HIS 100 Module Three Activity Context
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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100
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History
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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HIS 100 Module Three Activity Template: Historical Context
Replace the bracketed text below with your responses.
Identify the topic you chose to explore:
Chernobyl
Describe the historical context surrounding your historical event.
The nuclear catastrophe at Chernobyl took place on April 25 and 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl
nuclear power station in the Soviet Union. It is known as one of, if not the worst nuclear
disasters in the history of the world. When looking at this from a social perspective, the many
citizens, first responders and employees of the nuclear plant itself were assured that there was
no danger and were urged to help out during the catastrophe. However, when looking at the
political perspective, the government and their experts knew much more information than they
were letting other civilians know and engaged in a cover-up of the highest degree.
Describe a key historical figure or group’s participation in your historical event.
Viktor Bryukhanov is a key historical figure in the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl.
Viktor
Bryukhanov was the manager of construction and the director of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power
Plant from 1970 until 1986.
Explain the key historical figure or group’s motivation to participate in your historical event.
Viktor Bryukhanov was officially held responsible for what occurred at Chernobyl. He had played
a major role in the building and daily operation of the plant, and played a key part in how the
catastrophe was managed in what took place in response to the reactor exploding. Bryukhanov
had a lot at stake personally in this situation. He had witnessed firsthand the damaged reactor
and horrific reports brought to him by the supervisors and the plant, and still chose to look past
them and assured Moscow that the situation was contained. He insisted for the rest of his life
that neither he nor his employees were to blame for what happened at Chernobyl, even though
the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) determined reactor design, misinformation and
ill-judgement resulted in what took place that tragic day at Chernobyl (Higginbotham, 2023).
Articulate how the historical context caused or influenced your chosen historical event.
The nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States impacted Chernobyl
greatly and is what led to it in the first place. This had to have played a part in the design flaws
and operation errors that took place at Chernobyl. This in turn led the Soviet Union to try to
cover up the situation at hand and conceal information in the days after the event.
Explain how connecting your historical event and current event improves the understanding of
your topic.
Using what happened at Chernobyl to explore the roots of my chosen current event, the train
carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, helps me to further my
understanding of climate change and environmental issues in the world today. It seems that a
common thread during events like this is that politics always come to play. It appears as if the
coverup, misinformation, or a swaying of public perception is always paramount instead of what
is really going on and the affect it is having on the planet and the innocent people involved. Until
this changes, events like these are bound to keep happening. If it goes on like this, who knows
how many more hits our planet can take.
References:
Encyclopedia Brittanica. (2023, September 8).
Chernobyl disaster.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Chernobyl-disaster
Higginbotham, A. (2023, August 29).
Chernobyl: 7 People Who Played a Crucial Role in the World’s Worst
Nuclear Disaster.
History.
https://www.history.com/news/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster-7-people-who-
played-crucial-role
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