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This unit begins with a study of major problems in the world the today. Examples include government-produced famine in parts of Africa; political instability, poverty, and crushing national debt in Latin America; war and terrorism; the global consequences of destruction of natural resources; economic and cultural dislocations caused by technological change; the proliferation of nuclear weapons; and the struggle to defend human rights and democratic freedoms against governments that respect neither. Each problem will be examined to illustrate the relationships between current issues and their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts.
Today, the nations of the world are more closely tied than ever before. Economic events in one region, such as OPEC's decision to raise oil prices in the 1970s, affect people around the world. The debt crisis of the 1980s, for example, showed the interdependence of Third World debtor nations and creditor banks in developed nations. Rich and poor nations. The gap between rich and poor nations is growing. Although rich nations have provided aid and technical assistance to Third World nations, the developing nations face many obstacles in their drive to modernize. The population explosion, inflation, natural disasters, poor planning, and even government corruption have upset the development plans of many Third World nations. Some progress has been made in increasing food production. Researchers developed new high-yield crops as well as disease- and droughtresistant crops. The new crops resulted in the "Green Revolution," whereby farmers doubled or tripled the amount of food produced on the same amount of land.
A Brief Survey of World History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. (p. c80).
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Since the 1960s, many people have become concerned about the environment. The use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers as well as the wastes produced by factories have contributed to the problem of polluted air, water, and soil. Both developing and industrialized nations face the difficult decision of how to produce enough for their people while preventing the destruction of the environment. Many problems of the environment are linked to the world's energy needs. To meet their needs, nations are rapidly using up oil, coal, and wood&emdash;non-renewable energy sources. Today, scientists are looking at alternative energy sources such as solar, water, and nuclear power.
A Brief Survey of World History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. (p. c80).
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The postwar period has brought tremendous changes. Radio, television, and other forms of mass communication allow people from all parts of the globe to be in touch with one another. An information explosion and the growth of technology has led to the need for well-educated people in the workplace. Major social changes have occurred as more and more women work outside the home. As nations industrialize, more people live in urban areas. Social and economic changes have upset traditional ways of life in many nations and contributed to social problems such as crime, the breakdown of the family, and drug abuse. Today, people are searching for solutions and are seeking a balance between the ways of life that worked in the past and the needs of today's rapidly changing world.
A Brief Survey of World History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. (pp. c80-81).
HISTORY-SOCIAL SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARDS
10.11 Students analyze the integration of countries into the world economy and the information, technological, and communications revolutions (e.g., television, satellites, computers).
For additional information see the California Department of Education web site at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/histsocscistnd.pdf
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES CHECK THESE LINKS:
