IB History HL 1-2 Key Terms

alienation

The transformation of people's own labor into a power which rules them.

commodity fetishism

An economic concept where the social relationships involved in production are masked by the value placed on commodities.

atheism

The lack of belief in a higher power or participation in organized religion.

Bernstein, Eduard

German socialist theorist and politician who argued for peaceful transition rather than revolution.

bourgeoisie

The capitalist class that owns most of society's wealth and means of production.

capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and profit.

class struggle

Conflict between different economic classes.

communism

Political ideology birthed by Marx and Engels advocating for a classless society.

dialectic

Analyzing the truth behind one's opinions and the social dynamics involved.

dialectical materialism

Materialist theory based on Marx and Engels, focusing on real-world conditions.

Divine Right

The idea that monarchs have a God-given right to rule and hold power.

Engels, Friedrich

German philosopher and political theorist, collaborator with Marx.

German Idealism / Classical German Philosophy

Philosophical movement linked to Romanticism and revolutionary Enlightenment.

Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich

German philosopher who argued that history advances through the struggle between the oppressed and oppressors.

historical materialism

The combination of dialectics and materialism through a historical lens.

humanism

The belief in individualism and freedom under Marxism.

Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid industrialization from 1760 to 1840.

Kant, Immanuel

German philosopher who separates religion from science.

Lenin, V. I.

Russian revolutionary and the first head of government in Soviet Russia.

proletariat

The working class.

revisionism

Revised Marxism, prioritizing gradual reform over revolution.

socialism

A society where resources are owned and shared by the community.

Trotsky, Leon

Russian revolutionary who contributed to Marx's ideas and democratic communism.

utopianism

The idea of creating a perfect society with harmony and equality.

August Madness/ Spirit of 1914

The mobilization of major European countries realizing war was imminent.

Blank Cheque

Germany's unconditional support to Austria in dealing with Serbia after the assassination.

deterrence

Preventing aggression by convincing opposing nations not to attack.

Dreadnought

Type of battleship that revolutionized naval warfare during WWI.

Eastern Question

How major powers planned the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

July Crisis

A series of escalations leading to the outbreak of WWI.

Live and Let Live

Cooperative behavior seen during WWI's trench warfare.

Lusitania/ Unrestricted submarine

A German submarine attack on an American passenger ship, leading to U.S. involvement in WWI.

militarism

The belief in building a strong military to deter aggression.

nationalism

Loyalty to one’s nation, often believing in its superiority.

Neutral Buffer Zone

Territories intended to remain neutral during conflicts.

New Imperialism

The late 19th-early 20th century expansionist policies of powerful nations.

No-Man’s Land

The dangerous territory between opposing trench lines in warfare.

November Criminals

German officials blamed for signing the Treaty of Versailles.

primacy of the offensive vs. defensive

Strategies focusing on offensive attacks versus defensive measures.

Realpolitik vs. Weltpolitik

Pragmatic governance vs. expansionist foreign policy.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's strategy for fighting a two-front war.

shell-shock

Extreme psychological distress experienced by soldiers due to wartime trauma.

Social Darwinism

Applying Darwin’s theory of evolution to social policies.

stalemate

A situation in wartime where neither side can gain advantage.

Total War

Warfare where countries use all resources to achieve complete victory.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918

The treaty marking Russia's exit from WWI.

War by Timetable

Conducting war based on a set schedule instead of adapting to circumstances.

War of Attrition

A conflict aimed at exhausting the enemy's resources.

Anti-Campaigns (Three and Five)

Campaigns launched in China targeting bourgeois, leading to mass executions.

Boxer Rebellion & Taiping Rebellion

Rebellions against foreign influence and the Qing Dynasty.

CCP (Chinese Communist Party)

Political party founded by Mao Zedong, focused on socialist reforms.

Comfort Women

Women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese forces.

Comintern

A communist organization promoting global communism initiated by the USSR.

Confucianism

Philosophy teaching social hierarchy and gender roles.

cooperative and collective farms

Cooperative is privately owned labor; collective is communal ownership.

Cultural Revolution

Movement to remove the Four Olds and create a radical ideology.

Denunciation / Humiliation / Purges (Begins 1949)

Methods enforcing loyalty among the CCP.

Double Tenth and the Qing Dynasty

The revolution ending Qing imperial rule.

Five Year Plans

Economic initiatives aimed at rapid industrial growth.

Foreign Enclaves (Concessions; end of Opium War)

Territories controlled by foreign powers in China.

The Fourth of May Movement

Cultural and political movement tied to nationalism against foreign control.

GMD (Guomindang)

The Nationalist Party of China, opposing the CCP.

Great Leap Forward

Campaign aiming for rapid industrialization, leading to famine.

Guerilla Warfare

Tactics using small-scale, fast-moving attacks.

Jiangxi Soviet (1927-1934)

Area of CCP control before being besieged.

Long March (1934-1935)

Strategic military retreat by Chinese Communists.

Mukden Incident

Pretext for Japanese invasion of China through staged sabotage.

Sun's Three Principles

Ideals promoting nationalism, democracy, and economic well-being.

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty ending WWI with severe penalties on Germany.

The Twenty-Eight Bolsheviks

Factions within the CCP influenced by Moscow.

United Front (GMD/CCP alliance)

Coalition against common enemies in China.

Warlord Era (1916-27)

Instability in China marked by warlords' control.

White Terror (1927)

GMD massacre of communists ending the United Front.

Amau Doctrine

Japanese doctrine asserting rights over Chinese affairs.

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

Alliance marking Japan's rise to power on the global stage.

Collective Security (Article 16 of League of Nations Charter)

Agreement for collective action against aggression.

Fascism

Far-right political ideology characterized by authoritarianism.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Japanese imperialistic concept asserting leadership over Asia.

Hull Note

Final proposal from the U.S. to Japan before Pearl Harbor.

Kwantung Army (and Mukden Incident/ Manchuria)

Japanese military action leading to the invasion of Manchuria.

League of Nations

International organization initiated to promote peace.

London Naval Treaties / Washington Naval Conference

Treaties aimed at preventing naval arms races.

Lytton Report

Report criticizing Japan's invasion of Manchuria.

Manchukuo

Puppet state established by Japan in Manchuria.

Meiji Emperor/Meiji Restoration

Period of modernization in Japan leading to its rise.

Open Door Policy

U.S. policy ensuring equal trade access in China.

Radical Nationalism/ Ultranationalism

Extreme nationalism promoting imperial expansion.

Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact (Nazi-Soviet Pact)

Non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR.

Russo-Japanese War

War demonstrating Japan's emergence as a world power.

Shōwa Emperor/Hirohito

Emperor during Japan's militarization and WWII.

Sino-Japanese Wars (x2)

Conflicts highlighting Japan's expansionist ambitions.

Stimson Doctrine

U.S. policy refusing to recognize territory gained by force.

Taisho Democracy

Period of liberal trends in early 20th century Japan.

Tripartite Intervention (not pact!)

Diplomatic intervention limiting Japan's territorial gains.

Tripartite Pact

Military alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan.

21 Demands

Japan's demands aimed at controlling China during WWI.

Zaibatsu

Large industrial conglomerates dominating Japan's economy.

Mandate

Territories administered under League of Nations oversight.

Racial Equality Clause

Japan's proposal for racial non-discrimination rejected at peace conference.

ABCD line

Economic blockade against Japan by the US, Britain, China, and the Dutch.