Key Events Leading to World War II

These flashcards provide key terms and definitions related to historical events leading to World War II.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. policy declared in 1823, warning European nations against further colonization in the Western Hemisphere.

Meiji Restoration

A period of rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan starting in 1868, aiming to strengthen Japan against Western powers.

Sino-Japanese War

A conflict between China and Japan from 1894 to 1895, resulting in Japan's significant territorial gains.

Triple Alliance

An alliance formed in the late 19th century among Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

Munich Agreement

A 1938 settlement allowing Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia without facing military opposition from Britain and France.

Axis Powers

The coalition led by Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

Allied Powers

The coalition of nations opposing the Axis powers, primarily including the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union.

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, marking the turning point in World War II in favor of the Allies.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

Berlin Conference

A meeting in 1884-1885 where European powers divided Africa among themselves, formalizing colonial claims.

The Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that started in 1929, contributing to social and political upheaval globally.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

A treaty signed in 1918, withdrawing Russia from World War I and ceding significant territory to Germany.

The Enabling Act

Legislation that gave Hitler extraordinary powers and helped him solidify Nazi control in Germany in 1933.

The Beer Hall Putsch

A failed coup d'état by Hitler and the Nazi Party in 1923 aimed at overthrowing the Weimar government.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

A non-aggression treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed in 1939, including secret protocols for partitioning Eastern Europe.

Lend-Lease Act

A U.S. program that supplied Allied nations with material during World War II, enacted in 1941.

Platt Amendment

Legislation that granted the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs, implemented after Cuba's independence.

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy aimed at ensuring equal trading rights for all nations in China, without monopolizing the markets.

The Kruger Telegram

A telegram sent by Kaiser Wilhelm II congratulating the Boers on defeating the British, escalating tensions between Britain and Germany.