topic 9 terms

Zionism

  • A late 19th-century nationalist movement.

  • Aiming to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

  • Key Figures in Zionism:

    • Chaim Weizmann: Zionist leader who garnered British support during WWI.

    • Objective of Leadership: Argued that a Jewish presence in Palestine would protect British interests in the Suez Canal.

    • Impact: Transitioned Zionism from a niche movement to a significant geopolitical factor.

Balfour Declaration

  • A public statement issued by Britain during WWI.

  • Expressed support for "a national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, which was part of the Ottoman Empire at the time.

  • Strategic Purpose:

    • Aimed to gain support from American and Russian Jews.

    • Intended to ensure British control over the region following the war.

Pan-Arabism

  • A political and cultural movement advocating for the unity of Arab countries.

  • Originated in the late 19th century as a reaction to Ottoman rule.

  • Arab Revolt (1916):

    • Arabs allied with Britain against the Ottoman Empire.

    • Hoped to establish an independent and united Arab state.

Kemal Ataturk

  • A Turkish field marshal noted for his defense at Gallipoli during WWI.

  • Following the Ottoman defeat and subsequent Allied occupation, he led the Turkish National Movement.

  • Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923):

    • Expelled foreign forces from Anatolia.

    • Established the secular Republic of Turkey.

Reza Khan

  • A military officer who led a coup d'état in Persia (Iran) in 1921 amidst post-WWI instability.

  • Became Shah in 1925.

  • **Modernization Reforms:

    • Aimed to strengthen the state against foreign interference, particularly from British and Soviet powers.**

Mohandas Gandhi

  • Leader of the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.

  • Advocated for Satyagraha (passive resistance).

  • Technique and Goal:

    • Aimed to secure concessions without engaging in armed conflict, ultimately seeking total independence.

    • Achieved independence shortly after WWII.

Civil Disobedience

  • Defined as peaceful, non-violent political action.

  • Citizens refuse to obey certain laws or taxes to bring about government change.

  • Implemented by Gandhi to undermine British administration in India without resorting to violent methods.

Guomintang

  • The Chinese Nationalist Party.

  • Led by Chiang Kai-shek.

  • Objectives:

    • First aimed to unite China against warlords, then to confront the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the Chinese Civil War.

    • Eventually shifted focus to lead Chinese resistance against Japanese invasion during WWII.

Great Depression

  • A significant worldwide economic downturn occurring during the 1930s.

  • Resulted in extreme political instability globally.

  • Catalyst for War:

    • Contributed to the rise of fascist regimes in Germany and Italy.

    • These regimes promised economic recovery through expansionist foreign policies and militarism.

Fascism

  • Defined as a far-right, authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology.

  • Emerged in Europe after WWI.

  • Characteristics:

    • Dictatorial power and the forcible suppression of opposition.

    • Strong regimentation of society and the economy.

    • Served as the foundational ideology for the Axis Powers in WWII.

Benito Mussolini

  • The fascist dictator of Italy.

  • Came to power in 1922.

  • Goals:

    • Aimed to establish an Italian Empire.

    • Led military campaigns, including an invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.

    • Aligned with Hitler during WWII, bringing Italy into the war in 1940.

Adolf Hitler

  • Leader of the Nazi Party.

  • Became Chancellor of Germany in 1933.

  • Ideological Foundations:

    • Advocated for racial supremacy.

    • Sought Lebensraum (living space) for Germany.

    • Led to the remilitarization of Germany and annexation of territories.

    • His actions sparked the invasion of Poland, marking the beginning of WWII.

Third Reich

  • Nazism's designation for Germany from 1933 to 1945.

  • Characterized by the totalitarian regime under Hitler and the Nazi Party.

  • War Aims:

    • Focused on racial expansion and involved in the Holocaust.

    • sought to establish dominance over Europe.

Nuremberg Laws of 1935

  • A series of antisemitic laws enacted by the Nazi regime in 1935.

  • Key Provisions:

    • Stripped Jews of German citizenship.

    • Prohibited marriages and sexual relations between Jews and Germans.

    • Established the legal framework for the systemic persecution and eventual genocide of European Jews during WWII.