Modern World Final Review

What was the industrial revolution?

A major transition from agrarian, handicraft economies to machine-driven manufacturing, moving from cottage industries to factory production.

Which were the two most industrialized countries?

UK and Belgium

Why was the railroad so vital during the Industrial Revolution?

It provided fast, cheap transportation for materials (coal/iron) and finished goods, connected distant markets, and created new jobs.

Why was textile influential during the industrial revaluation in Great Britain?

It was the first industry to mechanize, turning cotton into the primary export, and it drove innovations like the spinning jenny and power loom.

Why did the industrial revolution start in England?

Key factors included abundant coal/iron resources, a strong colonial market, capital for investment, and a stable political system favoring trade.

What was a major social consequence of the industrial revolution in Europe?

Massive urbanization, which led to overcrowding, slum conditions, and public health crises, alongside the rise of the working class.

Why was the steam engine so influential during the Industrial Revolution?

It provided consistent, efficient power, allowing factories to be located anywhere (not just by water) and powered locomotives/ships.

What was the agricultural revolution and why was it so important?

Improvements in farming methods (like crop rotation) that increased food production, leading to population growth and a reduced need for agricultural workers, who then moved to cities for factory work.

What is Socialism?

An economic system where the means of production are owned by the public (or state) rather than individuals, designed to reduce inequality. Caused as a direct result of harsh work conditions in the industrial revolution.

What was the purpose of labor unions? Why were they so important?

To fight for better wages, safer working conditions, and reasonable hours for workers.

What is direct control of a colony?

Foreign officials brought in to rule; no self-rule (e.g., French/German colonies).

What is indirect control of a colony?

Local government officials were used; limited self-rule (e.g., British in India/Africa).

What is Social Darwinism? Why was it important?

The application of "survival of the fittest" to human societies, used to justify imperialist expansion and racial superiority.

What is Sphere of Influence?

An area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges (common in China).

How did the industrial revolution lead to imperialism?

The need for raw materials (cotton, rubber) and new markets to sell finished goods prompted industrial nations to take over less developed areas.

What was the Berlin Conference 1884-1885? What was the primary purpose?

A meeting where European nations divided Africa among themselves to avoid fighting each other (scramble for Africa).

What was the major economic motivation for imperialism on the 19th century?

Access to raw materials and captive markets for manufactured goods.

What happened during the Sepoy Mutiny in India? What was the outcome?

An 1857 revolt by Indian soldiers (sepoys) against the British East India Company due to cultural disrespect. The British government ended the company's rule and took direct control of India (the Raj).

What were the reasons WWI started? (M.A.I.N)

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.

What was the cause of WWI?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist.

What was the Zimmerman Telegram (note). What was the result?

A secret message from Germany proposing an alliance with Mexico against the U.S. The U.S. intercepted it and entered WWI on the Allied side.

What was the result of WWI on society?

Tremendous loss of life, the collapse of dynasties (Russian, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian), and the redrawing of the European map.

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Germany’s strategy to avoid a two-front war by swiftly defeating France in the west before turning to Russia in the east.

Why were alliances one of the main reasons WWI started?

It turned a local conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia into a global war, dragging all major powers into the fighting.

What was the purpose of the League of Nations? Did it work?

To maintain world peace and prevent future wars through diplomacy. It did not work. Tt was weak, lacked the US, and could not stop aggressive nations (e.g., in the 1930s).

What was the most influence weapon used on land? What was the most influential weapon on naval warfare?

Land: Machine guns/Tanks; Naval: Submarines (U-boats).

What did Russia get out of WWI? What did the Bolshevik Revolution so successful?

A revolution. Russia withdrew from the war early (1917) due to massive casualties and domestic chaos. It promised "Peace, Land, and Bread," appealing to soldiers and peasants who were suffering from the war and poverty.

What are Totalitarian Governments? What led to their rise in the 1920s-1930s?

Governments that take total control over every aspect of public and private life (e.g., Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Stalin's USSR).

Why did the Germans suffer so much during the Great Depression? Why did the Treaty of Versailles led to this?

Economic despair caused by the Great Depression and anger over the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty forced Germany to pay massive reparations, shrink its army, and accept war guilt, crippling its economy and destroying national pride.

What was the key characteristics in creating a fascism under Mussolini in Italy? How was Fascism so influential during this time period?

Extreme nationalism, militarism, blind loyalty to a dictator, and rejection of democracy/communism. It offered a strong leader to fix economic problems and promised national greatness, which was appealing to people suffering from the Depression.

What event led to the start of the Great Depression?

The 1929 U.S. stock market crash.

When Hitler came to power, what did he do to violate the Treaty of Versailles?

Rebuilding the army (remilitarization), annexing Austria, and seizing parts of Czechoslovakia.

What led to the United States getting into WWII?

The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Who was the leader of Great Britain who was celebrated to avoiding war with the policy of appeasement at the Munich Conference?

Neville Chamberlain, who claimed "peace for our time" after the Munich Conference.

What is genocide?

The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.

What was Blitzkrieg (lightning war)?

"Lightning War"—a fast-moving military strategy using tanks and air power to quickly overwhelm enemies.

What was the leader of Germany who led to the mass killing of Jews through the Final Solution?

Adolf Hitler

What is Appeasement?

Giving in to an aggressor’s demands to avoid war.

What were the two cities that the United States dropped the atomic bombs on?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What happened in D Day (operations overload) on June 6?

Allied forces invaded Normandy, France, opening a major Western front against Germany.

What happened in the battle of Midway? Why was it the battle that was considered the turning point of the Pacific Theater?

A naval battle where the U.S. destroyed four Japanese carriers. It severely crippled the Japanese navy and allowed the U.S. to take the offensive in the Pacific.

Explain the Nuremberg Trails? What was their importance? What countries ran them?

Trials held to prosecute Nazi leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Established that leaders can be held accountable for actions during war. US, Great Britain, France, Soviet Union.

What was the purpose of the Berlin Wall?

To prevent East Germans from escaping to democratic West Berlin.

Why did they take the wall down? What did the taking down of the Berlin Wall represent?

Massive protests and the decline of Soviet power in Eastern Europe. Represented the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany.

Why was Germany and Berlin split up in sections controlled by United States, Great Britain, France and Soviet Union?

To ensure the demilitarization and reconstruction of Germany by the Allied powers.

What happened during the Korean War? Who was involved? What was the result?

North Korea (communist) invaded South Korea (democratic). The UN (led by US) fought back.

What was the purpose of the Soviets Unions Berlin Blockade? Why did they do it and why?

Stalin blocked land access to West Berlin to force the Allies out. The US responded with the Berlin Airlift.

What was the Arms Race of the Cold War?

A competition between the US and USSR to build more and better weapons, particularly nuclear weapons.

What were considered the two sides of the Cold War? The US stood for _____ and the Soviets stood for _____ (forms of government)?

Capitalism/Democracy, Communism/Totalitarianism

How was the USSR government set up under a communist government? How does communist governments work?

The state controls the economy, property, and production; the government plans all economic activity.

Why did the Soviets and the United States never directly fight each other? What were they afraid of?

Fear of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)—a nuclear war that would destroy both nations.

What happened during the Yalta Conference? How did Stalin break his promise that he said during this conference?

Stalin promised free elections in Eastern Europe but instead installed puppet communist governments (satellite states).

What is Perestroika? What did mean the Soviets did?

Gorbachev’s policy of "restructuring" the Soviet economy to allow more market-based, private enterprise.

What is a satellite state?

A country that is formally independent but under heavy political/military influence from another country (e.g., Eastern Europe under the USSR).

Why does technology (internet and computers) improve and keep advancing because of International Relations?

Competition drives tech advancement (e.g., the Space Race led to computer advancements).

What was the Truman Doctrine? What did it provide for some countries?

A policy to provide economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism (e.g., Greece and Turkey).

What was the Iron Curtain?

The political and physical boundary dividing Europe into democratic West and communist East.

What were the countries that were members of the Warsaw Pact? What did the Pact say?

A military alliance of the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites, created to counteract NATO.

What was the domino effect? Why was the US so worried about it?

The US fear that if one nation fell to communism, surrounding nations would follow.

What was the Containment Plan?

The U.S. policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism worldwide.

Explain Communism? What were some characteristics of it?

Communism is a political and economic ideology aimed at creating a classless, moneyless, and stateless society based on common ownership of the means of production

What was the Cold War? Why did it happen? Who were the main two involved?

A state of tension and competition between the US and USSR without direct military conflict.

What was the Marshal Plan? What did it do?

U.S. program providing billions in aid to rebuild Western Europe, aimed at preventing the spread of communism. It rebuilt economies

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

962 standoff where the Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba; closest the world came to nuclear war.

What does the term decolonization mean? This happened after WWII.

The process after WWII where colonies in Africa and Asia gained independence from European empires.