SS Study Guide

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty signed in 1919 that officially ended World War I, imposing harsh conditions on Germany, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations.

Russian Revolution of 1917

Series of revolutions in Russia that led to the overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy, the establishment of a provisional government, and eventually the rise of the Bolsheviks.

Bolshevik Revolution of 1917

The October Revolution in Russia, led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party, which resulted in the overthrow of the provisional government and the establishment of a socialist government.

Vladimir Lenin

Russian revolutionary and political leader who was the first head of the Soviet Union. He led the Bolshevik Party and played a key role in the Russian Revolution.

Russian Civil War (1918-1920)

Armed conflict in Russia following the Bolshevik Revolution, between the Red Army (Bolsheviks) and the White Army (anti-Bolshevik forces), resulting in the victory of the Bolsheviks.

Totalitarianism

Political system in which the government has total control over all aspects of public and private life, often characterized by a single ruling party, censorship, and suppression of dissent.

Benito Mussolini and Fascism

Italian dictator who founded the National Fascist Party and ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. Fascism is a far-right political ideology characterized by authoritarianism, nationalism, and dictatorial power.

Adolf Hitler and Nazism

German dictator who led the Nazi Party and ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. Nazism is an extreme form of fascism associated with Hitler and the ideology of Aryan supremacy.

Getúlio Vargas

Brazilian politician who served as the President of Brazil for multiple terms, implementing social and economic reforms and establishing a populist government.

Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)

Economic policy aimed at developing domestic industries by restricting imports and promoting local production of goods.

Estado Novo (New State)

Authoritarian regime established by Getúlio Vargas in Brazil in 1937, characterized by centralization of power and suppression of political opposition.

Failure of the League of Nations

International organization founded after World War I to promote peace and security, but ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II.

Great Depression

Severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s, leading to high unemployment, poverty, and a collapse of the global financial system.

Lebensraum

Hitler's expansionist policy seeking to acquire "living space" for the German people, often by military means and at the expense of other nations.

Anschluss

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, which violated the Treaty of Versailles and was a precursor to further German aggression.

Policy of Appeasement

Diplomatic strategy pursued by Western powers, particularly Britain and France, in the 1930s, which involved making concessions to aggressor nations (such as Germany) to avoid conflict.

Munich Conference / Nazi-Soviet Pact (1938)

Meeting of European leaders in Munich in 1938, where Britain and France agreed to Hitler's demands regarding the annexation of Czechoslovakia. The Nazi-Soviet Pact was a non-aggression treaty signed between Germany and the Soviet Union the same year.

Japan's Growing Resentment against the U.S.

The rise of tensions between Japan and the United States in the 1930s, fueled by Japan's expansionist ambitions in Asia and disagreements over trade policies.

Allied Powers

The alliance of nations, including the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and others, that opposed the Axis Powers during World War II.

Axis Powers

The alliance of nations, including Germany, Italy, and Japan, that opposed the Allied Powers during World War II.

Blitzkrieg - "Lightning War"

A military tactic used by the Germans during World War II, involving fast-moving armored forces and coordinated air support to quickly overwhelm enemy defenses.

Tripartite Pact (Berlin Pact) 1940

Agreement signed between Germany, Italy, and Japan, establishing the Axis Powers' mutual support and cooperation during World War II.

Battle of Britain

Air campaign fought between the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe over Britain in 1940-1941, which resulted in a strategic victory for the Allies.

Operation Barbarossa

Code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, marking a significant turning point in World War II.

Pearl Harbor Attack

Surprise military strike by the Japanese against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, leading to the United States' entry into World War II.

Carpet Bombing / Saturation Bombing

A bombing technique used during World War II, involving the indiscriminate bombing of a large area to inflict maximum damage and demoralize the enemy.

Operation Overlord / D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, which marked a crucial turning point in World War II and led to the liberation of Western Europe from German occupation.

Nuremberg Tribunal

International military tribunal held after World War II to prosecute prominent Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Malta Conference

Meeting between Allied leaders, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, held in Malta in 1945 to discuss war strategy and post-war Europe.

Potsdam Conference

Meeting of Allied leaders, including Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill (later replaced by Clement Attlee), and Joseph Stalin, held in Potsdam, Germany, in 1945 to discuss post-war policies and the occupation of Germany.

The Marshall Plan (European Recovery Program)

Economic aid program initiated by the United States in 1948 to provide financial assistance to war-torn European countries for their post-war reconstruction and to prevent the spread of communism.

United Nations

International organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations and to address global issues.

Iron Curtain

Term coined by Winston Churchill referring to the ideological and physical division between Western Europe (capitalist) and Eastern Europe (communist) during the Cold War.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

Military doctrine based on the concept that the use of nuclear weapons by opposing sides would lead to the total annihilation of both parties, acting as a deterrent against their use.

Nuclear Deterrence

The strategy of maintaining a nuclear arsenal to deter an adversary from launching a nuclear attack by ensuring the certainty of a devastating retaliatory response.

Proxy War / Conflicts

Indirect military conflicts fought between two opposing powers, often using third-party nations or non-state actors as proxies.

Policy of Containment

U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War aimed at preventing the spread of communism and Soviet influence by containing it within its existing boundaries.

Truman Doctrine

U.S. policy announced in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman, providing economic and military aid to countries threatened by communism, particularly in Greece and Turkey.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would also fall like a row of dominoes, leading to the spread of communism in a region.

Berlin Blockade

Soviet blockade of West Berlin from 1948 to 1949, cutting off the city from Western supplies in an attempt to gain control. It was eventually overcome by the Berlin Airlift.

Non-Aligned Movement (1961)

Political movement of countries that chose not to align with either the Soviet Union or the United States during the Cold War, seeking to maintain independence and promote their own interests.

De-Stalinization

Policy introduced by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in the mid-1950s to denounce and dismantle the cult of personality surrounding Joseph Stalin, initiating a period of political reform in the Soviet Union.

Khrushchev's Policy of Peaceful Coexistence

Soviet foreign policy introduced by Nikita Khrushchev, promoting peaceful competition and coexistence between the Soviet Union and the capitalist West.

Good Neighbor Policy

U.S. foreign policy introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, seeking to improve relations with Latin American countries through mutual respect and non-intervention.

Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty)

Agreement signed by multiple American countries in 1947, stating that an armed attack against one member would be considered an attack against all, promoting collective security in the Americas.

Organization of American States (OAS)

Regional organization established in 1948 to promote cooperation, peace, and democracy among member states in the Americas.

United Fruit Company

American corporation involved in the production and export of bananas and other tropical fruits in Central America, which had significant economic and political influence in the region.

The Dulles Brothers (John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles)

John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State and Allen Dulles as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). They played influential roles in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.

Decade of Spring

Period in Latin American history during the 1940s and 1950s characterized by the rise of democratic governments and political stability in the region.

Guatemalan Coup (1954)

U.S.-backed overthrow of the democratically elected President of Guatemala, Jacobo Árbenz, by a military coup, which led to years of political instability and authoritarian rule.

The Silent Holocaust

Refers to the period of state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses in Guatemala from the 1960s to the 1980s, resulting in the deaths and disappearances of thousands of Guatemalans.

Juan Perón / Infamous Decade

Juan Perón was an Argentine military officer and politician who served as President of Argentina, and the Infamous Decade refers to the period of his rule from 1946 to 1955, characterized by populism, authoritarianism, and economic policies.

Peronism

Political ideology and movement associated with Juan Perón in Argentina, emphasizing social justice, labor rights, and economic nationalism.

Operation Condor

Covert intelligence and military operation carried out by South American dictators during the 1970s and 1980s, aimed at suppressing political opposition and eliminating perceived communist threats.

National Reorganization Process

Military dictatorship in Argentina from 1976 to 1983, marked by widespread human rights violations, state terrorism, and the disappearance of thousands of individuals.

Dirty War / "War against Subversion"

Refers to the state-sponsored terrorism and human rights abuses carried out by the military junta in Argentina during the 1970s as part of their efforts to suppress perceived political subversion.

Madres de Plaza de Mayo

Argentine mothers who protested and demanded information about the fate of their missing children who were forcibly disappeared during the military dictatorship.

Cuban Revolution

Revolution led by Fidel Castro and others, resulting in the overthrow of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista and the establishment of a socialist government in Cuba.

Fidel Castro

Cuban communist revolutionary and politician who served as the Prime Minister and later the President of Cuba, leading the country through the Cuban Revolution and into the Cold War era.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Tense confrontation in 1962 between the United States, the Soviet Union, and Cuba, stemming from the placement of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, which nearly led to a nuclear war.

Failed Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Military intervention by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989, aimed at supporting the communist government but ultimately resulting in a costly and unsuccessful war for the Soviets.

Taliban (Afghanistan)

Militant Islamic fundamentalist group that emerged in the 1990s, gained control over much of Afghanistan, and harbored terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda.

Glasnost and Perestroika

Policies introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, promoting openness, transparency, and economic reforms within the Soviet Union, leading to significant political and social changes.