Chapter 13 Milestones of the Past Century

European Economic Community

An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

-"An alliance formed in 1957 by six West European countries dedicated to developing common trade policies and reduced tariffs; it gradually developed into the larger European Union."

-renamed the Europian Union

-later created common currency of the Uro

Marshall Plan

A United States program of economic aid for the reconstruction of Europe (1948-1952)

-after WW2 US emerged as a global superpower even stronger then the war torn Europe.

- this act funned in money, advisers, technicians

-motivated by humanitarian concern and opportunity for growth in the US

-very successful, Western European economies grew well

-US also proved protection from soviet Union

Great Leap Forward

Started by Mao Zedong, combined collective farms into People's Communes, failed because there was no incentive to work harder, ended after 2 years.

-"Communist push for collectivization that created "people's communes" and aimed to mobilize China's population for rapid development."

-"It was an effort to mobilize China's enormous population for rapid development and at the same time to move toward a more fully communist society with an even greater degree of social equality and collective living"

Cultural Revolution

a radical reform in China initiated by Mao Zedong in 1965 and carried out largely by the Red Guard

-aimed to combat the capitalist tendencies that Mao believed had creeped into his upper communist pary leaders

Cold War

"Geopolitical and ideological conflict between communist regimes and capitalist powers after World War II, spreading from Eastern Europe through Asia; characterized by the avoidance of direct military conflict between the USSR and the United States and an arms race in nuclear weapons."

-conflict was inevitable, as both sides represented polar opposite ideas, societies, and politics. they both also saw themselves as the society that would create historical progress

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries

-inspired by the Marshall Plan

-committed the US Nuclear arsenal to the defense of Europe to the Soviets

-firmly anchored West Germany with Europe

Warsaw Pact

"A military alliance between the Soviet Union and communist states in Eastern Europe, created in 1955 as a counterweight to NATO; expressed the tensions of the cold war in Europe."

-created a heavy presence of America in west Europe and a heave Russian presence in the East. the divide was known as the Iron Curtain

Cuban Missile Crisis

"Major standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962 over Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles in Cuba; the confrontation ended in compromise, with the USSR removing its missiles in exchange for the United States agreeing not to invade Cuba"

-emphasized the arms race of nuclear weaponry

Decolonization

The collapse of colonial empires. Between 1947 and 1962, practically all former colonies in Asia and Africa gained independence.

-"Process in which many African and Asian states won their independence from Western colonial rule, in most cases by negotiated settlement and in some cases through violent military confrontations."

-mobilized millions into the world of political activity and warfare

-changed the traditional government landscape of imperialism

-discredited the basis of empire and race as an excuse for control

Mohandas Gandhi

A philosopher from India, this man was a spiritual and moral leader favoring India's independence from Great Britain. He practiced passive resistance, civil disobedience and boycotts to generate social and political change.

-"(1869-1948) Often known as "Mahatma" or "Great Soul," the political leader of the Indian drive for independence from Great Britain; rejected the goal of modern industrialization and advocated nonviolence."

-rejected modern industrialization as a goal for India

Deng Xiaoping

Leader that rose to power after Mao in 1976, he worked to modernize and improve China's economy by encouraging some private businesses and allowed countries to invest in China. By doing this, he set a precedent for other leaders to follow.

-"(1904-1997) Leader of China from 1976 to 1997 whose reforms dismantled many of the distinctly communist elements of the Chinese economy. (pron. dung shee-yao-ping)"

-China opened itself to the world Economy

Mikhail Gorbachev

Head of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. His liberalization effort improved relations with the West, but he lost power after his reforms led to the collapse of Communist governments in eastern Europe.

-his policy of openness created an explosion of media, crimes and death became known to the public which had previously been seen as a capitalism issue

-churches opened and atheist propaganda ended

-democratized the country, worked to end the cold war

- didn't work out well. the economy fell and people suffered

-people began to strike and demand full democracy. He refused to use force to take them down

-fall of the Berlin Wall

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Conflict over landownership in Israel/Palestine. This conflict has at times involved most of the nations of the Middle East as well as the United States and the Soviet Union. Widespread terrorism against Israel and its allies occurs because of this conflict.

-"Struggle between the Jewish state of Israel and the adjacent Palestinian Muslim territories that has generated periodic wars and upheavals since 1948."

Iranian Revolution of 1979

popular uprising in Iran in 1978-79 that resulted in the toppling of the monarchy on April 1, 1979, and led to the establishment of an Islamic republic.

-established a radically Islamic government

-triggered long and bloody war

Indian National Congress

A movement and political party founded in 1885 to demand greater Indian participation in government. Its membership was middle class, and its demands were modest until World War I. Led after 1920 by Mohandas K. Gandhi, appealing to the poor.

Muslim League

an organization formed in 1906 to protect the interests of India's Muslims, which later proposed that India be divided into separate Muslim and Hindu nations

globalization of democracy

Democratic globalization is a social movement towards an institutional system of global democracy that would give world citizens a say in world organizations.

Mao Zedong

(1893-1976) Leader of the Communist Party in China that overthrew Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists. Established China as the People's Republic of China and ruled from 1949 until 1976.

Syrian Civil War

An ongoing armed conflict in Syria between forces loyal to the Syrian Ba'ath Party government and those seeking to oust it. The conflict began on 15 March 2011, with popular demonstrations that grew nationwide by April 2011. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has held the presidency in Syria since 1971.