AP World Unit 7 Illustrative Examples

1900 - present

Young ottomans + young turks

Two reformist movements in the Ottoman Empire. The Young Ottomans sought to modernize the empire and implement constitutional reforms, while the Young Turks aimed to create a more secular and nationalist government.

Russian Revolution

A series of revolutions in 1917 that led to the overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy and the establishment of a communist government in Russia, significantly altering the political landscape of the country.

Led to the creation of the Soviet Union and marked the beginning of a new era in Russian history.

The revolution was characterized by widespread social unrest, economic hardship, and discontent with the ruling monarchy, ultimately leading to the rise of the Bolsheviks and the end of imperial rule.

Boxer Rebellion

A violent uprising in China from 1899 to 1901 aimed at expelling foreign influence and missionaries, which ultimately led to increased foreign intervention and the suppression of the Boxers by an international coalition.

Mao Zedong

The founding father of the People's Republic of China and a key figure in the Chinese Communist Party. He led the communist revolution and established a one-party state, significantly impacting China's political and social landscape.

Mexican Revolution

A major armed struggle from 1910 to 1920 aimed at ending the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz and establishing a constitutional republic in Mexico, marked by social reforms and land redistribution.

Creation of a constitution including universal male suffrage and minimum wage laws, along with land reform policies that aimed to benefit peasants and redistribute land from large estates.

Triple Alliance

A military alliance formed between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in 1882, aimed at mutual defense and balancing power against rival coalitions.

Triple Entente

The alliance formed between France, Russia, and Great Britain before World War I, intended to counterbalance the power of the Triple Alliance.

MAIN

an acronym for Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism, identifying key factors contributing to World War I. Militarism emphasizes military strength; Alliances involve mutual defense agreements; Imperialism focuses on expanding territorial dominance; and Nationalism fosters strong national pride, often leading to hostility towards other nations. These factors created a volatile environment in Europe that contributed to the outbreak of the war.

Total War

a conflict where nations mobilize all available resources and personnel for warfare, affecting both military and civilian life, often disregarding traditional limits on warfare.

Trench warfare

a military strategy used in World War I, characterized by soldiers fighting from fortified positions in deep trenches. This led to prolonged stalemates and significant casualties due to the challenging conditions and defensive tactics employed.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that officially ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany while establishing the League of Nations to promote peace and prevent future conflicts.

Stalin’s 5-year plan

A series of nationwide centralized economic goals aimed at rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union during the late 1920s and 1930s.

These plans aimed to transform the Soviet economy from agrarian to industrial, prioritizing heavy industry and eliminating private farming.

Led to Famine in areas like Ukraine due to forced grain requisitioning and harsh agricultural policies, significantly impacting the population.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, aimed at providing economic relief, recovery, and reform through government intervention in the economy.

Mandate System

A system established by the League of Nations after World War I to administer former territories of the Central Powers, dividing them into mandates controlled by various Allied powers until they were deemed ready for independence.

This was ineffective as the mandates often saw little true self-governance, perpetuating control and economic exploitation.

Sino-Japanese War

A conflict between China and Japan primarily fought from 1937 to 1945, characterized by significant Japanese aggression and expansionism in China, leading to widespread atrocities such as the Nanking Massacre.

Indian National Congress

A political party in India founded in 1885 that played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement against British rule, advocating for self-governance and civil rights.

African National Congress

A political organization in South Africa founded in 1912 that aimed to fight for the rights and privileges of black South Africans, playing a major role in the anti-apartheid movement and promoting racial equality.

Fascism

A far-right political ideology characterized by authoritarianism, nationalism, and the suppression of dissent, which emerged in early 20th-century Europe, notably in Italy under Mussolini.

Nazi was a form of fascism that emerged in Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, marked by extreme nationalism, racism, and totalitarian control.

Communism

Soviet Union

was a political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society where the means of production are owned communally, significantly influencing global politics in the 20th century.

Axis Power

Allies during World War II, primarily Germany, Italy, and Japan, who opposed the Allied Powers.

Fascism

Allied Powers

refers to the coalition of countries, including the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China, that opposed the Axis Powers in World War II.

Appeasement

A diplomatic strategy employed by European powers before World War II, aimed at preventing conflict by making concessions to aggressive nations, notably Nazi Germany.

Blitzkrieg

A military tactic used by Germany in World War II characterized by surprise attacks, rapid movement, and coordinated air and ground forces to quickly overwhelm the enemy.

Firebombs

were incendiary bombs used extensively in World War II to cause widespread destruction and fires in urban areas, notably during bombing raids in cities like Tokyo and Dresden.

Atomic Bomb

A powerful weapon that uses nuclear reactions to create explosive energy, its use by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 led to Japan's surrender in World War II.

Japanese Internment Camps

Detention centers established by the U.S. government during World War II where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and confined, primarily out of fear of espionage and loyalty concerns.

Armenian Genocide

The systematic extermination of the Armenian population by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians.

This atrocity is considered one of the first modern genocides, with widespread forced deportations and mass killings.

Holocaust

The genocide of six million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany during World War II, marked by mass extermination in concentration camps.

It represented a systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder, characterized by the use of industrial methods.

Cambodian Genocide

The mass killing of Cambodian citizens by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people due to starvation, forced labor, and execution. This genocide targeted intellectuals, professionals, and minorities, aiming to transform Cambodia into a communist agrarian society.