SS12 - World History, CSS, Melnyk

You have now read about the Paris Peace Conference. In a short period of time, five treaties were drawn up and the map of Europe was redrawn. Territories around the globe were apportioned as if they were the winnings after a poker game. The goal of the conference was to bring about resolution, yet many countries were left feeling bitter. 

Nationalism was growing during this time period. People throughout Europe thought their own race was best and their own country was the best. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the belief in progress and in white superiority was taken for granted throughout the Western world. There were Blackshirts throughout Europe, even Allied countries, and they included both men and women. See the picture below of two Blackshirt women from Britain. Your purpose here is to investigate this situation by putting yourself in the shoes of a young person who was swept up in the fervor and thinking of that time. 

You will create a character who lived through the events in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s. 

Choose from one of the following situations where your character is:

• a Blackshirt who took part in the March on Rome
• a German woman in the Ruhr Valley when the French occupied it
• a Brownshirt active at the Beer Hall Putsch in Germany

Step A:

You will begin by creating a character profile for a European born in 1900. You will provide at least one sketch or photograph of your character. In addition, you will research then write the character’s backstory. You must provide a birthplace, family, and upbringing. You will make clear the events that led to your character joining a political movement. Your character must provide reasons for her or his behavior. You can make up your character and/or base it on facts you find on the internet. 

Step B:

You will then provide an account of the event listed from your character’s point of view. Provide a reason for the account; it can be a letter, journal entry, etc. Perhaps your character was arrested and/or is telling a friend what happened. The account must be based on historical facts and should provide details as to people and places involved. Be aware that your character provides a limited and biased point of view. Your character may not be aware of everything that happened. The account that your character gives must be plausible, however.

Research other sources of information to help build your character. All sources must be cited in your bibliography including sources that are linked to from within the course.