AP World History Modern Study Guide (c. 1750–Present)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from AP World History Modern related to World War I, imperialism, decolonization, communism, the Cold War, industrialization, and globalization.

M.A.I.N.

An acronym summarizing the four main causes of World War I: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

Triple Entente

The alliance between Britain, France, and Russia during World War I.

Central Powers

The coalition of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Sykes-Picot Agreement

A secret British-French plan to divide the Middle East after World War I.

Balfour Declaration (1917)

A statement by the British government expressing support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Armenian Genocide

The systematic extermination of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Indian National Congress

A major political party in India that advocated for a unified Indian identity and secular nationalism.

Muslim League

A political party in India that argued for the separate nationhood of Muslims, fearing dominance by Hindus.

Gandhi

A leader of the Indian independence movement known for his use of nonviolent resistance.

Great Leap Forward

A campaign initiated by Mao Zedong aimed at rapidly transforming China from an agrarian society to a socialist society through rapid industrialization.

Cultural Revolution

A socio-political movement in China initiated by Mao Zedong to enforce communism by removing capitalist, traditional, and cultural elements.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II, characterized by proxy wars and nuclear arms competition.

Nonaligned Movement

A group of states that did not formally align with either the United States or the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Environmental Movements

Activist movements aimed at protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices, particularly prominent in the late 20th century.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural transformation that increased food production worldwide through the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds and improved agricultural techniques.