America Since 1945 – Flashcards
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What was the purpose of the Bretton Woods System?
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To stabilize the world financial system.
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his "iron curtain" speech, British prime minister Winston Churchill suggested that
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Soviet suppression of the popular will in Eastern and central Europe had isolated those regions from the free world.
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The author of a 1946 rationale for a hard-line U.S. foreign policy of containment was
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career diplomat George F. Kennan.
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The first instance of Soviet expansionism after World War II came
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in Eastern Europe.
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The United States emerged from World War II as the most powerful nation in the world because
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it had both a monopoly on atomic weapons and expanded production capacity.
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After World War II, Joseph Stalin's primary goal was to
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have governments friendly to the Soviet Union on its borders in Eastern Europe
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By 1947, the intense rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States was being called
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the cold war
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The U.S. government's policy of containment was first implemented when President Truman asked Congress to send military and economic missions and $400 million in aid to
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Greece and Turkey.
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The notion that the United States needed to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" came to be known as
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the Truman Doctrine
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President Truman responded to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948 and 1949 by
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airlifting more than two million tons of goods to West Berliners.
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To deter the Soviet Union from mounting an attack, the United States agreed to join Canada and Western European countries in a peacetime military alliance called the
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
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In the post-World War II era, the term third world was used to refer to countries
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outside the Western and Eastern blocs that had yet to develop industrial economi
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The Israeli declaration of statehood
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all of the above. was supported by the Soviet Union. was quickly supported by the Truman administration. led neighboring Arab states to declare war on Israel.
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The Cold War
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heightened American leaders' sensitivity to racial issues.
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What does recent scholarship tell us about Sen. Joe McCarthy?
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reckless in accusing innocent people of being traitors may have permitted Soviet spies to work against the US.
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The passage of the Taft-Hartley Act over Truman's veto in 1947
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was a blow to organized labor.
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During the anti-Communist scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s,
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federal employees were investigated, and many people around the country were blacklisted, humiliated, or harassed
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The event that triggered U.S. military action in Korea in 1950 was
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the invasion of South Korea by troops from Communist North Korea.
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The United States supported a non-Communist South Korea because U.S. policymakers
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feared that if Korea became communist, Japan would be threatened.
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The Korean War contributed significantly to
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an increase in U.S. defense spending to the point that it claimed 60 percent of the federal budget by 1953
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Paradox
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two things that exist at the same time but do not mesh
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How does Gillian define a paradox
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statement against common sense that may be true
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Give an example of how Gillian defines an example of a paradox
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People speak against the constition which gives them the right to speak against the document
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Why/How did America rise to power after WW2 and 1945?
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Circumstantial or By Design
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How do poly scientists equate govement to people?
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classic realist - governments like people seek power
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Explain why America sought international economic stablity after WW2/1945? (3 reasons)
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1) America restructured international monetary system to gain more power and 2) spread our idealogy and culture to other countries 3) contain communism (onset of cold war)
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The containment of communism after WW2/1945 was the onset of what historical period
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The Cold War
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What are two words to define America after WW2/1945?
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in tact and prosperous
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What state was Europe in after WW2/1945?
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thrashed
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What were two results for the people of Europe after WW2/1945 regarding living enviroments and diet?
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orphan/refuge crisis and living on 1K calories per day
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What state was Tokyo in after World War 2/1945?
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Leveled/Destroyed
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Who had the most causulties after WW2 and how many did they have?
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Soviets 20M people
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What two results did the Soviet Union realize after WW2?
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property loss and economically challenged
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the GDP between America and Great Britian equate
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the GDP of GB is 1/2 of America's
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Describe the production of goods and services in America after WW2/1945?
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6% of world pop lived in America, however America produced 50% of the world's goods and services
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What were two facts of America's military capacity after WW2/1945?
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1) could not be surpassed, might 2) lots of technology
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What was the main reason the British Emprire was in a nosedive in approx 1945? Why?
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decolonization - resources being used for WW2
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What was the UK's colonial population in 1945 and 1965?
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1945 = 700M 1965 = 5M
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Churchill is aware of the decline of GB and what does he ask US to use their power for and why? (2 things)
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1) Soviets in Iran (oil) 2) Spread of Communism in Turkey and Greece (Truman spends $400M battling this)
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What financial system did the US promote after WW2/1945?
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Bretton Woods system
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What three things did the Bretton Woods system effect?
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1) Fixed Currency Exchange Rates 2) The World Bank 3) International Monetary Fund
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What did the Fixed Currency Exchange do?
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Member nations had the US dollar as the reserve currency instead of gold
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When did the US dollar stop being the reserve currency?
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1971
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What does the world bank do? Where is it located? What is the nationality of the person that traditionally leads the World Bank?
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loans $ to developing nations located in Wash, DC and lead traditionally by an American - prevents political chaos in these countries
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What does the International Monetary Fund do? What is the nationality of the person that traditionally leads the World Bank?
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makes loans to nations with trade imbalances located in Wash, DC and traditionally led by a European -
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What was the ulitmate goal of the Bretton Woods system?
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to bring ORDER to the world financial system to stablize business expectations
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Who was John Maynard Keynes?
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Keynesian economics, British Economist who wrote General Theory of Employment Interest and Money believed gov. should take an active role in stimulating the economy by creating jobs even if it had to borrow money to do it.
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What did the US promote after World War 2/1945?
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free trade, the reduction of tariffs and subsidies
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What is GATT and when did it happen?
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Global Trade and Tariff Policy - 1947
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What is the WTO?
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World Trade Organization
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Who were the original members of the World Trade Organization?
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most country members, not Russia and Cuba
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Where did the US occupy after WW2/1945? Until when?
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Germany = 1955 Japan = 1952
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What is SCAP?
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Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
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Who led SCAP?
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General Douglas McArthur
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What did SCAP do? (four things)
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1) Wrote Japans Constitution 2) Eliminate Military 3) Remove Shintoism from School 4) Renounce Gov't
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What is NATO?
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
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What year was NATO established and by who?
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America - 1948
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What is the purpose of NATO?
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Permanent Military Alliance with European Countries
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What is hegemony?
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expansionism
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The Roots of the Cold War (qty. 3)
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post cold war historians site: 1) History 2) Ideaology 3) National Interest
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What was the result of the roots of the cold war?
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1) serious misrepresentations 2) limited range of options for everyone 3) made confrontation nearly impossible
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What was the history, ideaology and national interest of the United States Pre-Cold War (attributed to them entering the cold war)
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1) history = US revolution 2) ideaology = God & Government, patriotism 3) national interest element = wanted to preserve trade with Japan
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What was the history, ideaology and national interest of the Russia Pre-Cold War (attributed to them entering the cold war)
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1) history = Marxism, anti-capitalism 2) ideaology = socialism, anti-religion pro government loyalty 3) national interest element = promote the spread of communism
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What is the period called when the USSR and US are foes?
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Cold War
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What is the first act of the Cold War?
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US drops bomb on Japan (although this is debated)
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What is the original tension between the USSR and the US?
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Roosevelt and Stalin did not have trust. Stalin had spies that new about the bomb and Stalin wanted Roosevelt to get involved in WW2 in Europe sooner.
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What was the cause of tension prior to 1945 between the USSR and the US?
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Goes back to Lennen and the Russian Revolution. US did not recognize Russia between 1917-1933, not until Roosevelt took office.
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Why are the Straits of Dardenelle important?
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Opening to the Med Sea and they were secure and open sea lanes for the export of oil
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What years was the Truman doctorine in effect?
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1947-1989
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What two major points come from Truman's speech to Congress?
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1) why US had to enter the cold war 2) it included fiery, motivational evidence so that congress could vote for the plan but also go home and be reelected
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What is containment?
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an act or policy of restricting the territorial growth or ideological influence of another, especially a hostile nation.
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Where is CUBA located?
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Large landscape island 90 miles from Florida Keys
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Where is Hatii?
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Located just East of Cuba and on the island of Hispanola on the west side of the island it shares with the Dominican Republic
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Where is the Dominca Republic?
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Located just East of Cuba and on the island of Hispanola on the east side of the island it shares with Hatii
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Where is Puerto Rico?
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due east of the domican republic in between that and the British Virigin Islands
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Where is the Panama Canal located?
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Last Country of Central America, right before South America, Canal sits on the top of the large arc of the country
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Where is Saudi Arabia?
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Largest country across Red Sea from Africa
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Where is Iran?
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Large Country to the East of Iraq
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Where is Iraq?
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North of Saudi Arabia
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Where is Afghanistan?
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due east of Iran and north
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Where is Pakistan?
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due east of Iran and south
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Where is Isreal?
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Little Country sharing due East of Egypt
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Where is Eygpt?
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Most North East Country in Africa on the Red Sea, has a staight western and southern border
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Where are the Philipines?
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Group is Islands between China and Australia due east of Vietnam
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Where is Vietnam (17th Paralle North and South)
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Land closest to philipine islands due west
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Where is Cambodia?
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looks like a circle, first due west of Vietnam
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Where is Japan?
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Islands due east of Korea
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Where is North Korea?
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North penisula east of china and west of japan
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Where is South Korea (38th parallel)?
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south penisula east of china and west of japan
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Where is Taiwan?
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small island southeast of china
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Where is the Peoples Republic of China ?
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largest country in northeast asia
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What are the European Countries acorss the top of the mainland of Europe?
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Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus
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What small country is northwest of the boot of Italy?
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Switzerland
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What country is northeast of Italy?
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Austria
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What country is shaped liked a circle (sort of) and shares a border with Austria, Poland and Germany?
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Czech Republic
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What countries are on the isle of Great Britian
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two seperate islands, Ireland to the West and then United Kingdom with Britian to the South of the second island and Scotland to the North
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What countries are across the Adriatic Sea from Italy? (North to South)
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Slovenia, Crotatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and then Green in the south with all the little islands
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What are the four countries clockwise south of Germany and above Italy to the east?
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Slovakia, Hungry, Austria and the Czech Republic
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Where is Turkey?
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Long Rectangle due east from Greece
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From the North to the South what countries share the border with Russia and continues south to the Black Sea?
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Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, the Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria - then Greece to the West and Turkey to the East
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What Countries share borders with Lativa and Belarus?
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Lithuania
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Where is Berlin, Germany?
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close to the border of poland almost in the middle of the diving line of the countries
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Where is Paris, France?
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the widest part of the country in the north, smack in the middle of that point
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Where is Moscow, Russia?
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due east of the northern most boundary of Belarus with Russia about 10% of the way east
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Where is London, England?
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South East due west of the cove of water
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Where is the Baltic Sea located?
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between Sweden and Finland
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Where is the Med Sea?
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Between North Africa and South of Europe
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Where is the division of East and West Germany 1945-1989?
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Starts in Frankfurt and snakes over into Czech Rep 34th Parralle
