South Africa’s Journey to Democracy Racial conflict and diversity was a major issue expressed in South Africa in the beginning 1900’s. When first under British and Dutch rule, Africa was almost fully segregated; the large African American community was unfairly treated compared to the small white minority. South Africa became an independent member of the British Commonwealth in 1931; however, this did not fix the racism. Whites were still given higher political titles, and blacks were denied many individual rights. Apartheid, a firm division between races, came into practice in 1948. This separated everything in South Africa, including schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and many public places. Homelands were set up for the African American community, because living among the white population was not allowed. Many African Americans protested the unfair treatment and racism towards their ethnicity. The African National Congress (ANC) was formed in 1912. This organization boycotted and held strikes banning the racial policies. Many of the members were imprisoned for the behavior against the government which included the influential Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela was the main leader of the revolutionaries in South Africa, putting his own life at risk for the sake of equal rights. He led many peaceful protests for 20 long years, including the Defiance Campaign and the Congress of People. But after many strikes and protests, Mandela, along with 150 other protestors, was put in prison. They were kept there for 27 years. 18 out of his 27 years of imprisonment were spent at Robins Island. He was given many opportunities to be released as long as he promised to stop his revolutions against the apartheid, however, he refused. In 1989, South Africa elected a new president by the name of F.W. de Klerk. He wanted to end the isolation in Africa, so he legalized the ANC and released Nelson Mandela from prison. The next 18 months were spent on rebuilding the South African Parliament. In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected president, but resigned in 1999. During this time, new laws were passed granting equal rights to all South African citizens. Nelson Mandela’s courage and promise for change is what makes him and great leader and a strong role model for many people. Currently, South Africa is opening up their economy and continuing to build their way to a strong democracy. In 2002, South Africa opened up their market to free trade to grow employment rate. As of now, they are a there tier system, similar to the United States, containing an independent judiciary. The legislative branch is invested in the Parliament, and the National Assembly is also active in the South African government. Laws are continuing to be made to ensure equal rights to all citizens of South Africa and stop the amount of racism expressed. No laws can be passed by just one branch of government; the policy needs to be revised by the other branches in order to be passed. South Africa’s long journey to a democracy shows their constant bravery and persistence to achieve equality.

Cold War by Allison Hickey and Hallie Banc

Ranking:
1. Cuban Missile Crisis
2. Vietnam War
3. Korean War
4. Berlin Airlift
5. Bay of Pigs
6. Chinese civil war
7. Invasion of Czechoslovakia
8. Civil War in Iran
9. Conflict in Hungary
10. Cultural revolution
11. Nicaragua civil war
12. Conflict in Afghanistan

Cuban Missile Crisis
Ranking: 1
Date: October 1962
Countries Involved: Cuba, United States, Soviet Union
Summary: Soviet Union installed nuclear missiles in Cuba 90 miles away from the United States coasts. Not only did this scare the people in the United States, but also worried people worldwide, that this would be the start of the Third World War. The tension continued to grow until the conflict was resolved.
Outcome: After 13 long days, the Soviet Union offered to remove the missiles from Cuban ground under one circumstance. The United States had to promise to never invade Cuba.
Why it is ranked? We ranked this as number one because the world sat on edge for 13 days waiting to see the outcome. If the missiles were launched, they feared the worst.

Vietnam War
Ranking: 2
Date: November 1, 1955 - April 30, 1975
Countries: North Vietnam, South Vietnam, United States, Soviet Union, Cambodia, Laos, France
Summary: The Vietnam War was a war when the nationalists wanted independence from France, so they asked the communists for help. The United States escalates its involvement in order to prevent another communist nation. However, the US removed their troops from the war because the war was unpopular in the US and they responded to the pressure of politics.
Outcome: Vietnam was divided into North Vietnam which was Communist, and South Vietnam which was Capitalist. Their government was set up and controlled by the French and the United States.
Why it is ranked? We ranked it second because many countries were involved and would be effected many different way depending on how the outcome of the war was.

Korean War
Ranking: 3
Date: June 25 1950 - July 27 1953
Countries Involved: North Korea, South Korea, United Nations, United States, Soviet Union, China
Summary: The UN sent international troops into Korea because North Korea had invaded South Korea. The Soviet Union provided North Korea with tanks, airplanes, and money to attempt to take over South Korea. This angered the United States.
Outcome: Korea was divided near the 38th parallel allowing Northern Korea to become communist and South Korea to become capitalist. The war was ended with US aid.
Why it is ranked? We ranked it third because many countries got involved and could not afford to to have all of Korea become either Capitalist or Communist.

Berlin Airlift
Ranking: 4
Date: 1948
Countries Involved: Berlin, United States, Soviet Union
Summary: The Soviet Union blockaded the French, British, and American zones of Berlin to cause the Western Powers to be left with only one option, to leave Berlin. Little did the know, the power of the United States was much stronger than they imagined. The US flew supplies and dropped them in West Berlin, forcing the Soviet Union to lift their now useless blockade.
Outcome: The United States outsmarted the Soviet Union by sending airplanes filled with supplies over West Berlin, and dropped it down into the blockaded city. This forced the Soviet Union to take down their blockade.
Why it is ranked? Because when Berlin was about to fall, the United States came in and showed the Soviet Union that they were still more powerful. This angered the Soviets and caused more tension.

Bay of Pigs Invasion
Ranking: 5
Date: April 17-19, 1961
Countries Involved: Cuba, United States
Summary: The Bay of Pigs was a military invasion of Anti-Castro Cubans which was unsuccessful. The US did not have as much air support as they thought, and Castro easily counter attacked and defeated them. This made the United States look incredibly weak.
Outcome: Castro's forces captured the US brigade members and kept them hostage for 20 months until the US negotiated a plan with Castro. This eventually led to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Why it is ranked? The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt by the US, still causing tension, however, only between 2 countries.

Chinese Civil War
Ranking: 6
Date: 1946-1950
Countries Involved: Nationalists China and Communist China, USSR, US
Summary: Mao Zedong was the leader of the Communist China and Jiang Jieshi was the leader of the Nationalist China. The United States sent up to 1.5 billion to the nationalist to be used to fight against the communists. The USSR also sent money to those communist china to be used to fight the nationalists. Nationalist economy was collapsing, so many deserted to communists.
Outcome: Communist take over main land China. The government of the Republic of China relocated to the Island of Taiwan. The combat ended, but no peace treaty was signed.
Why it is ranked? The civil war was a tense situation because both superpowers were fighting through the Chinese, however they never fought each other.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia
Ranking: 7
Date: 1968
Countries Involved: Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria
Summary: Czechoslovakia had attempted to free themselves from Soviet Union rule. They tried to express themselves, breaking soviet rules. However, the Warsaw Pact troops in Soviet Union stopped the rebellions and Czechoslovakia was back under Soviet Union control.
Outcome: The Soviet Union remained in Czechoslovakia until 1991 to prevent further outbreaks of rebellion. They signed a negotiation called the Moscow Protocol which promised to protect socialism in Czechoslovakia.
Why it is ranked? We ranked this 7 because this as not much of a fight because the Soviets quickly stifled the rebellions of escape. Also, this rebellion only affected mostly Soviets and Czechoslovakia.

Civil War in Iran
Ranking: 8
Date: 1978-1979
Countries Involved: Iran, United States
Summary: The United States put the shah in power to separate the Iranian church for state. However, the Iranians hated the idea of this separation so they fought until the shah was out of power and the religious leader was once again in charge of the government. Iran hated the US because they supported the shah in power.
Outcome: The religious leader ended up back in power. Also, church and state was not separated.
Why it is ranked? We ranked it 8 because nothing ended up changing, but they still went through a lot of fighting, and the church and state was not separated.

Conflict in Hungary
Ranking: 9
Date: 1956-1958
Countries Involved: Soviet Union, Hungary
Summary: The Hungarians had tried to break away from Soviet Union control. However, the Soviets came back into Hungary and reestablished their governments. the revolts and protests from the Hungarians were useless, and did not change anything.
Outcome: The revolts and protests did not change anything in Hungary. Soviet union still had total control.
Why it is ranked? We ranked this 9 because it did not really change anything, but it showed how unhappy the Hungarians were under Soviet Rule.

Cultural revolution
Ranking: 10
Date: 1966-1976
Countries involved: Communist China
Summary: Communist leader Mao began this revolution by getting high school and college students together and led a revolution. They planned to reconnect to old goals and create a society of peasant heroes. However the students became extremists and things became over the top.
Outcome: Mao had to distance himself from the revolution. Even though he started it, he realized that the violence was getting out of hand. Reforms were put in place but were all eventually banned.
Why we ranked it?: We thought this was not very tense because in only involved communist China and even though it was violent there was not much of an effect on the world.

Nicaragua Civil War
Ranking: 11
Date: 1979
Countries Involved: Nicaragua, United States
Summary: The communist rebels called the Sandinistas overthrew the Nicaraguan dictatorship. The first ever fair and free election was held for a new president of Nicaragua. The United States supported their Anti-Communist ways. However, this revolt seriously weakened their economy.
Outcome: After 10 years of fighting, the communists were taken out of power and Nicaragua became a democracy.
Why it is ranked? We ranked the Nicaragua Civil War 11 because it was a very small ripple that led up into the Cold War. However, the United States was still involved.

Conflict in Afghanistan
Ranking: 12
Date: 1989
Countries Involved: Afghanistan, Soviet Union
Summary: The Soviet Union withdrew their troops from Afghanistan, leaving them to fend for themselves. Many people thought that that government would collapse within 3 to 6 months, but it didn’t end up falling until much later. The Taliban continued to try and bring the new forming government down.
Outcome: The Afghan Najibullah Government collapsed. A new government was put in place, however there had continued to be inner fighting in Afghanistan.
Why it is ranked? We ranked it because this was also just a tiny rebellion that only contained 2 countries. It did not have a huge effect on many countries.