Introduction: Today we will start a new project. You will be constructing a timeline of the 20th century economic history of one country. It will be about the actual experiences of the people in these countries. But you will also learn about the economic ideas that caused different countries to adopt different economic systems (capitalist, command, and mixed), the conflicts between people within these countries over which system is best, and between people and governments of different countries as well. Click here to see the work of my former students on this project.
What do I have to do?
Choose your country: Start by reading about the economic experience of different countries in the 20th century here. Then choose one of the countries to be the subject of your project.
Research: Identify the events and dates of the events that you will use to tell the country's story. In doing so you will want to be sure that you do each of the following.
Describe the country's economy at the beginning of the 20th century.
Was it agrarian or industrial?
Was it capitalist, socialist, mixed, or feudal?
Was it rich or poor relative to other countries in the world?
Explain how the economy changed in the 20th century in response to the industrial revolution.
To what extent did the country industrialize?
Did it choose capitalism (markets), socialism (government control), or a mixed system?
To what extent was your country influenced by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War?
Explain how the economy of your country was impacted by decolonization.
Explain how recent globalization has impacted the economy of your country.
How did the end of the Cold War affect the economy of your country?
Have the people of your country benefited from globalization?
Has inequality increased or not in your country as a result of globalization?
Explain the impact that technology has had on the development of your country's economy.
Explain the experience of women in regard to the workplace in the 20th century.
To what extent and in what capacity did women participate in the paid workforce at the beginning of the 20th century?
To what extent did attitudes about women in the workplace change in the 20th century?
To what extent and in what capacity did women participate in the paid workforce at the end of the 20th century?
Begin your timeline: We will use Timeline JS to help you construct this timeline. I will help you get started with Timeline JS. Once you have the link for your page, please add it to this Google Doc.
Follow these guidelines
# of Dates: You must have at least 10 dates (you may have more) on your timeline. Each date should correspond to an event or an idea related to the global economy in general or your country's economy in particular.
Written explanations and links: Each date/event/idea should be accompanied by a one paragraph explanation of it. You should include links to outside sources that are related to the event or idea and that would increase your audience's understanding of it.
Media: Each entry should include at least one form of media beyond the written word. This can include videos, photographs, or images. Click here for a page of "Copyright Friendly" resources for finding media for this project.