Final Project

Final ProjectCrisis in Ukraine

For this EssayYou will be writing an essay explaining the crisis in Ukraine and the impact it has on the rest of the world.The essay will be in a 5 paragraph format, and will require in-text citations, as well as a bibliographyWhy are we doing this anyway?I dont live in Ukraine or Europe, so why does this matter to me?Just like in our study of Syria in the beginning of the year, this event has the potential to involve the entire world.Russia and the US have been rivals since the end of WWII.This event marks the most hostile relations between the US and Russia in 25 years.What do I have to do?You will start by doing some preliminary research as homework for tonight.Look up one fact on each bullet point:Ukrainian history:Where is it located? (Name countries around it too!)How many people live there?1 interesting fact about its history as a part of the Soviet Union.Current CrisisHow did it get started?What is Russia doing that is making Ukrainians so angry?What happens next?We will begin research when we return from break.2 days in lab to look up sources to use.4 sources minimum

What do I need to know?Our body paragraphs will be divided like this:1.) Ukrainian history2.) The current crisis3.) How this crisis affects the worldVery similar to our Syria setup, but how we arrive at our final product will be different.Ukrainian History: The BasicsUkraine = BorderlandIt lies between Europe and RussiaUkraine has had a very tense history with RussiaIt was a part of the Soviet Union (Russia) for many years.

The Soviet YearsUkraine received harsh treatment as a part of the Soviet UnionVictims of a famine in the 1930s that killed millions of people.Why?Because Josef Stalin (leader of USSR) took away all of their grain (bread) and used it for the Soviet Union.

The Crimean Peninsula This is the part of Ukraine that has everybody in an uproar.Many that live there speak Russian and identify as Russian people, NOT UkrainianIt was originally a part of Ukraine, until the Soviets took it in the 1920sIn 1954, it was given back to Ukraine.

1991-PresentAfter the Soviet Union collapsed, Ukraine voted for independence from RussiaThis included the Crimean PeninsulaRussia agreed to this, but only if they could keep a naval base in CrimeaSevastopol Russian Black Sea FleetThe Current CrisisThe Ukrainian government, not in good shape, held a vote on economic aid.Should it take money from Russia or the European Union?Remember! The Soviet Union treated Ukraine very badly for a long time.The Pro-Russian president of Ukraine decided to take the money from Russia.The majority of Ukrainians got very angry and started to violently protest, much like this

So the protesters ran the Pro-Russian president out of Ukraine and set up a new governmentRussia believed that this endangered ethnic Russian people in Ukraine, so they sent their military to Crimea and set up along the Ukrainian borderUkrainian naval officer escorted by Russian troops

Where are we now?The people of Crimea voted to join the Russian Federation (Russias official name).Troops wearing Russian uniforms, without Russian insignias, have taken over government and military buildings in Crimea.The US and the European Union are taking economic action to stop Russia.Using sanctions (freezing bank accounts, limiting travel of Russian officials)