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French Revolution

1789–1799.

Haitian Independence

1804.

Wisconsin becomes a state

1848.

World War I

1914–1918.

Russian Revolution

1917.

World War II

1939–1945.

Indian Independence

1947.

Guatemalan Coup

1954.

Ghana’s Independence

1957.

Cuban Revolution

1953–1959.

Cultural Revolution

1966–1976.

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

1979.

Iranian Revolution

1979.

Collapse of Soviet Union

1991.

Rwandan genocide

1994.

2nd Gulf War in Iraq

2003.

Current War in Iran

2025–2026.

Monroe Doctrine

Policy that European powers should not interfere in the Americas and the U.S. would stay out of European affairs.

U.S. Imperialism and Spanish-American War

1898 war where U.S. gained Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Containment Policy

U.S. Cold War strategy to stop the spread of communism.

Domino Theory

Belief that if one country became communist, neighboring countries would follow.

United Fruit Company

American corporation that controlled large amounts of land and infrastructure in Guatemala.

Jacobo Arbenz

Democratically elected Guatemalan president who sought land reform.

Decree 900

Guatemalan law redistributing unused land to poor farmers.

PBSuccess

1954 CIA operation that overthrew Jacobo Arbenz.

Coup d’etat

The sudden, illegal seizure of government power.

Long-term consequences of Coup

Civil war, dictatorship, human rights abuses, and decades of instability.

Cuba Colonizer and Commodity

Spain; Sugar.

Impact of Haitian revolution on Cuban slavery

Increased sugar production and expanded slavery as plantation owners migrated to Cuba.

Platt Amendment

Allowed U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs and established a naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Fulgencio Batista

U.S.-backed military dictator of Cuba.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader who overthrew Batista in 1959.

Bay of Pigs

Failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba.

Nuclear deterrence

Theory that the possession of nuclear weapons prevents war due to the threat of retaliation.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 standoff between U.S. and USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba.

Trade embargo

U.S. economic restrictions on trade with Cuba.

Impact of Soviet Collapse on Cuban economy

Severe economic crisis known as the 'Special Period.'

Diversity of India

Vast variety of languages, religions, and ethnic groups.

Commodities important to Britain

Cotton, tea, spices, and indigo.

Amritsar Massacre

1919 killing of peaceful protesters that galvanized the Indian independence movement.

Mohandas Gandhi

Leader of Indian independence movement known for nonviolent resistance.

Henry David Thoreau

American thinker who influenced Gandhi’s view of civil disobedience.

Civil Disobedience

The nonviolent refusal to obey unjust laws.

Indian National Congress

The primary political party leading the Indian independence struggle.

Homespun

Hand-spun cloth promoted by Gandhi to resist British textiles.

Sarojini Naidu

Nationalist leader and close ally of Gandhi.

Salt March

1930 protest against British salt taxes.

Jinnah and Nehru

Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Muslim League/Pakistan founder) and Jawaharlal Nehru (first Prime Minister of India).

Partition

The 1947 division of British India into India and Pakistan.

Article 370

Granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party; a major Hindu nationalist party.

Narendra Modi

Current Prime Minister of India.

Reasons for African independence struggles

Artificial borders, lack of political experience, economic dependence, ethnic divisions, and colonial military power.

Kwame Nkrumah

First leader of independent Ghana and advocate for Pan-Africanism.

Patrice Lumumba

First Prime Minister of Congo, assassinated with foreign complicity.

Mobutu Sese Seko

Long-time U.S.-backed dictator of Zaire (Congo).

Hutu and Tutsi

Majority (Hutu) and minority (Tutsi) ethnic groups in Rwanda.

RPF

Rwandan Patriotic Front, a Tutsi-led rebel group.

Rwandan Genocide

1994 mass killing of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Gacaca

Community-based courts used in Rwanda for reconciliation.

Paul Kagame

Leader of the RPF and President of Rwanda.

Native Land Act

1913 law restricting Black land ownership in South Africa.

Apartheid

System of institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa.

Sharpeville Massacre

1960 killing of anti-apartheid protesters.

Nelson Mandela

Key anti-apartheid leader and first Black president of South Africa.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

South African body dedicated to uncovering truth and fostering healing.

Korean War

1950–1953 conflict between North and South Korea involving UN/U.S. forces.

38th Parallel

The latitude line dividing North and South Korea.

Kim Il Sung

First leader of North Korea.

Great Leap Forward

Mao’s plan for rapid industrialization; resulted in mass famine.

Cultural Revolution

Mao’s movement to purge capitalist/traditional influences; targeted the '4 Olds.'

Tiananmen Square Massacre

1989 crackdown on pro-democracy student protesters.

Deng Xiaoping

Chinese leader who introduced market reforms while maintaining authoritarian control.

Belt and Road Initiative

China's global infrastructure development program.

Mohammad Mosaddegh

Iranian leader overthrown in the 1953 CIA-backed coup.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Religious leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Wahhabi Islam

Conservative Sunni interpretation dominant in Saudi Arabia.

Mujahideen

Afghan fighters supported by the U.S. against the Soviet Union.

Blowback

Unintended negative consequences of U.S. foreign policy (e.g., funding Afghan fighters).

Saddam Hussein

Dictator of Iraq; removed in 2003.

1st Gulf War

1991 war to liberate Kuwait from Iraq.

2nd Gulf War

2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Strait of Hormuz

Critical waterway for global oil and energy supplies.