoir: Anti-War Sentiment in Europe

Jean Renoir, brother of renowned painter, Pierre Renoir, directed La Grand Illusion. La Grande Illusion was released in 1937 and recounted events of World War I, in its own way La Grande Illusion is comparable to Charles Lindbergh’s America First anti-war campaign because of its more critical view of war. Renoir’s later film, The Rules of the Game, even includes a Charles Lindbergh like character. La Grand Illusion is valuable as a film because it presents a European perspective of war and does it as a first-rate film of its day. In The Rules of the Game Renoir juxtaposes the life of the French aristocracy with that of France. Renoir’s work is significant for its quality as a film of its day and for its European perspective of France and Europe shortly before and at the outbreak of World War II. It’s also interesting to note that La Grand Illusion was condemned by the Nazis for its anti-war sentiment. Jean Renoir in many ways appears very much like a European Hitchcock. (Chap.29 Art/Media)

For more information see:
-An introduction by Jean Renoir to La Grand Illusion(1937)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l63xhUUZOH8

-The first part of The Rules of the Game(1939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeRihuggakw

Sources:
http://www.filmsite.org/warfilms.html
http://ideonexus.com/2004/12/12/la-grande-illusion/

On Views and Reviews: Soviet Political Posters and Cartoons (Fleming Museum)

This special exhibit of Soviet Political Posters and Cartoons depicts the rise of Lenin, Trotsky, Brezniev, and Stalin in Russia using Russian propaganda. The exhibit uses these images to link Western Society during World War II with the development of Communism in Russia and the industrialization of modern nations. In one image, Stalin is surrounded by admiring onlookers while the West and Capitalism are depicted as a monster hiding behind the mask of a woman’s face. David Winton, the exhibit creator, skillfully uses art to depict the communists’ struggle to gain power and to show a dual image of Stalin. Stalin appears as a man who led his country to become an industrialized nation and world power while the modern viewer is aware of the deaths, brutality, and strict control of opposition leaders by the KGB that suppressed Russian people.
At the same time the exhibit calls the viewer to examine Western Society and Capitalist economies more closely. The exhibit displays the image above, showing the Allied Powers alliance against Hitler, only perhaps to leave an equally tyrannous leader in power. The economic depression in the U.S. and Allied Powers (WWI) treatment of Germany are shown as key factors leading to World War II. Other works show U.S. Big Business owners crushing helpless civilians beneath their feet. The exhibit concludes with a poster showing Stalin raising his hand in the air, in the background machines and industry rise up.
The exhibit ultimately calls the viewer to reevaluate the idea of progress and the hypocrisies underlying Western Society, while simultaneously revealing the failure and duality of Russian society during Stalin’s Regime. If the viewer takes anything from this display it must surely be an eerie reminder of Stalin’s treatment of the Russian people and Russia’s relationship to the West post WWII; Causing the viewer to realize the role of Western Society in WWII and the way Capitalist societies overcame and dealt with the same ills of industrialization.
(Chap.29- Rise of Dictatorships Connection Across Time)

On Thought, Auguste Rodin and The Thinker

Although Aguste Rodin was working in the late 1800s and early 1900s, his statue, The Thinker was still popular and reproduced in the 1920s. Ironically titled the thinker, the man depicted appears to the modern viewer to be man and animal. This animalistic view of man would be an important part of WWI and WWII. The Thinker also seems to be a part of the rock he sits upon. This may also present man’s integral existence with nature. Rodin’s very choice to depict a ‘thinker’ suggests the many changes in thought just beginning with the ideas of Nietzsche. These ideas would evolve and become more important with the advent of World War. Today, the thinker still seems to captivate the viewer and calling one to think about human nature and existence.(Chap. 28 Age of Anxiety)

Luibov Popova & Constructivism: Earth in Turmoil (1923)

In many ways developments of new artistic styles can be compared to new developments in thought and understanding. In Russian artist Liubov Popova’s work the use of industrial settings and the ‘manufactured’ look of her work reflects Russia’s move towards industrialization. Its standard look and Popova’s own acceptance as a significant artist who also was a women shows gender equality.
This particular photomontage provides insights into Russian thinking and events happening at the time it was created. On the far left there is a military or industrial worker standing on a red platform. Just above his head is a red flag with the communist star on it. On the bottom right there is a picture of a soldier with a mask over his face. In the center of the montage there is a pilot looking down at the X-d out image of four leaders or possibly former Russian war heroes. In the lower right hand corner there is a picture of an automobile. All these figures and images are surrounded by the beams and cranes of industry. In 1922, just a year before this image was created, Lenin suffered a stroke putting Stalin in charge of Russia’s new Communist government. The contrast between the X-d out men in the center and the industrial setting suggests the end of old Russia and anticipates Stalin’s aggressive move towards industrialization. This work also suggests the standardization of Russian life in a Communist Totalitarian Dictatorship. (Chap. 28 Age of Anxiety)

Salvador Dali: Portrait of My Sister(1923)

New emphasis on shapes and form and the development of abstract and free form art may also be an important indication of the rejection of conventional ideas and skepticism surrounding World War. In this painting Dali seems to be using art elements similar to that of Picasso. The painting creates a double image where the face of the young girl melts into the image of a nun with disproportionately large hands.The background is dark and grey with muted tones. The colors and change between light and dark subtly create form and shape. Dali may be using the painting to refer to the sexuality of his sister and the books may refer to a more intellectual nature.(Chap. 28)

Punk Rock, Existentialism and Nihilism

The development of existentialist thought and rejection of God and reason is an important hallmark in the development of thought and philosophy in the Western World that still affects society through people’s perceptions of life. Thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche laid the groundwork for existentialist thought with philosophies that rejected conventional ideas of God, reason, progress, and embraced the meaninglessness of life. These existentialist philosophies valued the individual and self realization over religious or conventional philosophical questions about the meaning of life. Existentialism is similar to the philosophy of Nihilism in its pessimistic world view. Existentialism and nihilism can be seen in literature, music, surrounding and post World War II.
Nihilist and Existentialist thought are similar in that they view life as essentially meaningless in an arbitrary, hostile world. Existentialists ,however, think that the actions of the individual can create meaning whereas nihilists do not believe meaning can be created through the actions of the individual. It is also important to note that existentialism rejected only the conventional morality and rational of its time whereas nihilism is characterized by the “total rejection of law” (Random House 1300) as well as conventional morality and reason. For example, artwork of Cezanne is considered “existentialist” while the conduct of Hitler during WWII might be described as nihilist.
More recently, the evolution of punk rock music espouses some nihilist and existentialist ideas, generally in a view of life as meaningless. It is also known that a small sect of punk rock developed into a kind of Neo-Nazi punk. The Sex Pistols use nihilist thought in their view of life as meaningless and in their rejection of law and authority. Elements of nihilist and existentialist philosophy can be found in the lyrics of mainstream punk rock groups like Green Day and Blink 182. Blink 182’s song Here’s Your Letter and Shut Up, speak of “life that’s lost all meaning” and “[a] life meaningless .. going nowhere” that(in this song)spurs the lyricist to act. The general ideas and elements of existentialism and nihilism stemming from WWII can be found throughout society, literature and music today. (Age of Anxiety Chap.28- Connection Across Time)

http://web.mit.edu/ducktape/www/nihilism.html http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/415081/nihilism
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/119735 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1568

Mustard Gas: Curse or Cure

Technological advances made during World War I would have a drastic effect on the world at large. The use of chemical warfare, in particular, would have a significant effect on people and on their natural environment. Mustard Gas, first developed by the Germans and used in WWI as a weapon against Allied troops left many dead. Today, a slightly altered form of mustard gas is used in chemotherapy. Ironically, a carcinogen and former weapon may save some cancer patient’s lives.

King Kong & World War I

‘King Kong’ is a favorite of many Americans and a cultural icon yet ‘King Kong’s’ connection to WWI may be less well known, or misunderstood by many Americans. Merian C. Cooper, a former pilot in WWI co directed the original 1933 film version of ‘King Kong.’ In the film, the planes used to fight King Kong are WWI planes. The gorilla in King Kong also closely resembles the gorilla in used in a WWI propaganda poster. The poster depicts a giant gorilla, representing Germany, holding a struggling woman representing Europe, and urges American men to join the army to “Destroy this mad brute.”
In King Kong it appears that Cooper is making a similar allusion to Germany only he seems to be more specifically alluding to Germany and Russia. The female lead, Ann, is described by a jungle chief as “the beautiful golden woman!”(Imdb 1) The Golden Woman of Ugra is a Russian myth. The male lead’s final words, “It wasn’t airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.”(Imdb 1) suggests that it was not the Allied forces attacks on Germany and technological superiority that ended World War I ,but Germany’s decision to invade Russia (the golden woman).
The release of ‘King Kong’ on March 4, 1933 also coincided with Hitler’s rise to power from 1932-1933. Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. This makes lead male character Denham’s anger at Kong all the more interesting when he says of Kong, “He’s always been king of his world. But we’ll teach him fear!”(Imdb1) These words may show the feelings of some Americans towards Germany at the time or perhaps just Cooper’s and Hollywood’s way of urging Americans to war against Germany. However, Kong creates a direct link to Americans bitter feelings towards Germany over WWI and shows Americans’ disillusionment with Germany leading up to WWII.
Another interesting thing to note about ‘King Kong’ and WWI is the 2005 remake of ‘King Kong’ directed by Peter Jackson. Jackson is a WWI enthusiast and his short film ‘Crossing the Line’ released in 2007 also deals with the conflict of WWI. Jackson may come out with a full length movie about WWI and yet another epic movie and new take on WWI to look forward to.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024216/synopsis
http://flagspot.net/flags/pl_tem18.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Captain+Merian+C.+Cooper&start=10&sa=N
http://ascalecanadian.blogspot.com/2007/10/peter-jacksons.html
http://www.world-mysteries.com/pstonehill_1.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERchron.htm

Pan-Germanism & Liberte

The images of Pan-Germanism and the French Liberty bear a striking resemblance and show nationalist fervor at the time. It is interesting that both show the state as a woman and as conquering. Both also seem to hearken back in their depictions to the ancient Greeks or Romans in a goddess like depiction of the state and of liberty. The weapons show the fight to create, protect and maintain nationalism while the scroll seems to symbolize new French principles and the German flag shows nationalism. These two pictures are strikingly similar depictions of nationalism and revolutionary fervor.The image of the Statue of Liberty also shows America's connection to Europe and European Nationalism.

Alliances and Harry Potter

The Triple Entente, the Triple Alliance, the Dual Entente, the League of 3 Emperors; All are complicated political agreements that seemed to ally nations based on the politics of the moment yet, ultimately set the stage for World War I. I often find myself confused by these agreements. However, it is these very alliances that seem so crucially important in establishing the cause and the outcome of World War I. As a student, I find descriptions of World War I and World War II in American history often seem somewhat lacking because they only superficially examine the crucial element of European politics that led to World War. As an American, I find myself feeling distinctly isolated from modern European culture yet at the same time inevitably linked to it both historically through the settling of the American colonies and also in modern culture and literature. Today, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter seems to allude to World War I with Dumbledore's flicking on and off of the lights near Harry's house like the "Lamps . . going out," in World War I. World War I and World War II clearly had an important effect on world politics and power that ultimately helped volt the U.S. to becoming a superpower and led to the world as we know it today. These are just a few ways the political maneuvering leading to World War I had a greater affect on the modern world than at first seems apparent and calls one to examine how the unique dynamics of European politics inevitably affected America and still plays a crucial role in America today.

Image: http://static.zooomr.com/images/8431028_8e510e94b7.jpg