Choose one of the texts (in the reading materials assigned this week ) and explain what is most significant about it – there is no wrong or right answer – the significance of the text is entirely yours to explore, judge and explain

1. How does the text you chose tie in with the events/transformations you have been learning about so far.
2. Does the text you read tie in with any events you have experienced or can relate to? Tell us how

Grammar & style rules:

• write at least 250 words, and break up your thoughts into paragraphs! One topic/argument per paragraph!
• remember to cite any sources you are using, and identify clearly which of the three assigned readings you are basing your essay on

This week’s material are two primary sources by two influential actors in world history. Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana to independence from Britain in 1957, and was its first president. Ernesto “Che” Guevara was an Argentinian revolutionary, who fought alongside Fidel Castro against foreign influence and capitalist excess on the island.

The last source is an article by Mark Gasiorowski in the International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Aug., 1987), pp. 261- 286, about the overthrow of the Iranian government in 1953, with significant US support.

All three sources build on the mood in the 1950’s. WW2 is over – but world peace is fragile, and notions about what independence means, and how it is to be achieved, and who gets to decide, are a big part of this.

Nkrumah-1965.pdf

This is the introduction to Kwame Nkrumah’s book : Neo-colonialism: the last stage of imperialism (1965) – technically it belongs in the next decade – but the ideas he discusses were germinating in the 1950’s – that’s why it is in this week’s readings.

social ideals of the rebel army guevara 1959.pdf

[if you are reading the graphic novel “Cuba My Revolution” – the novel and this primary source are connected!]

mossadeq overthrow 1953.pdf

[if you are reading Persepolis, this is a great secondary source (ie what historians call an analytic/explanatory article using a lot of primary sources as evidence) about the context that immediately precedes the time in which Persepolis happens, and explains a lot of what is related in the graphic novel. It is also an excellent example of a well-written, and well cited scholarly article}