Time Period 4 Vocabulary

Flashcards summarizing key vocabulary from the Time Period 4.

Tiananmen Square massacre

Occurred in 1989 as a growing, educated middle class of Chinese demanded democratic reforms to their government.

Chinese communism (1949)

China set up a communist state, following many of Russia’s policies, but focuses on large peasant pop. Great Leap Forward and Cultural Rev. require brutal gov’t control with millions dead or imprisoned.

Asian Tigers

South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore experienced rapid industrialization and export-driven economies to fuel consumerism in the West (continuity since 1200s)

Greenhouse gas/global warming

Since the Industrial Revolution, human use of fossil fuels has led to increased carbon in the Earth’s atmosphere which traps in the sun’s heat leading to global warming.

Overconsumption

As populations, consumerism and globalization increase, natural resources are in decline (forests, fresh water, land, animal species); the world’s richest regions continue to exploit + extract resources from poor regs.

Global Pandemics

Spanish Influenza of 1918, HIV/AIDS, Coronavirus all spread rapidly due to increased global interactions and movement of people (transportation tech, travel, international business).

Second Wave Feminism

Global movement to confront all gender inequalities including birth control, equal pay, education, political office, and protest.

Mexican Revolution

Occurred between 1910-1920; removed Porfirio Diaz (dictator), land reform, peasants and workers’ rights, and a constitution was formed.

Global Depression between the wars

Led to dramatic decline and production in trade, which had a devastating effect on regions like Central and South America that depend on foreign trade for their agricultural production.

Communist Cuba

Under Castro gave Russia an ally in the Caribbean, which increased Cold War tensions.

India

Became the center of clothing in shoe production for global (often U.S.) companies like Nike + H&M = exploitation of cheap labor and Indian English speakers are hired in millions for multinational call centers (tech support).

Advanced Technology in East Asia

South Korea and Japan become world leaders in banking, electronics, computing, and automobile manufacturing in the late 20th century.

Pan African Movement

Movement that attempts to create economic and political alliance among newly independent African states in order to avoid manipulation from Europe, U.S., and Russia

Arab Spring

Populations in the Middle East and North Africa demanding more democratic reforms to their governments, social and economic policies; use of social media to fuel the revolution and gain international support.

Second Wave Feminism in Europe

A global movement to confront all gender inequalities include birth control, equal pay, education, political office, and protest (i.e. Women’s Rights March of 2017).

Knowledge Economies

Countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland developing wealth through tech and information-based businesses with highly educated/skilled workers.

Technological Advancements

Birth control tech. provides women more choice/control, Green Revolution dramatically increases crop production, vaccines/antibiotics decrease the spread of disease, longer lives lead to disease of longevity, and the Internet allows for global communication.

Command Economies

Nazi Germany, China (Great Leap) and Russia (Stalin’s 5-year Plans) set up command economies that force laborers and farmers to meet monthly production quotas with strong results but at the cost of civil rights millions of lives (starvation, prison camps, etc).

Decolonization

Independence movements across Africa, Indian, and Southeast Asia = new nations struggling to establish themselves in a rapidly globalized world; the legacy of colonization makes it difficult to develop strong governments and economies (i.e. partition of India/Pakistan between Hindu and Muslim states).

economic liberalization/“free markets”

Becomes dominant trend as countries remove barriers and regulations to trade, R. Reagan + M. Thatcher want less gov’t support/services to encourage competition + decrease gov’t spending

Old World Order Decline

Domination of global trade by Europe declines after World Wars as U.S., Soviet Union and eventually regional groups like the Asian “Tigers” rapidly industrialize and form influential export economies (Japan, South Korea, China).

Surrogate/proxy wars

Much of the violent conflict during this time period comes from the U.S. and Soviet Union using smaller countries to fight on their behalf to protect the spread of communism or capitalism (Vietnam War, Korean War).