Grade 9 Term 2: The Berlin Wall Exhaustive Study Guide

Essay Structure and Introduction Principles

When constructing a Grade $9$ Term $2$ essay regarding the Berlin Wall, the introductory paragraph must fulfill three specific requirements to be effective. First, the writer must directly answer the prompt question ($1$). Second, the writer must provide a clear and concise reason for their answer ($2$). Finally, a "roadmap" must be provided, which explicitly outlines the specific points and arguments that will be discussed throughout the remainder of the essay ($3$). The conclusion of the essay serves to restate the primary answer and provide a comprehensive summary of the arguments presented in the body paragraphs.

Comparative Analysis of Capitalism and Communism

The historical context of the Berlin Wall is rooted in the ideological conflict between the United States of America ($USA$) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ($USSR$). The $USA$ operated as a Capitalist country. Capitalism is defined as an economic and political policy that allows for private ownership and encourages individuals to work hard to achieve personal gain. Under this system, the government does not interfere in the economy, which frequently results in a significant wealth gap between the rich and the poor. Conversely, the $USSR$ was a Communist country. In a Communist system, the government maintains total ownership of all businesses, farms, and factories. Private ownership and the practice of trade are strictly banned. Everything produced within the nation is surrendered to the state, which then divides the resources among the population according to their specific needs. This model is designed to ensure that Communist countries maintain social and economic equality among all citizens.

The Division of Germany and the Rise of Tension

Following the conclusion of the war, Germany was divided into $4$ distinct parts, each given to one of the Allied powers to oversee. The city of Berlin was similarly divided among these powers. Heightened political tension eventually caused the Western Allies—specifically the $USA$, France, and Britain—to unite their respective zones of occupation. These united zones became known as West Germany and West Berlin. The $USSR$ maintained control over the eastern regions, known as East Germany and East Berlin. Between the years $1964-1961$, over $3$ million people migrated from East Germany to West Germany because they preferred the principles of a Capitalist government. This mass exodus was deeply embarrassing for the $USSR$ for two primary reasons: it resulted in a significant loss of money and served as tangible proof that Capitalism was more popular than Communism.

Construction and Impact of the Berlin Wall

In order to prevent further migration, the $USSR$ took action in $1961$ to block off East Berlin from West Berlin. Initially, they installed a barbed wire fence, which was later replaced by a permanent wall. While the Western powers did not want the wall to be built, they ultimately chose not to intervene, agreeing that "A wall is better than a war." To enforce this new boundary, the East German Government issued strict instructions to guards to shoot and kill any individuals who attempted to cross over to the West. The construction of the wall had immediate social consequences; overnight, families and friends lost all contact with their loved ones, and even written letters were subject to government censorship.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall and German Reunification

The eventual collapse of the wall began as the Russian economy started to suffer, leading the new leader, Gorbachev, to introduce various reforms within the $USSR$. In $1989$, the citizens of East Germany began to protest against their government. In response to this civil unrest, the new government in East Germany agreed to lift travel restrictions between the East and West. As news of this policy change spread, large crowds gathered at the wall demanding to pass through. The guards, unsure of how to respond to the situation, eventually allowed the people through the checkpoints. This led to mass celebrations where people danced in the streets and began the physical process of breaking down the wall. By $1990$, Communism had officially fallen in the region, and Germany was reunified as a single country once again.