Era 7 Study Guide

Who were the Central Powers in WWI?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire.

What was the Western Front in WWI?

The primary theater of combat in World War I, located in Europe.

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh terms on Germany.

What are Global Empires?

The existence of empires and their colonies that pulled in many areas of the world into the war.

What were some of the punishments for Germany in the Treaty of Versailles?

Reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions.

What was the Mexican Revolution?

A period of major political and social upheaval in Mexico that was focused on land reform and peasant movements.

What was the Russian Revolution?

A series of revolutions in Russia that led to the establishment of the Soviet Union.

Who were the Bolsheviks

A radical socialist party led by Vladimir Lenin that seized power in Russia.

What is communism?

A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society and state control of the means of production.

What were/are some nations that are communist countries?

USSR, China, Cuba

What is fascism?

A far-right, authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.  

What is Social Darwinism?

A pseudo-scientific belief that applied Darwin's theory of natural selection to human societies, justifying inequality, racism, and imperialism.

What is Eugenics?

A set of beliefs and practices aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human population.

What was The Great Depression?

A severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s.

Who were the Axis Powers in WWII?

Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Who were the Allied Powers in WWII?

Great Britain, France, The Soviet Union, and the United States.

What was the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, which led to the United States entering World War II.

What was D-Day?

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France.

What was the Atomic Bomb?

Nuclear weapons used by the United States against Japan.

What is Genocide?

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race.

What was the Holocaust?

The genocide of European Jews and other targeted groups by the Nazi regime during World War II.

What was the Cold War?

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

What was containment?

A U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism.

Why was the Fall of the Berlin Wall significant?

It was a symbolic event marking the end of the Cold War.

What was the Chinese Communist Revolution?

The revolution led by Mao Zedong that established the People's Republic of China.

What is the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict about?

An ongoing dispute over land and self-determination between Israelis and Palestinians.

Population Explosion

The rapid increase in the world's population, particularly after 1800.

What is a refugee?

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

What is migration?

The movement of people from one place to another, especially from one country to another.  

Who was the dictator who caused the Mexican Revolution, and what started it?

Porfirio Diaz favored the wealthy landowners and foreign investors while suppressing dissent. Francisco Madero initially sparked the revolution with his call for land reform and political freedom.

What were the results of the Mexican Revolution?

land reform, improved workers’ rights, nationalization of resources, immense violence, inequality, and poverty.

What started the Russian Revolution?

After the events of WWI, the already brewing problems of the country (that came from the social/economic divisions and the Tsar’s autocratic rule) intensified, leading to widespread shortages, suffering, and fueling revolutionary sentiment. Protests eventually started to erupt in 1917.

What did the Bolshevik victory in 1921 eventually lead to?

Their victory resulted in the creation of the USSR under Vladimir Lenin and then Joseph Stalin. The communist regime implemented sweeping social and economic changes, transforming Russia into a centralized, one-party state. The rise of communism and the challenge to capitalism eventually shaped global relations and the Cold War.