Modern World History Final Exam Study Guide

Flashcards on Modern World History focusing on China and South Asia

China's Cultural Revolution

Mao's campaign (1966-76) to remove capitalist/traditional elements

Significance of China's Cultural Revolution

Caused massive violence, suppressed intellectuals, and destabilized Chinese society

The Hundred Flowers Campaign

1956 invitation for open criticism that ended in repression

Significance of the Hundred Flowers Campaign

Showed the limits of free speech under Mao; led to Anti-Rightist purges

The Great Leap Forward

1958-62 effort to industrialize and collectivize

Significance of the Great Leap Forward

Triggered one of the deadliest famines in history (15-45M deaths)

Uyghur

Ethnic Muslim minority in Xinjiang, China

Significance of the Uyghur people

Subjected to mass surveillance, forced labor, and internment camps; a modern human rights crisis

Tibet

Autonomous region controlled by China since 1950

Significance of Tibet

Ongoing resistance to Chinese rule; raises issues of cultural genocide and sovereignty

Amritsar Massacre

1919 British troops killed peaceful protesters in India

Significance of the Amritsar Massacre

Sparked nationalist outrage and galvanized support for independence

British Raj

British colonial rule over India (1858-1947)

Significance of the British Raj

Exploited resources, imposed English systems, and left behind ethnic/religious divisions

Satyagraha

Gandhi's nonviolent resistance strategy

Significance of Satyagraha

Inspired civil rights movements globally and helped win Indian independence

Salt March

1930 protest against British salt tax led by Gandhi

Significance of the Salt March

Symbol of nonviolent resistance; drew global attention to India's cause

1947 Partition

Division of India into India & Pakistan

Significance of the 1947 Partition

Led to massive migration, violence, and continuing India-Pakistan tensions

Kashmir

Disputed region between India and Pakistan

Significance of Kashmir

Ongoing flashpoint for war and ethnic/religious tension

Narendra Modi

Current Indian Prime Minister

Significance of Narendra Modi

Nationalist policies have stirred both economic growth and controversy over minority rights

Hamas

Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization; fought Israel since 1987

The 6 Day War

1967 war where Israel captured territory from Egypt, Syria, and Jordan

Intifada

Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation

Muhammad Mosaddeq

Iranian PM overthrown in 1953 for nationalizing oil

Ayatollah Khomeini

Leader of the Iranian Revolution; established Islamic Republic

Operation Condor

US-backed campaign of repression in South America (1960s-80s)

Guatemalan Migrant Crisis

Increased migration due to violence, poverty, and climate change

Colombian Drug Wars

Decades-long conflict fueled by drug trade, guerrillas, and paramilitaries

Haiti gang violence

Increased instability and violence after political turmoil and natural disasters

Daniel Ortega

Nicaraguan president; leader of Sandinistas; authoritarian rule

Sandinistas/Contras

Socialist revolutionaries (Sandinistas) vs US-backed rebels (Contras) in Nicaragua

Mexican Drug Cartels

Powerful criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and violence

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan president; socialist policies; economic crisis and authoritarianism

UN Declaration on Human Rights

Defines fundamental human rights; adopted by UN in 1948

Yugoslav Wars/Bosnian Genocide

Conflicts in former Yugoslavia; ethnic cleansing; Bosnian Genocide (1992-95)

Mikhail Gorbachev

Last leader of the Soviet Union; reforms led to its collapse

Chernobyl

Nuclear disaster in Ukraine (1986); exposed flaws in Soviet system

Any 1989 Revolution (End of Cold War)

Fall of Berlin Wall, Velvet Revolution; collapse of communist regimes

Three Gorges Dam

Largest hydroelectric dam in the world; environmental and social impacts

Paris Climate Accords

International agreement to combat climate change

Intersectionality

Interconnected nature of social categorizations; creates overlapping discrimination

Fake News

False or misleading information spread as news

Outrage Media

Media designed to provoke emotional response; often lacks context