Final Exam Kistler

British Imperialism in India

when Britain took political and economic control of India to benefit itself, limiting Indian freedom and industries.

East India company rises to power

gained control of India by using trade, military force, and alliances to slowly take over Indian kingdoms

Cause and effects of the Sepoy Mutiny

a rebellion caused by cultural and religious disrespect, unfair treatment, and new rifle cartridges; it led to the end of Company rule and the start of direct British government control.

British Raj

the period (1858–1947) when the British government directly ruled India through a viceroy and British officials.

Effects of British rule in India

British rule brought railroads and Western education but mainly caused economic exploitation, loss of industries, famines, racism, and the rise of Indian nationalism.

Cause of WW1

World War I began because of militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism — and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the conflict.

A Global Conflict

WWI became a global conflict because European empires pulled in colonies and regions worldwide, including the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Legacy of WW1 in the middle east

by breaking up the Ottoman Empire, creating new borders, and increasing European control, which led to long‑term conflict and rising nationalism.

geopolitics

how geography, borders, and resources shaped political power — after WWI, European powers redrew the Middle East to control land and oil.

the rise of nationalism

After WWI, people in the Middle East developed stronger national identities and demanded independence from European rule.

The Sykes-Picot agreement

a secret deal where Britain and France divided the Ottoman Empire’s Arab lands into zones they would control after WWI.

Decline of the ottoman empire

declined because it fell behind Europe in military power, technology, and economy, leading to loss of land and weakening government control.

Suleymans death

After Suleyman the Magnificent died, weaker sultans took power, leading to corruption, loss of territory, and the empire’s long decline.

Internal and external challenges

The empire faced internal problems like corruption and nationalism, and external pressures from European powers who defeated them in wars and took their land.

Armenian genocide - causes and effects

happened when the Ottoman government targeted Armenians due to fear, nationalism, and wartime suspicion; it resulted in mass deaths, forced marches, and long‑lasting trauma for the Armenian people.

republic of Turkey

created in 1923 after the Ottoman Empire collapsed, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who built a modern, independent nation.

Reforms of Ataturk - modernization, westernization, secularization

Atatürk modernized Turkey by adopting Western laws, improving education, giving women more rights, and separating religion from government (secularization).

Effects of the discovery of oil

made Middle Eastern countries extremely valuable to world powers, brought wealth to some nations, and increased foreign involvement and conflict over resources.

China and the west

clashed because Western nations wanted trade and influence in China, while China tried to stay isolated and limit foreign control.

Trade imbalance - tea and opium connection

Britain bought huge amounts of Chinese tea but China didn’t want British goods, so Britain sold opium to China to fix the trade imbalance, causing addiction and conflict.

Decline for the Qing dynasty

declined because of corruption, population pressures, foreign invasions, and internal rebellions that weakened China’s power.

Century of Humiliation

the period when China was defeated, controlled, and exploited by Western powers and Japan from the 1800s to early 1900s.

Cause and effects of the opium war

began because China tried to stop Britain from selling opium; Britain won, forcing China to open ports, pay money, and give up territory.

extraterritorial rights

allowed foreigners in China to be tried under their own country’s laws, not Chinese laws, reducing China’s control over its own land.

Cause and effects of the Taiping rebellion

a massive civil war caused by poverty, corruption, and anger at the Qing Dynasty; it led to millions of deaths and further weakened China, making it easier for foreign powers to dominate.

Chinas resistance to change and its effects

China resisted modernization and Western ideas, which left it militarily weak and unable to stop foreign powers from taking control.

Cause and effects of the Boxer rebellion

a violent uprising against foreigners caused by anger over foreign influence; it failed and led to even more foreign control over China.

Downfall of the Qing

fell because of corruption, foreign domination, economic problems, and major rebellions that weakened the government.

Kuomintang (Guomindang) Party

wanted to modernize China, strengthen the nation, and create a democratic government.

Sun Yat‑sen & Chiang Kai‑shek

Sun Yat‑sen founded the Nationalist Party and promoted democracy

Chiang Kai‑shek became its military leader and later fought the Communists for control of China.

Mao Zedong

was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party who believed peasants—not workers—would lead China’s communist revolution.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

a political party that aimed to overthrow the Nationalists and create a communist government in China.

the CCP appeals to the peasants

The CCP gained support by promising land reform, equality, and an end to landlord oppression, which attracted millions of poor peasants.

Civil war in china

was a long conflict between the Nationalists and Communists for control of China, ending with a Communist victory in 1949.

The Long March

a 6,000‑mile retreat by the CCP to escape Nationalist forces; it became a symbol of Communist strength and survival.

japan ends isolation

Japan ended its isolation in the mid‑1800s when Western powers forced it to open its ports to trade.

Commodore Perry - effect

Commodore Perry’s arrival in 1853 pressured Japan to sign treaties and open trade, showing Japan it needed to modernize to avoid being controlled by the West.

Meji era

a period when Japan rapidly modernized, industrialized, and adopted Western ideas to strengthen the nation.

Japans reform and modernization

modernized by building factories, improving the military, creating public schools, and adopting Western technology and government systems.

Japanese nationalism - cause and effect

Japanese nationalism grew from pride in modernization and fear of Western domination; it led to military expansion and a desire to build an empire.

Japanese imperialism - cause and effect

Japan became imperialistic to gain resources and power; this led to wars with China and Russia and Japan’s rise as a major Asian empire.

Japan seeks an empire

Japan sought an empire to gain natural resources, expand its power, and compete with Western nations.

Rise of militarism in Japan

Militarism grew as military leaders took control of the government, believing Japan needed a strong army and empire to survive.

Nanjing massacre

a brutal attack where Japanese soldiers killed and abused hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians during the invasion of China.

Failures of the Kuomintang

struggled with corruption, weak leadership, and poor military organization, making it easier for Japan to invade China.

japans Pacific campaign - cause and effects

Japan expanded across the Pacific to gain resources and territory; this led to conflict with the U.S., including Pearl Harbor, and eventually major defeats as the Allies pushed Japan back.

The Allied victory (Victory in the Pacific) — cause and effects

The Allies defeated Japan through island‑hopping, naval battles, and atomic bombs; Japan surrendered in 1945, ending WWII in the Pacific.

Europe and Japan in ruins (post-war japan)

After WWII, Japan was destroyed economically and physically, forcing major rebuilding under U.S. guidance.

• United States occupation and changes: The U.S. occupied Japan (1945–1952), rebuilding the country, rewriting its constitution, and helping create a peaceful, democratic society

• Demilitarization: Japan’s military was disbanded, and Japan was forbidden from starting war again, keeping only a small self‑defense force.

• Democratization: Japan adopted a democratic government with a new constitution, expanded rights, and elected leaders instead of military rule.

Chinese Civil War — Communists vs. Nationalists

a struggle between the Nationalists (Kuomintang) and the Communists for control of China after the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

Communism transforms china

After winning the civil war, the Communists transformed China by creating a one‑party state, redistributing land, and controlling the economy.

great Leap forward

Mao’s plan to rapidly industrialize China, but it failed and caused a massive famine that killed millions.

Cultural revolution

Mao’s campaign to remove “old” ideas and enemies; it caused chaos, violence, and the persecution of millions.

Chinese and American diplomatic relations

China and the U.S. restored diplomatic relations in 1979, leading to increased trade, cooperation, and cultural exchange despite political disagreements.

Economic reform

China’s economic reforms shifted the country from strict communism to a mixed economy that allowed private business, foreign investment, and rapid growth.

New political ideas in china

included limited openness, debates about democracy, and calls for more rights — but the Communist Party kept strict control.

Economics and politics: challenges

China faced challenges like inequality, corruption, pollution, and tension between economic freedom and tight political control.

Deng Xiaoping

the Chinese leader who introduced major economic reforms, opening China to global trade and modernizing the economy.

Tiananmen Square Protest

a student‑led movement demanding democracy; the government ended it with military force, showing limits on political freedom.

Fundamental cause: Arab/Palestinian nationalism vs. Jewish nationalism

The conflict began because both Palestinians/Arabs and Jewish people developed strong national movements and claimed the same land as their homeland.

Balfour declaration

a British statement supporting a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, increasing tensions with the Arab population already living there.

British mandate

when Britain controlled Palestine, struggling to manage growing conflict between Jewish and Arab communities.

UN partition plan

proposed dividing Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states; Jewish leaders accepted it, Arab leaders rejected it, leading to war.

Remaining issues (israeli-palestinian conflict)

Key unresolved issues include borders, Israeli settlements, Palestinian statehood, refugees, security, and control of Jerusalem.

Two-state solution

the idea of creating an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel to end the conflict, but disagreements have prevented it from happening.

Freedom and partition

India gained independence from Britain in 1947, but the country was divided into India and Pakistan, causing mass migration and violence.

Principles of Gandhi

Gandhi believed in peaceful resistance, truth, and refusing to obey unjust laws to fight British rule.

Civil disobedience

the nonviolent refusal to follow unfair laws to bring about change.

Satygraha

means “truth force” — using peaceful resistance and moral courage to oppose injustice.

Amritsar Massacre

In 1919, British troops fired on peaceful Indian protesters, killing hundreds and increasing support for independence.

Salt March

was Gandhi’s 240‑mile protest against British salt taxes, showing the power of nonviolent resistance.

Cause and effect of Indian independence & formation of Pakistan

Independence came from nationalist movements and British weakness after WWII; Partition created India and Pakistan, causing violence, migration, and long‑term conflict.

Hindu-Muslim conflict

Tension between Hindus and Muslims grew over political power and identity, contributing to Partition and ongoing conflict.

Assassination of Gandhi

Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist who opposed his efforts to bring peace between Hindus and Muslims.

Government of political change

After independence, India built a democratic government but faced challenges of diversity, poverty, and regional differences.

parliamentary democracy

India’s parliamentary democracy elects representatives who choose a prime minister to run the government.

dividing and unifying forces

India is unified by democracy and shared history but divided by religion, language, caste, and regional differences.

leaders - nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s first prime minister who promoted democracy, modernization, and a mixed economy.

Economic development

India worked to improve industry, farming, and technology after independence, though poverty and inequality remained challenges.

Industrial and agricultural growth

India expanded factories, improved farming, and increased food production to support its growing population.

Move from socialism to free-private enterpirse

India shifted from Nehru’s government‑controlled economy (1950s–60s) to more free‑market policies under Rajiv Gandhi in the 1980s, encouraging private business and foreign investment.