20th century world history FINAL

Great Powers

The most influential countries in global affairs during the 19th and 20th centuries, typically characterized by their military, economic, and political strength. They played central roles in international relations, conflicts, and treaties.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, particularly in Africa and Asia, during the mid-20th century. This movement was driven by nationalist movements and international pressure for self-determination.

Jawarhalal Nehru

The first Prime Minister of India and a key figure in the Indian independence movement, Jawaharlal Nehru was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and played a significant role in shaping modern Indian politics and policy.

Bandung Conference

A meeting of Asian and African countries in 1955 aimed at promoting economic and cultural cooperation, and opposing colonialism and neocolonialism.

Group of 77

A coalition of developing nations established in 1964 to promote their collective economic interests and enhance their negotiating capacity in international forums.

warsaw pact

A military alliance formed in 1955 comprising the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies, intended to counter NATO during the Cold War.

Bretton Woods

an international monetary system established in 1944 to regulate exchange rates and facilitate global economic cooperation.

Kwame Nkrumah

a Ghanaian politician and revolutionary leader who served as the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, advocating for Pan-Africanism and independence from colonial rule.

Pan-africanism

a political and cultural movement aimed at promoting unity and solidarity among African nations and peoples, advocating for self-determination and empowerment.

Neo-colonialism

a practice where a country exerts control over another country through economic and political pressures, rather than direct military control.

Ho Chi Minh

A Vietnamese revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). He was a key figure in the struggle for Vietnamese independence from French rule and later led North Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Viet Minh

'League for the Independence of Vietnam') was a nationalist and communist liberation front founded in 1941 in Vietnam. Led primarily by Ho Chi Minh, its main objective was to achieve independence from French colonial rule and later to resist Japanese occupation. The Viet Minh played a crucial role in the First Indochina War, successfully fighting against France and eventually leading to the Geneva Accords in 1954.

Truman doctorine

a U.S. foreign policy established in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman. It stated that the United States would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces, particularly communism. This doctrine marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, moving away from isolationism and committing the nation to an active role in containing communism globally, thereby contributing to the start of the Cold War.

tet offensive

a major military campaign during the Vietnam War, launched by North Vietnamese forces (including the Viet Cong and the People's Army of Vietnam - NVA) against South Vietnam, the United States, and their allies. It began on January 30, 1968, coinciding with the Tet holiday (Lunar New Year). The coordinated attacks targeted numerous cities, towns, and military bases across South Vietnam.

Khmer Rouge