CWI
Agenda for
Wednesday
5/21/14
1.Do Now
1.What is Terrorism?
1.Research Paper Check In
What is the definition of
terrorism?
Defining Terrorism
• There is no one definition of “terrorism” that
every state and non-state actor can agree
upon.
• Today’s activity will demonstrate how difficult
it is to define what constitutes an act of
terrorism and who is a terrorist.
ter·ror·ism
noun
The use of violence and intimidation
in the pursuit of political aims.
Discuss the following for each scenario:.
• Has terrorism occurred?
• What, specifically, is the act of
terrorism?
• Who is the terrorist?
Scenario 1
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Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770
Territory = the American colonists
Country = Great Britain
Americans gathered to protest the presence of
British soldiers in the colonies. British soldiers shot
and killed five American colonists armed only with
rock-filled snowballs.
• The event is historically considered to be part of
the American War of Independence, also known as
the American Revolution.
Scenario 2
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•
•
•
Tiananmen Square Massacre, June 4, 1989
Country = the People’s Republic of China
Citizens = Chinese protesters
Starting in April, Chinese citizens (mostly college
students) began a protest in Tiananmen Square, calling
for civil rights and democratic freedoms.
• On June 4th, military tanks cleared the square violently.
An unknown # of people died. Information about the
massacre is hard to come by because China is a VERY
closed society. Chinese school children do not learn
about this event; few Chinese are even brave enough
to discuss it.
Scenario 3
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•
•
•
•
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Tamil Tigers
Land X = Sri Lanka
People M = Tamil people of Sri Lanka
Group M = Tamil Tigers
People Q = other ethnic groups of Sri Lanka
The Tamil Tigers were a militant separatist group
(meaning they want an independent state and they’re
armed) whose acts of terrorism and use of child
soldiers as a means to gain independence led them to
be labeled as a terrorist group.
• They lost the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009 and the
group is now considered defunct. Some leaders of the
Tamil Tigers are currently on trial for war crimes.
Scenario 4
• Sarin gas attack on Tokyo subway –
March 20, 1995
• Country = Japan
• Group = Aum Shinrikyo, a religious cult
• Members of Aum Shinrikyo believed
Armageddon (the end of the world) was
coming and only they would survive.
Experts believe they were attempting to
begin Armageddon.
• 5500 people were injured; 12 were killed
Scenario 5
• The Crusades, 11th – 13th C.
• People / Land / Religion = European Christians,
Europe, Christianity
• People / Land / Religion = Middle Eastern
Muslims, Middle East, Islam
• Land = the Holy Land (Palestine)
• Europeans led several “holy crusades” to “take
back” the Holy Land. They believed that Christians
were being attacked in the Middle East. Many
historians now believe this was an excuse for
invasion.
Scenario 6
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•
•
•
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French Revolution, 1789
Country = France
People = middle & lower classes
People = aristocracy & the royal family
Government = Revolutionary Government
French Revolution:
– Storming of the Bastille
– Execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie
Antoinette
– Reign of Terror (many historians claim this is the first
use of the word “terror” in this context)
Scenario 7
The government of Country A is very unhappy with the government of
Country B, whose leaders came to power in a revolution that threw out the
former Country B dictator. Country A decides to do everything in its power
to overthrow the new leaders of Country B. It begins funding a guerrilla
army that attacks Country B from another country next door. Country A also
builds army bases in the next door country and allows the guerrilla army to
use its bases. Country A supplies almost all of the weapons and supplies of
the guerrilla army fighting Country B. The guerrillas generally try to avoid
fighting Country B's army. Instead, they attack clinics, schools, and
cooperative farms. Sometimes they mine the roads. Many, many civilians
are killed and maimed by the Country A-supported guerrillas. Consistently,
the guerrillas raid Country B and then retreat into the country next door
where Country A has military bases."
Roots of Terrorism
•Anti-Semitism
•Cold War
politics
•Militarism
•Money /
poverty
•Oil
•Political power
•Racism
•Religion /
fundamentalism
•Sexism
•War on drugs