Mexican Revolution
(1910-1920 CE) Armed rebellion in which the Mexican people fought for political and social reform, especially against neocolonialism; resulted in ouster of Porfirio Diaz from power; opposition forces led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.
Total War
A conflict in which the participating countries devote all their resources to the war effort; most notably WWI
Propaganda
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
Great Depression
the economic crisis beginning with the US stock market crash in 1929 and continuing through the 1930s; had far-reaching global economic effects including further hindering countries recovering from WWI
New Deal
A series of reforms enacted by the Franklin Roosevelt administration between 1933 and 1942 with the goal of ending the Great Depression; an example of a government taking greater economic control
Fascist Corporatist economy
An anti-capitalist economy where government controlled corporations and had political influence through them.
Five Year Plan
plans outlined by Joseph Stalin in 1928 for the development of the Soviet Union's economy; wanted to rebuild the Soviet economy after WWI; tried to improve heavy industry and improve farm output, but resulted in famine
League of Nations
A world organization established in 1920 to promote international cooperation and peace. It was first proposed in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson, although the United States never joined the League. Essentially powerless, it was officially dissolved in 1946.
Mandate System
Allocation of former German colonies and Ottoman possessions to the victorious powers after World War I; to be administered under League of Nations supervision.
Indian National Congress
group formed by Hindu nationalist leaders of India in the late 1800's to gain greater democracy and eventual self-rule
Fascism
A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and has no tolerance for opposition; actively promotes social hierarchies with rules by elite
Totalitarianism
A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
Militarism
A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war
Atomic Bomb
a nuclear weapon developed in the US in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission; first used during WWII on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Fire bombing
Bombs dropped on Germany and Japan with intentions to spread fires and take down cities
Armenian Genocide
Ottoman Muslim Turks target Christian minority group from 1915-1917
Holocaust
A methodical plan orchestrated by Hitler to ensure German supremacy. It called for the elimination of Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and mentally and physically disabled.
Genocide
the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.
Rwandan Genocide
The killing of more than 500,000 ethnic Tutsis by rival Hutu militias in Rwanda in 1994. The conflict between the dominant Tutsis and the majority Hutus had gone on for centuries, but the suddenness and savagery of the massacres caught the United Nations off-guard. U.N. peacekeepers did not enter the country until after much of the damage had been done.
Bolsheviks
A party of revolutionary Marxists, led by Vladimir Lenin, who seized power in Russia in 1917.
Central Powers
In World War I the alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary and other nations allied with them in opposing the Allies.
Allied Powers
WWI alliance of Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and later the US (1917)
Reparations
As part of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was ordered to pay fines to the Allies to repay the costs of the war. Opposed by the U.S., it quickly lead to a severe depression in Germany.
Paris Peace Conference
The great rulers and countries excluding Germany and Russia met at Versailles to negotiate the repercussions of the war; leaders included Loyd George (Britain), Woodrow Wilson (America), Clemenceau (France) and Italy. The Treaty of Versailles was made but not agreed to be signed and the conference proved unsuccessful.
Fourteen Points
A series of proposals in which U.S. president Woodrow Wilson outlined a plan for achieving a lasting peace after World War I; created the League of Nations
Weimar Republic
The new German republic the in 1921 owed 33 billion annually to the allied reparations commission. In order to recover from its severe economic issues the annual fees were reduced each year depending on the level of German economic prosperity and Germany received large loans each year from the United States.
Trench Warfare
A form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield; used prolifically during WWI
Stalemate
A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible; Western front of WWI
Collectivize
to run or organize a farm according to principles of united control; often used by Communist countries to expedite industrial and agricultural production resulting in shortages
Balfour Declaration
British document that promised land in Palestine as homeland for Jews in exchange for Jews help in WWI
Mao Zedong
(1893-1976) Leader of the Communist Party in China that overthrew Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists. Established China as the People's Republic of China and ruled from 1949 until 1976.
Zionism
A policy for establishing and developing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine.