Connection Across Time - Chloe Marino

1980s-Present

In Chapter 30, German  politics was discussed  heavily as the reunification of East and West 

Germany occurred. Willy Brandt, the German Chancellor most well known for lessening tensions with East Germany, USSR and Poland through Ostpolitik. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and socialism was very popular throughout Germany at this time. This socialist regime continued until economic troubles of the late 1970s when Helmut Kohl of the Christian Democratic Union became Chancellor, marking a new regime of Conservatism and peace not only in Germany, but throughout Europe. Today German Chancellor Angela Merkel, also a  Christian Democrat is Chancellor. She continues Kohl's legacy spearheading the effort to evade financial crisis with the international economic issues of this era and creating European unity as a great power in the European Union.

1960s-1840s

During the era of unrest and the growing counter-culture movement of the 1960s factions of young people banned together in New Left movements based on a simple society based on updated Marxian ideals. One such group that advocated this through terror and violence was the Italian "Red Brigades." 120+ years prior the Red Shirts were key to the revolution that reunified Italy. They were led by Guiseppe Garibaldi who was known as "the Sword" of the revolution, fighting for Southern Italy's support. Although the Red Brigades had almost the complete opposite effect on Italy-objective to destabilize rather than unite-they both had similar feeling surrounding the efforts. 

3-2-1 - Chloe Marino

3 Things I Learned:

• The consumer revolution in the 1960s had a much greater impact on society than I previously presumed. 
• Protests similar to the ones that happened the US about Vietnam occurred around the world because of growing counterculture and social unrest.
• I learned what Glasnost and Perestroika were and how HUGE their impact was in Russia.

2 Things I Found Interesting:

• I loved learning about politics of this time and how much of an impact they had on how Europe is structured today, particularly Germany.
• I find it interesting that West German Chancellor Willy Brandt was the first western leader to get through to East Germany and the USSR. He was very powerful for being occupied by Allied forces.

1 Question I Still Have:

• If communism was so terrible for the people of the USSR and its satellite countries, why did the people put up with it for 65+ years?