AP World History Unit 4 Overview

  • 1900 - Present

  • The 20th Century was one of the most transformative and conflict-filled centuries in human history   * World Wars, Inventions, Communism (Rise & Fall), Feminism (Women’s Rights), Civil Rights, Medical/Scientific breakthroughs, computers, nuclear weapons (bombs & missiles)

Civilizations
  • Countries involved in World Wars → Britain, Germany, Japan, USSR, and the USA
  • Communist China and USSR
  • Independence movement in India
  • Apartheid in South Africa
  • Decolonization in Africa (ex. Ghana)
  • Emerging countries in S.E. Asia (ex. Vietnam)
  • Latin America
  • Israel
Interactions Between Humans and the Environment (Environment)
  • Key Terms & Ideas: Deforestation, Desertification, Climate Change, Green Revolution, Medical Innovations (polio vaccine, antibiotics, artificial heart)
  • Scientific Advances in the 20th Century   * Improved life AND threatened life   * Medical Advances     * Medicine, Vaccines, Surgery, etc.   * Atomic Weapons     * Humans have the power to destroy the planet.     * Mutually Assured Destruction
  • Food Production   * Commercial Farming (large-scale farming), Pesticides, GMOs, Green Revolution (science’s impact on agriculture)
  • Transportation & Communication   * Begin to “shrink” the world   * Globalization, travel, trade, migration, diseases, etc.
  • Pollution   * Climate Change, Extinctions
Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems (Economy)
  • Key Terms & Ideas: Anti-imperialism, communism, consumerism, free market economies/policies, free trade, Great Depression, NATO, OPEC, regional trade agreements (EU, NAFTA, ASEAN, etc.), third world/developing world, perestroika.
  • Capitalism began to dominate the world’s economy   * W. Europe & USA
  • Developing Countries fought for political and economic freedom
  • Socialism & Communism   * Gained supporters globally → USSR, China, Cuba, N. Korea
  • Globalization   * Changed work, production centers, goods, prices, etc.
State Building, Expansion, and Conflict (Political)
  • Key Terms & Ideas: Decolonization, appeasement, authoritarian regimes, containment, Fascism, government intervention in the economy, Indian National Congress, militarized states, proxy wars, segregation, superpowers, totalitarianism
  • Conflict & State Building   * World War I and World War II   * Decolonization movements     * Africa, India, Vietnam   * Communist Revolutions     * USSR, China, Cuba   * Genocides     * Armenian, Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda   * Cold War     * USA-NATO vs USSR-Warsaw Pact   * Total War & Modern Weapons     * Began to spread globally     * Widespread death & destruction   * Strongmen in Latin America     * Pinochet (Chile) & Juan Peron (Argentina)
Development and Interaction of Cultures (Culture)
  • Key Terms & Ideas: Culture convergence, cultural identities (Pan-Africanism, Pan-Arabism, Pan-Slavism, Negritude), popular culture (Dada, Socialism Realism), propaganda
  • The spread of cultures accelerated during the 20th century
  • Culture spread globally from the west   * Pop Culture   * Movies, music, sports, art, food, social networking, etc.
  • Some societies saw the spread of Western culture (westernization) as a threat to their own culture, traditions, and beliefs.
Development and Transformation of Social Structures (Social)
  • Key Terms & Ideas: Antisemitism, apartheid, exclusionary reactions (Xenophobia, race riots, citizenship restrictions), feminism, women’s suffrage
  • Social structures transformed in the 20th century   * Women began to gain rights (Suffrage) and equal treatment     * Education, work, leadership, voting, etc.   * “Classless” societies created     * Primarily in communist countries (China & USSR)     * Redistribution of land and resources   * Racism     * USA (Civil Rights → MLK) & South Africa (Apartheid → Nelson Mandela)     * Opportunities in education, work, politics, etc.
Protests & Motives for Change
  • Key Terms & Ideas:
  • Env: Modern Tech and Globalization Caused Pollution
  • Eco: Economic Inequalities
  • Pol: Unfair & Ineffective governments   * Colonial masters, between the wars governments, communist regimes, Arab Spring)
  • Soc: Unfair social structures protested against   * Women, Civil Rights, Apartheid
  • Cul: Retain cultural identity
Int’l Organizations
  • Key Terms & Ideas:
  • Pol: UN (United Nations, EU (European Union)
  • Env: WHO (World Health Organization)
  • Eco: IMF (International Monetary Fund)   * Transnational Organizations → Wealthy from the global spread

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