Key Political Concepts and Historical Events

Fascism

Total control by the government plus strong nationalism.

Communism

Government owns all property and controls everything.

Capitalism

Private businesses own property; free market economy.

Dictators in Fascist and Communist regimes

They control everything and limit freedom.

World War I

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Treaty of Versailles' effect on Germany

Blamed Germany and made them pay, leading to anger that helped start WWII.

Causes of World War II

Hitler's rise to power and Germany invading Poland.

League of Nations

An international group made to keep peace but it was too weak.

Nationalism

Pride in your country, which can cause conflicts.

British rule in India

It hurt local food supply because crops were sent to Britain.

Sepoy Rebellion

Indian soldiers rebelled against British disrespect and rules.

Social Darwinism

The idea that 'strongest races' should rule, used to justify imperialism.

Robespierre

Leader during the Reign of Terror who used the guillotine.

Bloody Sunday

Tsar's troops fired on peaceful protesters in Russia.

Bolsheviks

Russian revolutionaries led by Lenin who created communism.

Laissez-faire

Government should not interfere in the economy.

Adam Smith

Economist who believed in free market and limited government.

Karl Marx's criticism

Capitalism, which he said exploited workers.

Labor unions

Fought for better pay and working conditions during the Industrial Revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Military leader who took over much of Europe.

Tsar Nicholas II

The last Russian czar, overthrown during the Russian Revolution.

Peter the Great

Modernized Russia by adopting European ideas.

Natural rights according to Locke

Life, liberty, and property everyone is born with.

Social contract

Believed in by Rousseau.

Three branches of government

Said by Montesquieu.