8B Communism in China and Decolonization

Arab League

An international organization of independent Arab states formed in 1945 for joint defense and economic cooperation

Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

Authoritarian political party that has ruled China from 1949 to the present

Cultural Revolution

Campaign in China ordered by Mao Zedong to purge the Communist Party of his opponents and instill revolutionary values in the younger generation.

David Ben-Gurion

First Prime Minister of Israel when the country was established in 1948

Domino Theory

The idea that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control.

Gamal Abdel Nasser

President of Egypt 1956-1970. Nationalized the Suez canal, promoted Arab unity. Lost the Six Day War with Israel. Promoted Egyptian modernization like the Aswan High Dam

Great Leap Forward

economic and social plan used in China from 1958 to 1961 which aimed to use China's vast population to rapidly transform the country from an agrarian economy into a modern industrial society.

Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese communist statesman who fought the Japanese in World War II and the French until 1954 and South vietnam until 1975 (1890-1969)

Kuomintang

Nationalist Party in China led by Jiang Jieshi, which began a war against the Communist Party led by Mao Zedong. Both fought for control of China, with Mao and the Communists ultimately winning in 1949.

Long March

A 6,000-mile journey made in 1934-1935 by Chinese Communists fleeing from Jiang Jieshi's Nationalist forces

Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung)

Leader of the Chinese Communists whose revolutionary army seized power in China in 1949

Ngo Dinh Diem

American ally in South Vietnam from 1954 to 1963; his repressive regime caused the Communist Viet Cong to thrive in the South and required increasing American military aid to stop a Communist takeover. he was killed in a coup in 1963.

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)

An organization founded in 1964 with the purpose of the "liberation of Palestine" through armed struggle

Pan-Arabism

A movement that calls for unification among Arab peoples and countries. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs constitute a single nation.

Partition of Palestine

after WWII land of what is now Israel was divided with half given to Jews and half to Palestinians; led to a war and conflicts that still occur today between Israel, Palestinians, and other countries surrounding them

Sun Yat-sen

Chinese nationalist revolutionary, founder and leader of the Kuomintang until his death. He attempted to create a liberal democratic political movement in China but was thwarted by military leaders.

Viet Cong

A Communist-led army and guerrilla force in South Vietnam that fought its government and was supported by North Vietnam.

Yasser Arafat

(1929-2004) Palestinian statesman who was chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Originally promoted war against Israel, he later embraced negotiation and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for engaging in peace talks with Israeli leaders.