Unit 7 and 8 Review 2025

Page 1: World War I and Pre-War Context

Overview of World War I

• Overarching Factors in Starting WWI:

  • Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism contributed to tensions between nations.

Specific Contexts

• Eastern vs. Western Front:

  • The Eastern Front involved larger battles and significant movements (more fluid military tactics), while the Western Front was characterized by trench warfare and stalemate.

• Nicholas II:

  • Last Emperor of Russia whose failure to address domestic issues and military losses led to discontent, contributing to the February Revolution.

• German Civilians' Problems:

  • Faced food shortages, economic hardship due to blockades, and social unrest.

• Zionism/Balfour Declaration:

  • A movement for Jewish national revival; the Balfour Declaration (1917) supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Russian Revolution

• February Revolution:

  • Caused by dissatisfaction with Tsarist regime and economic strife; led to the abdication of Nicholas II.

• October Revolution:

  • Bolshevik takeover promising peace, land, and bread; led to withdrawal from WWI.

• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:

  • Peace treaty between Bolshevik government and Central Powers, ceding significant territories.

Post-War Frameworks

• Wilson's 14 Points:

  • A proposal aimed at peace negotiations and self-determination.

• Treaty of Versailles:

  • Ended WWI; imposed heavy reparations on Germany, altering boundaries and elevating tensions.

• Self-Determination:

  • The right of nations to self-govern; a significant theme in post-war diplomacy.

Page 2: Interwar Years and Global Developments

Changes and Responses

• Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928):

  • International agreement attempting to outlaw war as a means to resolve disputes.

• Fascism:

  • Authoritarian political ideology emphasizing nationalism and state power, exemplified by Mussolini in Italy.

• Collectivization and Five Years Plans:

  • Programs initiated by the Soviet Union to increase agricultural and industrial output.

Global Conflicts

• New Deal:

  • Economic recovery program in the USA to combat the Great Depression.

• Appeasement:

  • Policy of making concessions to aggressive powers, notably Hitler's Germany, before WWII.

• Manchurian/Mukden Incident (1931):

  • Japanese invasion of Manchuria, highlighting early tensions leading to WWII.

• Mao Zedong and the Long March:

  • Key events in Chinese Communist history promoting Mao's leadership.

• Vichy France:

  • The puppet regime in France during German occupation in WWII, characterized by collaboration with Nazis.

War Dynamics

• Siege of Stalingrad:

  • Turning point in WWII, marking the beginning of the decline of Nazi power.

• Atomic Bomb:

  • Used by the USA to bring about Japan's surrender, marking a significant shift in military strategy and global power dynamics.

Page 3: Cold War Era

Cold War Structure

• Viet Cong:

  • Communist guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam, key players in the Vietnam War.

• Bay of Pigs Invasion:

  • Failed CIA operation to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba, increasing tensions.

• Cuban Missile Crisis:

  • 1962 confrontation between the USA and USSR over Soviet missiles in Cuba, a pivotal moment in Cold War tensions.

Key Conflicts and Policies

• US Overthrow of Latin Governments (CIA):

  • US interventions in Latin America to prevent perceived communist expansion.

• Korean War:

  • Conflict between North and South Korea, representing Cold War ideologies.

• Non-aligned Nations:

  • Countries that rejected alignment with the major Cold War powers.

• Ho Chi Minh:

  • Leader of North Vietnam, symbolizing anti-imperialist struggles in Vietnam.

Cold War Outcomes

• Tenses Moments:

  • Military stand-offs, arms races, and ideological battles shaped global relations.

• Welfare State:

  • Positives included social safety nets; negatives involved increased government control and taxation.

• Changing Roles of Women Post-WWII:

  • Increased participation in the workforce and civil rights movements.

• USSR's Communist System Outcomes:

  • Positives included industrialization; negatives involved repression and economic inefficiencies.

Page 4: Decolonization and Globalization

Key Figures and Movements

• Kwame Nkrumah:

  • Leader in Ghana's independence movement, promoting pan-African unity.

• Jomo Kenyatta:

  • Leader in Kenya’s independence movement against British colonial rule.

• Apartheid:

  • Racial segregation system in South Africa; led to resistance from ANC and international condemnation.

• Mohandas Gandhi:

  • Leader of the Indian independence movement through non-violent resistance.

Indian Independence

• Indian National Congress:

  • Major political party leading the struggle for independence from British rule.

• Jawaharlal Nehru:

  • First Prime Minister of India; key figure in modern Indian politics.

• Muhammad Ali Jinnah:

  • Leader of the All-India Muslim League; advocated for Pakistan's creation.

Global Conflicts and Changes

• Solidarity:

  • Trade union movement in Poland which became a major political force against communist rule.

• Salvador Allende:

  • Marxist president of Chile, overthrown in a military coup.

• Dirty War:

  • Period of state terrorism in Argentina against political dissidents.

• Ayatollah Khomeini and Iran:

  • Leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, establishing an Islamic Republic.

• Asian Tigers:

  • Refers to the rapid-growing economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

• Perestroika and Glasnost:

  • Initiatives by Mikhail Gorbachev to reform the Soviet economy and promote transparency in government.