Unit 8 ap world history

Unit 8: Global Conflict and Cooperation (20th Century)

• Causes of World War I: Nationalism, militarism, complex alliances, imperialism, and assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

• Major Players: Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire) vs. Allied Powers (France, Britain, Russia, later the U.S.).

• End of WWI: Treaty of Versailles (1919) imposed heavy reparations on Germany, redrew borders, and created the League of Nations.

• Interwar Period: Economic hardship and political instability led to the rise of totalitarian regimes (Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy, Stalin in the Soviet Union).

• Causes of World War II: Expansionist policies of totalitarian regimes, failures of the League of Nations, and the Great Depression.

• Major Events of WWII: Blitzkrieg in Europe, Pearl Harbor, the Holocaust, D-Day.

• Cold War Origins: Tensions between the U.S. (capitalism) and the USSR (communism) after WWII, leading to various proxy wars.

• Decolonization: Post-WWII movements for independence in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, ending colonial rule.

• Globalization: Economic interdependence and cultural exchange increased in the late 20th century, leading to new challenges and cooperation among nations.

• Post-Cold War Era: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to a shift in global power dynamics, emergence of new nations, and increased focus on issues such as terrorism and climate change.