Changes

Reagan’s life included many failures.  He was a struggling Hollywood actor who spent some time running the union of actors, or Actors Guild.  When he was in charge of that union the communists attempted, with some success, to infiltrate Hollywood.  Reagan resisted this infiltration, and the communists threatened and attempted to intimidate him.  He would receive frightening phone calls in the middle of the night.  For the rest of his life Reagan devoted his time to defending freedom and opposing communism.  As governor of California he surprised scientists by personally visiting the Lawrence Livermore Lab, which was and is a premier military research center.  When Reagan became president, he gave a speech on national television in 1983 to announce his plan for America to build a new missile defense system to shoot down any nuclear attack.

Reagan’s life included many failures.  He was a struggling Hollywood actor who spent some time running the union of actors, or Actors Guild.  When he was in charge of that union the communists attempted, with some success, to infiltrate Hollywood.  Reagan resisted this infiltration, and the communists threatened and attempted to intimidate him.  He would receive frightening phone calls in the middle of the night.  For the rest of his life Reagan devoted his time to defending freedom and opposing communism.  As governor of California he surprised scientists by personally visiting the Lawrence Livermore Lab, which was and is a premier military research center.  When Reagan became president, he gave a speech on national television in 1983 to announce his plan for America to build a new missile defense system to shoot down any nuclear attack.

His critics, including most scientists, ridiculed SDI as impossible and dangerous.  But those criticisms contradicted each other, and it was precisely because SDI might be possible that it was so influential.  The Soviet Union, then led by Mikhail Gorbachev, panicked.  Gorbachev met with Reagan at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1986 in which Gorbachev promised almost anything if Reagan would agree to drop SDI.  The media pressure was intense for Reagan to agree.  But Reagan stood up for America, and he said “no deal.”  The next year Reagan made a trip to the Berlin Wall, against the recommendation of his advisors, and declared to the world, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”  Two years later the Germans did exactly that, and tore down the Berlin Wall built by the communists.  Although Reagan and Gorbachev did sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, which banned missiles with ranges of 300 to 3,400 miles, the historic decision was Reagan’s refusal to sign a treaty at Reykjavik giving up SDI.  Communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union would soon be vanquished.

His critics, including most scientists, ridiculed SDI as impossible and dangerous.  But those criticisms contradicted each other, and it was precisely because SDI might be possible that it was so influential.  The Soviet Union, then led by Mikhail Gorbachev, panicked.  Gorbachev met with Reagan at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1986 in which Gorbachev promised almost anything if Reagan would agree to drop SDI.  The media pressure was intense for Reagan to agree.  But Reagan stood up for America, and he said “no deal.”  The next year Reagan made a trip to the Berlin Wall, against the recommendation of his advisers, and declared to the world, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”  Two years later the Germans did exactly that, and tore down the Berlin Wall built by the communists.  Although Reagan and Gorbachev did sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, which banned missiles with ranges of 300 to 3,400 miles, the historic decision was Reagan’s refusal to sign a treaty at Reykjavik giving up SDI.  Communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union would soon be vanquished.

== III. Independence Movements in the 20th Century ==

== III. Independence Movements in the 20th Century ==

The Boers fought the native Africans (Bantu tribes such as the Zulus) during the Great Trek of the Boers.  The Boers founded two inland republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.  But the British were more powerful, and controlled wealthy diamond mines.  The Brit Cecil Rhodes acquired great wealth through his monopoly of the diamond production in 1889, and he served as prime minister of the British Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896.

The Boers fought the native Africans (Bantu tribes such as the Zulus) during the Great Trek of the Boers.  The Boers founded two inland republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.  But the British were more powerful, and controlled wealthy diamond mines.  The Brit Cecil Rhodes acquired great wealth through his monopoly of the diamond production in 1889, and he served as prime minister of the British Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896.

A Boer War ensued from 1899 to 1902, and afterwards it was the Boers (the Dutch) who established “apartheid”.  Apartheid segregated the majority blacks from the minority whites in South Africa, with the white minority controlling the country.

A Boer War ensued from 1899 to 1902, and afterward it was the Boers (the Dutch) who established “apartheid”.  Apartheid segregated the majority blacks from the minority whites in South Africa, with the white minority controlling the country.

The British granted South Africa independence in 1910, and it became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1931 with its constitution allowing white rule over the blacks.  But the country was prosperous, and all enjoyed a higher standard of living than the remainder of Africa.

The British granted South Africa independence in 1910, and it became a member of the British Commonwealth in 1931 with its constitution allowing white rule over the blacks.  But the country was prosperous, and all enjoyed a higher standard of living than the remainder of Africa.

This new uniform included a blue U.N. cap and a U.N. armband or patch sewn on one shoulder and a blue U.N. beret, in addition to an ordinary United States army outfit.  New reported for his formation without these U.N. uniform features, and he was removed by his superiors and eventually court-martialed for disobedience under 10 U.S.C. § 892(2) (any person who, “having knowledge of any ... lawful order issued by a member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order ... shall be punished as a court-martial may direct”).  Soldier New argued in his defense that the order was unlawful and unconstitutional.  Specifically, U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 9 prohibits any person’s acceptance of any emolument from a foreign state without congressional consent.  New also argued that the entire deployment as part of a United Nations force was unlawful.  

This new uniform included a blue U.N. cap and a U.N. armband or patch sewn on one shoulder and a blue U.N. beret, in addition to an ordinary United States army outfit.  New reported for his formation without these U.N. uniform features, and he was removed by his superiors and eventually court-martialed for disobedience under 10 U.S.C. § 892(2) (any person who, “having knowledge of any ... lawful order issued by a member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order ... shall be punished as a court-martial may direct”).  Soldier New argued in his defense that the order was unlawful and unconstitutional.  Specifically, U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 9 prohibits any person’s acceptance of any emolument from a foreign state without congressional consent.  New also argued that the entire deployment as part of a United Nations force was unlawful.  

The military judge and American courts all rejected New’s arguments and held that the legality of the deployment was a nonjusticiable political question that could not be handled by a judge.  Soldier New received a bad-conduct discharge.  New has continued to challenge this in the court system.

The military judge and American courts all rejected New’s arguments and held that the legality of the deployment was a "non-justiciable" political question that could not be handled by a judge, and which should be better handled by a political branch of government.  Soldier New received a bad-conduct discharge.  New has continued to challenge this in the court system.

=== H. China ===

=== H. China ===

In another large Latin American nation, Argentina, the military has long controlled the government.  The most popular military ruler was Colonel Juan Peron, who was elected in 1946.  He became known for his “popular dictatorship.”  His wife, Eva Peron, was even more popular for her tremendous charisma.  Peron ruled for over a decade, and brought industrialization and working class values to the nation.  He limited foreign ownership.  But critics felt Peron infringed too much on civil liberties.  He was deposed in 1955 but came back briefly in the 1970s.  In 1982, the military rulers of Argentina attempted to take the Falkland Islands, which are located off its shores in the Atlantic Ocean, from the British.  The British fought back with the help of American intelligence and regained control of the islands.

In another large Latin American nation, Argentina, the military has long controlled the government.  The most popular military ruler was Colonel Juan Peron, who was elected in 1946.  He became known for his “popular dictatorship.”  His wife, Eva Peron, was even more popular for her tremendous charisma.  Peron ruled for over a decade, and brought industrialization and working class values to the nation.  He limited foreign ownership.  But critics felt Peron infringed too much on civil liberties.  He was deposed in 1955 but came back briefly in the 1970s.  In 1982, the military rulers of Argentina attempted to take the Falkland Islands, which are located off its shores in the Atlantic Ocean, from the British.  The British fought back with the help of American intelligence and regained control of the islands.

[[Category:History]]

[[Category:History]]

[[Category:World History lectures]]

[[Category:World History lectures]]