Throughout the last half of the nineteenth century, there was mass immigration into the USA from America.To what extent did the USA provide these migrants with equality of opportunity and a better quality of life?

"Throughout the last half of the nineteenth century, there was mass immigration into the USA from Europe. To what extent did the USA provide these migrants with equality of opportunity and a better quality of life." In this essay I'm going to discuss the following: push and pull factors for immigration, what happened when immigrants first arrived and finally, what happened once they lived in the USA. Between 1850 and 1914 up to 40 million people left their home in Europe to live in America. It was an opportunity to start a new life. For most people, the two week journey was hard and most people travelled in the cheapest class which usually were in cramped conditions. The following push factors were partly responsible for the wave of immigration. Due to things like lack of opportunity in Europe, many immigrated. In Europe the upper classes owned the best land and houses and the upper-middle classes ran most businesses. Many poor or uneducated people found it hard to improve their situation. Overcrowding in Europe and a shortage of land meant that young children in large families could not expect to inherit much when their parents died meaning they would end up living in poverty. Most workers skilled and unskilled, found themselves unemployed by the end of the ninetieth century in Europe. Many people were persecuted in their own countries for either religious reasons or

  • Word count: 381
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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Why was there such a major crisis between the superpowers over Cuba in 1962?

Why was there such a major crisis between the superpowers over Cuba in 1962? When Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government he nationalised businesses in Cuba. Many of these were American. This angered the USA and provoked them to ban imports of Cuban sugar. As the USA would not buy the produce, Castro turned to the USSR to trade in return for oil and machinery. This made the alliance between Cuba and the USSR stronger. In America, Kennedy had become president. He was America's youngest ever president, making him look weak to international opponents. Kennedy allowed a group of rebels to invade Cuba in 1961. The rebels told the CIA that on arrival at the 'Bay of Pigs' in Cuba, many Cubans would join them but this didn't happen. When they arrived they were outnumbered and within three days were killed or arrested. The failure of this attack made the USA and especially Kennedy look vulnerable causing Khrushchev to believe that he could push Kennedy about. It also made Castro more popular. However, his failure at the Bay of Pigs made Kennedy more determined to stand up against the USSR in the future as he had been humiliated at both the Bay of Pigs and over the Berlin Wall. Now he was prepared to stand up to the USSR even if it meant risking nuclear war! Khruschchev decided that as Kennedy was so weak and could be pushed around he could place missiles on Cuba- just 90 miles

  • Word count: 380
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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Why was the USA so prosperous in the 1920's?

Why was the USA so prosperous in the 1920's? In the 1920's the USA became very prosperous; this is because of their trades and supplies to the other countries during World War 1. There are many other reasons why the USA got really wealth. A reason for the USA experiencing a 'boom' was because of the effects of World War 1. During World War 1 USA stayed in isolation so they were not in anyway. Since they were safe the immigrants came from all over Europe to stay in the USA. The USA also supplied raw materials to other countries to fight the war with; this gave them a lot of money. They gained prosperity from mass production. It increased the number of goods because it was quick and straightforward. Workers only did one job to each of the products so it was more efficient. Henry ford was the first to use this method on the model t cars. He boosted sales for other industries like leather therefore they made more money The prosperity cycle was then formed; this was when the increase of production, boosted the number of employers, which meant more money available to buy consumer goods. Since the prices were falling which increased a demand for goods causing the cycle to start again. Credit was allowed to people who did not have enough money to pay for the customer goods at that time. This was easier for people to do because they had time to save for the goods. This meant more

  • Word count: 335
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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Notes on Vietnam and Europe up to 1954

Vietnam to 1954 After Dien Bien Phu the colonial power (FR0) pulls out of Indochina * USA fears that the whole of Asia would fall to conference 1954 Geneva Conference * ceasefire * French withdrawal * Division of Vietnam at the 17th Parallel until elections o USA hinder these elections * The Vietminh establish a communist regime in the North * The South establishes an authoritarian government with USA backing The USA was becoming increasingly drawn into Asia to prevent communist gains German Re-Armament NATO strengthened W. German re-armed FDR recognised as a sovereign state USA encourages W. German rearmament * USA overseas the political and economic reconstruction of W. German Germany goes from enemy to ally European Defence Community A separate European army France allows for West German re-armament Treaty ensured that West German units would be strictly limited Western European Union Largely an extension of the 1947 Anglo French alliance Extended to Belgium, Holland & Luxemburg These five countries could work for their defence without the help of America 1948 Brussels Treaty 1954 it is decided to be called WEU * W. Germany & Italy join NATO May 1955: FDR join Safeguards put in place to appease France: * GB - 4 divisions on the continent * Germany not allowed to create nuclear or biological weapons * Supreme

  • Word count: 326
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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How far can the decline of Soviet power in Eastern Europe be blamed on the Solidarity movement?

How far can the decline of Soviet power in Eastern Europe be blamed on the Solidarity movement? I think that the Solidarity movement played a key role in the collapse of the Soviet Union, because it not only influenced the biggest country in the Eastern Block, (Poland which shared a long border with the USSR and previously served as a corridor for attack on the Soviet Union), it also managed to attain over 10 million members and supporters nationwide. Since the Solidarity movement or Solidarity itself was a trade union, it had great economic and social powers which it used to bring people together, organize strikes and protests which were aimed at promoting certain ideals or laws that the communist government banned or rejected. The movement was very successful at this, which was partially due to its large membership (10 million) and effective leadership under the former electrician Lech Walesa. Towards the final days of the Soviet Union, during the late 1980's, 99 percent of the seats in the Polish Parliament were held by Solidarity, this was clearly a blow to the Polish communists and proved that the Soviet Union was losing control of it's Eastern European neighbors. It also proved that the USSR was no longer willing to use any force, to enforce the Brezhnev doctrine (which meant that many other countries could freely change their governments and impose capitalist values

  • Word count: 316
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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Twisting - Poetry

Twisting, curling around your fingers. Pressed palm to palm, She screams in the dark. A kick into nowhere. A punch through the air. You hold her close once more, just once more. Chest to chest, you both shiver at night. Woman, blinded by cloth and tied at the wrist. A blackened hand reaches for her. Twists and curls her hair around its fingers. Just as you did, One cold winters night. Lips pressed against hers, you cherished that moment. But now you sit on a cold pew in an empty church. Your eyes fixed on the open casket. And a cold presence lurks, Over your shoulder As you remember. Her soft skin, lips and hair. Now you lean over her coffin. Twisting, curling her hair around your fingers. You place one more kiss upon her

  • Word count: 136
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: History
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