AP World- Period 4 (1900-present)

Proper nouns

World War I

war caused by militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism (1914–1918)

World War II

conflict caused by economic instability and aggressive expansion (1939–1945)

Treaty of Versailles

agreement ending WWI that imposed harsh penalties on Germany (1919)

Total War

mobilization of entire society and economy for war efforts

Adolf Hitler

Nazi dictator whose expansionist policies led to WWII

Joseph Stalin

leader who industrialized USSR and played key role in WWII

Great Depression

global economic downturn causing unemployment and instability (1929–1939)

Cold War

tension between the US and USSR over capitalism vs communism (c. 1945–1991)

Korean War

conflict between North and South Korea reflecting Cold War tensions (1950–1953)

Vietnam War

war between communist North and non-communist South supported by US (1955–1975)

Decolonization

colonies gaining independence from European powers post-WWII

United Nations

organization formed to promote peace and cooperation after WWII (1945–present)

Containment

strategy to prevent spread of communism globally

Globalization

increasing interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and populations

Free Trade

reduction of trade barriers to encourage international commerce

World Trade Organization

organization regulating international trade (1995–present)

International Monetary Fund

organization providing financial support and economic stability (1944–present)

Cultural Diffusion

global spread of ideas, media, and customs through technology

Environmental Issues

problems like climate change resulting from industrialization and globalizatio

Russian Revolution

overthrow of the Tsar leading to communist Soviet Union (1917)

Vladimir Lenin

led Bolshevik Revolution establishing communist government

Benito Mussolini

fascist leader promoting authoritarian nationalism

Holocaust

systematic murder of six million Jews during WWII

League of Nations

early attempt to maintain peace that failed to prevent WWII

Blitzkrieg

fast, coordinated attacks used by Germany early in WWII

Mao Zedong

communist leader who established People’s Republic of China (1949)

Cuban Missile Crisis

confrontation between US and USSR over nuclear missiles (1962)

Non-Aligned Movement

countries avoiding alignment with US or USSR during Cold War

Nelson Mandela

anti-apartheid activist who became president after racial segregation ended

Apartheid

institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa (1948–1990s)

Partition of India

division into India and Pakistan causing mass migration and conflict (1947)

European Union

political and economic union promoting integration in Europe

Greenpeace

group advocating environmental protection globally

Internet

global communication network accelerating globalization and information exchange

Outsourcing

moving production to countries with lower labor costs

Climate Change

long-term changes in global temperatures linked to industrial activity

Pandemic

worldwide disease outbreaks affecting economies and societie