Major Causes and Events of 20th Century Conflict

Flashcards covering key terms, ideas, and events related to World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War.

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war.

Alliances

Agreements between nations to provide mutual support in case of conflict.

Imperialism

Extending a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's tactical strategy to quickly defeat France before turning to Russia.

Trench Warfare

A type of combat where opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other.

New Technology in WWI

Innovations like tanks, poison gas, airplanes, and machine guns used during World War I.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations on Germany.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that occurred in the 1930s.

New Deal

U.S. government programs and reforms to promote economic recovery during the Great Depression.

Fascism

A political philosophy characterized by authoritarian power and strong centralized government.

Holocaust

The systematic genocide of Jews and other groups by the Nazis during WWII.

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, crucial for liberating Europe.

Bolshevik Revolution

The 1917 revolution that led to the rise of the Soviet Union by overthrowing the monarchy.

New Economic Plan (NEP)

Lenin's policy to allow some capitalist elements to boost the economy.

Five-Year Plans

Stalin's initiatives aimed at rapid industrialization and agricultural productivity.

Gorbachev's Reforms

Policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Marshall Plan

U.S. initiative to aid Western European economies after WWII to prevent the spread of communism.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy to support countries resisting communism during the Cold War.

Berlin Airlift

The Allied response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin, supplying the city by air.

Brinkmanship

A policy of pushing dangerous events to the edge of active conflict.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers after WWII.