October 24/25

Journal: Review for Europe Map Test.

Objective: Complete Europe Map Test.

Map Test
Fill out with the number or letter of the answer.

Numbers are countries.

Letters are Rivers, Mountains, Oceans, Cities, Peninsulas

10 and 52 do not have answers

Europe Today
As we have gone over, Europe is still shaped by languages and
religion.

European countries are typically divided by culture.

These divisions have shaped the borders of Europe and caused many
wars.
World Wars and Aftermath
To understand Europe today, it is important to understand the World
Wars.

World War One destroyed the old Empires of Europe, creating many
new countries while also causing problems.

Germany was left bitter, giving the room for Hitler to move in.
World Wars and Aftermath.
World War Two continues to shape Europe to this day.

Most of Eastern Europe ended up under rule of the Soviet Union,

continuing to impact their economies.

For example, the Baltic States- Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia are only free
of the Iron Curtain because the Soviet Union is gone.
Post-Cold War World
After Communism fell, Europe is a much different place.

Eastern Europe has been attempting to join Western European

economies, to recover from Communism.

One way to do this is to join the European Union.

European Union
The European Union is a joining of many European countries into a
multinational organization.

The main purpose of the EU is to take down trade barriers between

the countries.

One way this is done is by giving a common currency- the Euro.

European Union
Now, the European Union does have problems.

It is slow to change and difficult to work with. Countries have to

support each other.

Free migration between countries can cause problems with countries

that do not want migrants.
Leaving the EU
A large number of current events in Europe relate directly to the EU.

Brexit- What is this?

Britain wanting to leave, or exit, the EU. Was a very close vote in favor
of leaving.

Catalan Independence- What is this?

Catalonia, a region of Spain, wanting independence from Spain.
Other Current Events
Terrorism- Some European countries, like France, have just as many
issues as the United States.

Some Europeans tie this to the migrant rush- large numbers of

immigrants coming from North Africa and the Middle East.

These immigrants are fleeing war, but some argue that terrorists
sneak in with them.
Current Events Conclusion
The European Union is currently 27 nations. This could change, if
Britain leaves. Even if Scotland breaks off of the UK as well.

The largest trading partner of the EU is the United States- however,

this could change depending on political actions on either side.

Russia continues to be a threat in the East.

Brexit Activity
In the next class, we will do a mock debate over the Brexit vote.

The class will be split in half, each given an article and a political
cartoon. One side will support Brexit, the other be against it.

After reading the material given, questions will be put on the board
and the two groups will argue for their side. Calmly and without
insulting each other.