SOCIAL STUDIES FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE

What is imperialism and how did it push Europe towards war?

Imperialism is when a country takes over other lands to build an empire. European countries were competing for colonies, which caused tension and rivalry that helped lead to war.

How was Archduke Ferdinand involved in starting WWI?

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in 1914. His death triggered alliances to go to war, starting WWI.

Who were the main Allied powers during WWI?

Great Britain, France, Russia (until 1917), and later the United States.

Who were the main Central Powers during WWI?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Why did America remain neutral for the first three years of WWI?

The U.S. wanted to stay out of European problems and follow a policy of isolationism.

Why was America concerned with the sinking of the Lusitania?

The Lusitania was a British ship sunk by a German submarine, and 128 Americans died. This made Americans angry and moved them closer to joining the war.

What did the Zimmerman Telegram say and who was it intended for?

Germany told Mexico they would help it get land back from the U.S. if Mexico joined the war. It was meant for Mexico, but Britain intercepted it and gave it to the U.S.

What were the advantages and disadvantages of trench warfare?

Advantages: protection from enemy fire. Disadvantages: bad conditions, disease, little movement, and lots of deaths.

Who was the President of the United States during WWI?

Woodrow Wilson.

What does it mean to have stock in a company?

It means you own a small part (or share) of the company.

What event triggered the Great Depression in 1929?

The Stock Market Crash on October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday).

Why did so many banks fail during the Great Depression?

People rushed to take out their money, and banks ran out of cash and closed.

How did Roosevelt's New Deal benefit Americans?

It created jobs, helped the economy recover, and supported people through government programs like Social Security.

What country did Germany invade that started WWII?

Poland, in 1939.

Who was the leader of Germany during WWII?

Adolf Hitler

Who was the President of the United States during WWII?

Franklin D. Roosevelt (until he died in 1945), then Harry S. Truman.

What was the name of Hitler's political party?

The Nazi Party

When did WWII start and end?

1939-1945

What event brought the United States into WWII?

The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941.

Where did the D-Day landing take place?

Normandy, France

What group was placed in American internment camps and why?

Japanese Americans, because the U.S. government feared they might help Japan.

What was the Holocaust?

The mass murder of 6 million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany.

Who were the Navajo Code Talkers and how did they impact the war?

They were Native American Marines who used their language as a secret code, which the enemy could not break.

Who were the Harlem Hellfighters and how did they change the military?

They were a brave African American unit in WWI (also honored during WWII) that helped show that Black soldiers deserved equal treatment.

What roles did women play in the military and at home during the war?

Women worked in factories, made weapons, and served in the military in non-combat roles like nurses and pilots.

What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan?

To help rebuild Europe after WWII and stop the spread of communism.

What was the Cold War and who were the main opponents?

It was a time of tension (not fighting) between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, mainly over political and economic ideas.

How did Communism contribute to the Korean War?

Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.S. and other countries helped South Korea to stop the spread of communism.

The spread of what government style was the main issue of the war?

Communism

What did the 38th parallel separate?

North Korea (Communist) and South Korea (Democratic/Capitalist).

The belief that if one country becomes Communist others will follow is called?

The Domino Theory.

What was the outcome of the Korean War for the Korean peninsula?

The war ended in a tie (armistice), and Korea stayed divided at the 38th parallel.

Which two world superpowers were involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The United States and the Soviet Union.

What was the Soviet Union placing in Cuba that worried the United States?

Nuclear missiles.

What agreement did the United States and the Soviets make to end the crisis?

The Soviets removed the missiles from Cuba, and the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba and secretly agreed to remove missiles from Turkey.