Changes

Southeast Asia has a large population, and after World War II the region was vulnerable to a spread of communism from the Soviet Union and China.  An independence movement beginning in the 1930s caused the French to leave, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist who received aid from the communists.  The French imposed a death sentence on Ho Chi Minh; however, he fled to avoid this sentence.  When he returned in 1941, he founded “Vietminh”, with the name reflecting that he intended to rule as a dictator.  Japan interrupted his plan by taking control of the region during World War II, but in 1945 the Vietminh defeated the Japanese.  That demonstrated how tough the Vietnamese fighters were, as not even China could beat the Japanese.  Ho Chi Minh then declared the independence of a new Democratic Republic of Vietnam, a huge communist country that has 84 million people today.

Southeast Asia has a large population, and after World War II the region was vulnerable to a spread of communism from the Soviet Union and China.  An independence movement beginning in the 1930s caused the French to leave, and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh was a nationalist who received aid from the communists.  The French imposed a death sentence on Ho Chi Minh; however, he fled to avoid this sentence.  When he returned in 1941, he founded “Vietminh”, with the name reflecting that he intended to rule as a dictator.  Japan interrupted his plan by taking control of the region during World War II, but in 1945 the Vietminh defeated the Japanese.  That demonstrated how tough the Vietnamese fighters were, as not even China could beat the Japanese.  Ho Chi Minh then declared the independence of a new Democratic Republic of Vietnam, a huge communist country that has 84 million people today.

The French tried unsuccessfully to regain control of Vietnam after World War II.  In 1954, the communist Vietnamese nationalists defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu and the French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh.  The French then agreed to divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel.<ref>The term “parallel” in terms of geography means the same as “degrees of latitude.”</ref> as part of the Geneva Conference.  North Vietnam would be communist under Ho Chi Minh, while South Vietnam would be free under Ngo Dinh Diem.

The French tried unsuccessfully to regain control of Vietnam after World War II.  In 1954, the communist Vietnamese nationalists defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu and the French surrendered to Ho Chi Minh.  The French then agreed to divide Vietnam at the 17th parallel,<ref>The term “parallel” in terms of geography means the same as “degrees of latitude.”</ref> as part of the Geneva Conference.  North Vietnam would be communist under Ho Chi Minh, while South Vietnam would be free under Ngo Dinh Diem.

Ho Chi Minh was popular in both North and South Vietnam, and gave away land to people to boost his popularity.  Ngo Dinh Diem was unpopular, and the United States feared that an election in the South might choose Ho Chi Minh’s communists.  So elections were postponed, but the conditions worsened.  The Vietcong, who were communist guerrillas in the South, formed and began causing problems in the early 1960s.  In 1963, South Vietnamese generals who enjoyed United States support took over South Vietnam and assassinated Ngo Dinh Diem.

Ho Chi Minh was popular in both North and South Vietnam, and gave away land to people to boost his popularity.  Ngo Dinh Diem was unpopular, and the United States feared that an election in the South might choose Ho Chi Minh’s communists.  So elections were postponed, but the conditions worsened.  The Vietcong, who were communist guerrillas in the South, formed and began causing problems in the early 1960s.  In 1963, South Vietnamese generals who enjoyed United States support took over South Vietnam and assassinated Ngo Dinh Diem.

There was increasing pressure worldwide for South Africa to end its racism.  Its athletes were banned from the Olympics since the 1960s, and trade restrictions were imposed by other nations.  A black South African bishop, Desmond Tutu, called for boycotts of his own nation.

There was increasing pressure worldwide for South Africa to end its racism.  Its athletes were banned from the Olympics since the 1960s, and trade restrictions were imposed by other nations.  A black South African bishop, Desmond Tutu, called for boycotts of his own nation.

Finally, in 1989, a new South African president named F.W. de Klerk was elected. He would change the country.  With international approval, de Klerk legalized the ANC, released Nelson Mandela from jail, and obtained repeal of apartheid laws, and agreed to fully democratic elections in 1994.  Nelson Mandela then won those elections and the ANC won a majority in the National Assembly, the bigger house in the South African Parliament.  A new constitution containing a bill of rights like that in the United States was adopted in 1996, though it also included entitlement and social rights.  The world fully accepts South Africa now, and it will host the World Cup (soccer) in 2010.  But while the outside world accepts South Africa, the country has been hurt by a mass exodus based on a fear of crime and opposition to race-based hiring rules.  "We as a nation cannot afford to lose skilled and hard-working citizens of whatever hue," declared one South African candidate for high office in 2006. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5412892.stm</ref>

Finally, in 1989, a new South African president named F.W. de Klerk was elected. He would change the country.  With international approval, de Klerk legalized the ANC, released Nelson Mandela from jail, and obtained repeal of apartheid laws, and agreed to fully democratic elections in 1994.  Nelson Mandela then won those elections and the ANC won a majority in the National Assembly, the bigger house in the South African Parliament.  A new constitution containing a bill of rights like that in the United States was adopted in 1996, though it also included entitlement and social rights.  The world fully accepts South Africa now, and it will host the World Cup (soccer) in 2010.  But while the outside world accepts South Africa, the country has been hurt by a mass exodus based on a fear of crime and opposition to race-based hiring rules.  "We as a nation cannot afford to lose skilled and hard-working citizens of whatever hue," declared one South African candidate for high office in 2006.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5412892.stm</ref>

==== British, French and Italian colony - Somalia ====

==== British, French and Italian colony - Somalia ====

Hungary, the same country that attempted to overthrow communism in 1956, immediately followed Poland’s lead.  In October 1989, opponents of the Communist Party took it over and dissolved it.  A new constitution allowed for national elections in 1990, and the people defeated the communists in power.  Hungary embraced some free enterprise and started a stock market.  But like much of Eastern Europe, socialists remained powerful and in 1994 they crept back into power and raised taxes.  Today Hungary is a mixture of socialism and free enterprise.

Hungary, the same country that attempted to overthrow communism in 1956, immediately followed Poland’s lead.  In October 1989, opponents of the Communist Party took it over and dissolved it.  A new constitution allowed for national elections in 1990, and the people defeated the communists in power.  Hungary embraced some free enterprise and started a stock market.  But like much of Eastern Europe, socialists remained powerful and in 1994 they crept back into power and raised taxes.  Today Hungary is a mixture of socialism and free enterprise.

Hungary helped end communism in East Germany, which was the most brutal of the communist regimes.  Hungary opened its border to allow East Germans to emigrate into Austria, from where they could escape entire.  As East Germans began to leave in droves, the communist leader Erich Honecker closed the border.  But demonstrations broke out in October 1989, which not even the ruthless Honecker could control.  He resigned and his successor, Egon Krenz, reacted by opening the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989.  East Germans then poured into West Berlin and tore down the wall entirely.  By the end of the year communist was defeated in East Germany, and within a year it was reunited with West Germany to form one nation of Germany under West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.  Germans expect that it will take an entire generation (30-40 years) to bring the formerly communist section up to the level of the free West Germany.

Hungary helped end communism in East Germany, which was the most brutal of the communist regimes.  Hungary opened its border to allow East Germans to emigrate into Austria, from where they could escape entirely.  As East Germans began to leave in droves, the communist leader Erich Honecker closed the border.  But demonstrations broke out in October 1989, which not even the ruthless Honecker could control.  He resigned and his successor, Egon Krenz, reacted by opening the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989.  East Germans then poured into West Berlin and tore down the wall entirely.  By the end of the year communism was defeated in East Germany, and within a year it was reunited with West Germany to form one nation of Germany under West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.  Germans expect that it will take an entire generation (30-40 years) to bring the formerly communist section up to the level of the free West Germany.

Other Eastern European countries then wanted the same freedom from communism.  In Czechoslovakia, demonstrations forced the Communist Party leader Milos Jakes to resign in November 1989, and he was replaced by Vaclav Havel.  In 1993, the country split along ethnic lines to form Slovakia and the Czech Republic, caused in part by economic difficulties in the conversion from communism to free enterprise.

Other Eastern European countries then wanted the same freedom from communism.  In Czechoslovakia, demonstrations forced the Communist Party leader Milos Jakes to resign in November 1989, and he was replaced by Vaclav Havel.  In 1993, the country split along ethnic lines to form Slovakia and the Czech Republic, caused in part by economic difficulties in the conversion from communism to free enterprise.