World History II SOL – Essential Information to Know
1
Development of States and Empires by 1500 C.E.
By 1500 C.E., major states and empires had developed in the Eastern Hemisphere:
Russia
(Muscovy)
(is north of the Black Sea)
England
France
Ottoman Empire
Spain
Ottoman Empire
(between the Black Sea
and the
Mediterranean Sea)
(between the Black Sea
and the
Mediterranean Sea)
China
(Qing)
Persia
(also known as
Safavid)
Mughal
(India)
2
In Africa and the Americas, the following empires had developed:
Major Religions by 1500 C.E.
By 1500 C.E., the following five major world religions had spread to many areas of the Eastern Hemisphere:
a. Judaism (concentrated in Europe and the Middle East)
b. Christianity (concentrated in Europe and the Middle East)
c. Islam (primarily in parts of Asia, Africa and Southern Europe)
d. Hinduism (primarily in India and parts of Southeast Asia)
e. Buddhism (primarily in East and Southeast Asia)
3
Trade by 1500 C.E.
Traditional trade routes that linked Europe with Asia and Africa included:
a. Silk Routes across Asia to the Mediterranean Basin
b. Maritime routes across the Indian Ocean
c. Trans-Saharan routes across North Africa
d. Northern European links with the Black Sea
e. Western European sea and river trade
f. South China Sea and lands of Southeast Asia
Technological and scientific advancements that were made and exchanged along these routes by 1500 C.E. included:
a. paper, the compass, silk and porcelain (all from China)
b. textiles and numeral systems (from India and the Middle East)
c. scientific knowledge included – medicine, astronomy and mathematics
The Renaissance
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rebirth of classical knowledge (Renaissance = rebirth).
Renaissance marks the "birth" of the modern world
Renaissance began in the city-states of
northern Italy and spread to northern Europe
contributions of the Renaissance include:
David
a. works of art created by Michelangelo
and Leonardo da Vinci
b. literary accomplishments (including sonnets,
plays and essays) of Shakespeare
c. ideas such as humanism (including
writings of Erasmus)
Mona Lisa
The Last Supper
Ceiling of Sistine Chapel
The Reformation
4
For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had little competition in religious thought and action. The resistance of
the Church to change led to the Protestant Reformation, which resulted in the birth of new political and economic
institutions.
Some of the disagreements that people had with the Roman Catholic Church ("the Church") during this time were:
1. merchant wealth challenged the Church's view of usury (usury = charging interest on loans)
2. German and English nobility disliked Italian domination of the Church
3. concern over the Church's great political power and wealth
4. Church corruption and the sale of indulgences (way to buy salvation) were widespread and caused conflict
Issues with the Church provoked religious reform (the "Protestant Reformation" or the "Reformation").
Four key figures (and their beliefs) in the movement for religious reform were:
Martin Luther
 some his views were:
1. salvation was achieved
through faith alone (not good deeds)
2. the Bible is the ultimate authority
3. all humans are equal before God
 acts that are attributed to him include:
1. wrote and posted the 95 Theses (about
abuses in the Church)
2. the birth of the Protestant Church
(specifically the Lutheran Church)
King Henry VIII
 his views included:
1. he dismissed the authority of the Pope
in Rome
 acts that are attributed to him include:
1. he divorced
2. broke with Rome
3. headed the national church in England
4. appropriated (took) lands and wealth
in England that belonged to the
Roman Catholic Church
John Calvin
 the Calvinist tradition
 some his views were:
1. salvation was predetermined
(known as "predestination")
2. a person shows faith by living a righteous
life
3. work ethic is important
 act that is attributed to him:
1. the expansion of the Protestant Movement
Queen Elizabeth
I
 Anglican Church
 showed tolerance for dissenters
 expansion and colonialism are key
characteristics of her reign
 was victorious over the Spanish Armada (1588)
5
The Reformation had its roots in disagreements about theology (religion), but it led to important economic and
political changes as well (not just religious changes). Religious differences and hatred caused war and destruction.
The Reformation in Germany:
1. princes in northern Germany converted to Protestantism, which ended the authority of the Pope in their
states
2. the Hapsburg family and the authority of the Holy Roman Empire continued to support the Roman
Catholic Church
3. conflict between Protestants and Catholics resulted in devastating wars (such as the Thirty Years' War)
The Reformation in France:
1. the Catholic monarchy granted Protestant Huguenots
freedom of worship by the Edict of Nantes
(which was later revoked)
2. Cardinal Richelieu changed the focus of the
Thirty Years' War from a religious to a
political conflict
Key People
John Calvin


Edict of Nantes
granted French Huguenots freedom
of religion in France
(Huguenots = French Protestants)
Cardinal Richelieu
King Henry (of France)
The Catholic Reformation (also known as the Counter-Reformation):
1. dissenters prior to Martin Luther included Jan Huss and John Wycliffe
2. the Counter-Reformation:
a. the Council of Trent reaffirmed most Church doctrine and practices
b. the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) was founded to spread Catholic doctrine around the world
c. the Inquisition was used to reinforce Catholic doctrine
At first, the Reformation divided the countries of Europe on religious principles, leading to religious intolerance.
Power in most European states was concentrated in the monarch. Gradually, religious tolerance emerged.
Some of the changing cultural values, traditions
and philosophies during the Reformation were:
1. the growth of secularism (separation of church and state; growing focus on non-religious)
2. the growth of individualism
3. the eventual growth of religious tolerance
The invention of the Gutenberg printing press played
an important role in helping to spread new ideas of
the Reformation and the Renaissance.
Because of the Gutenberg printing press:
1. literacy rates grew
2. the Bible was printed in
English, French and German
6
European Age of Discovery
With the loss of Constantinople in 1453, European nations fronting the Atlantic sought new maritime (sea) routes
for trade. The following contributed to European discovery of lands in the Western Hemisphere:
1. a demand for gold, spices and natural resources in Europe
2. political and economic competition between European empires
3. innovations of European and Islamic origins in navigational arts (caravel, compass, lateen sails, etc.)
4. the pioneering role of Prince Henry the Navigator (he was a Portuguese prince)
5. support for the diffusion of Christianity
The expansion of European empires in the Americas, Africa and Asia helped to spread Christianity:
1. Catholic and Protestant colonists migrated to new lands and carried Christianity, their languages and
their cultures with them
2. indigenous (native) people in the Americas, Africa and Asia converted to Christianity
Some of the most well-known of the European explorers (and the countries that sponsored them) are:
Vasco da Gama
(sponsored by Portugal)
Christopher Columbus (sponsored by Spain)
Hernando Cortes (sponsored by Spain)
conquered the Aztecs (in present-day Mexico)
Ferdinand Magellan (sponsored by Spain)
Sir Francis Drake (sponsored by England)
Jacques Cartier
(sponsored by France)
Francisco Pizarro
(sponsored by Spain)
conquered the Incas (along
western coast of South
America)
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
Effects of European exploration/colonization in the Americas:
a. expansion of overseas territorial claims and European
emigration to North and South America
b. the demise of the Aztec and Inca empires
c. left a legacy of a rigid class system and dictatorial rule in
Latin America
d. forced migration of Africans who had been enslaved
e. the colonies' imitation of the culture and social patterns
of their parent countries

Effects of European exploration/colonization on Africa included:
a. European trading posts were established
along the coasts of Africa
b. trade
African exports (sold from Africa) included:
1. slaves (the triangular trade)
2. raw materials (such as ivory and gold)
African imports (sold into Africa) included:
1. manufactured goods from Europe, Asia
and the Americas
2. new food products (such as corn and peanuts)
The discovery of the Americas by Europeans resulted in an
exchange of products and resources between the Eastern
and the Western Hemispheres (the Columbian Exchange).
1. Columbian Exchange
a. Western Hemisphere agricultural products
(such as corn, potatoes and tobacco)
changed European lifestyles
b. European horses and cattle changed the
lifestyles of American Indians
c. European diseases (such as smallpox) killed
many American Indians
2. Impact of the Columbian Exchange
a. a shortage of labor to grow cash crops led to the use of African slaves
b. slavery was based on race
c. the European plantation system in the Caribbean and the Americas destroyed indigenous economies
and damaged the environment
The European nations established a trade pattern known as the
Triangular Trade, which linked Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Precious metals (gold and silver to Asia and Africa), slaves, sugar
and rum were traded. The exports of metals from the Americas
negatively impacted the indigenous (native) population of the
Americas and led to an increase in silver in Spain and an increase
in international trade.
Effects of European exploration/colonization on Asia included:
a. colonization by small groups of merchants (India, the Indies and China)
b. the influence of trading companies (Portuguese, Dutch and British)
The Ottoman Empire
became powerful after conquering Constantinople
located in Asia Minor
 expanded into Southwest Asia, Southeastern Europe,
the Balkan Peninsula and North Africa
the capital at Constantinople was renamed Istanbul
unified by Islam, but accepting of other religions
traded coffee and ceramics
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The Mughal Empire
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located in northern India
rulers were Muslim and descendants of the Mongols
contributions of the Mughal Empire:
 the spread of Islam into India
 establishment of European trading outposts
 Indian textiles had impact on British textile industry
 construction of the Taj Mahal
Much of southern India remained independent and
continued international trade. Portugal, England and the
Netherlands competed for the Indian Ocean trade
by establishing coastal ports on the Indian subcontinent. Southern India traded silks, spices and gems.
China and Japan

Both China and Japan sought to limit the influence and activities of European merchants.
How did they do this?
a. China:
1. created foreign enclaves to control trade
2. there was the imperial policy of controlling
foreign influences and trade
3. there was an increase in European demand
for Chinese goods (such as tea and porcelain)
b. Japan:
1. characterized by a powerless emperor
controlled by a military leader (a shogun)
2. adopted a policy of isolation to limit foreign influences
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9
Mercantilism and the Commercial Revolution

European maritime nations competed for overseas markets, colonies and resources, which led to the creation of
new economic practices such as mercantilism, which linked European nations with their colonies.

Mercantilism = an economic practice adopted by European colonial powers in an effort to become self-sufficient
 based on the theory that colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country

Commercial Revolution
 European maritime nations competed for overseas markets, colonies and resources
 A new economic system emerged:
a. new money and banking systems were created
b. economic practices such as mercantilism evolved
c. colonial economies were limited by the economic needs of the mother country
The Scientific Revolution

Included an emphasis on reason and the systematic observation of nature, the formulation of the scientific
method and an expansion of scientific knowledge

Pioneers of the Scientific Revolution included:
Nicholas Copernicus
Johannes Kepler
developed the heliocentric theory
(sun is center of the solar system)
discovered planetary motion
(that planets travel in an elliptical pattern)
Galileo Galilei
Isaac Newton
William Harvey
used the telescope to support
heliocentric theory
formulated the law of gravity
discovered circulation of blood
10
The Age of Absolutism

Characteristics of the absolute monarchies of this time:
1. the centralization of power
2. the concept of rule by divine right

Absolute monarchs during this time included:
1. Louis XIV of France
(Palace of Versailles was a symbol of his royal power)
2. Peter the Great of Russia – westernized Russia
The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution
Political democracy rests on the principle that government derives power from the consent of the governed.
The foundations of English rights include the jury trial, the Magna Carta and common law. The English Civil War
and the Glorious Revolution prompted further development of the rights of Englishmen.
The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution promoted the development of the rights of Englishmen through
the following events:
1. Oliver Cromwell and his followers win the English Civil War and the English king (Charles I) is executed
2. Charles II (son of Charles I) is restored as monarch
3. the development of political parties/factions (Whigs and Tories) takes place during this time
4. with the Glorious Revolution (when William and Mary became the rulers of England and then signed the
English Bill of Rights in 1689), there is an increase of parliamentary power and the decrease of royal power
The Enlightenment

Key aspects of the Enlightenment included:
a. applied reason to the human world as well as to the rest of the natural world
b. stimulated religious tolerance
c. fueled democratic revolutions (including the American and the French Revolutions) around the world

Enlightenment thinkers include:
John Locke
Thomas Hobbes


wrote Leviathan
key ideas:
 humans exist in a
primitive state of
nature
 consent of the
governed (gov't
can only do what
people agree it
may do)
Montesquieu
wrote Two
 wrote The
Treatises on
Spirit of Laws
Government
 key idea - best
 key ideas:
form of gov't
 people are sovereign
includes a
separation of
 consent of the
powers
governed is
important for
protection of
natural rights to
life, liberty &
property
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau

 wrote The
Social Contract
 key idea – gov't
is a contract
between rulers
and the people
Voltaire
 promoted ideas that:
(1) religious
toleration should
triumph over
religious
fanaticism AND
(2) there should be
separation
between church
and state
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
The Enlightenment promoted revolutions in the American colonies and in France in the following ways:
a. political philosophies of the Enlightenment fueled revolution in the Americas and in France
b. Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence incorporated Enlightenment ideas
c. the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights incorporated Enlightenment ideas
The French Revolution
The ideas of the Enlightenment and French participation in the American Revolution influenced the French people
to view their government in new ways. They overthrew the absolute monarchy and established a new government.

Causes of the French Revolution included:
 the influence of Enlightenment ideas
 the influence of the American Revolution

Events of the French Revolution included:
 the storming of the Bastille
(by peasants looking for weapons/gunpowder)
 the Reign of Terror
(led by Robespierre; frequent use
of guillotine to get rid of enemies of the Revolution)

Outcomes of the French Revolution included:
 the end of the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI
 the rise of Napoleon
Expansion of the Arts, Philosophy, Literature and New Technology (The Age of Reason)
The Age of Reason witnessed inventions and innovations in technology that stimulated trade and transportation.

Composers, artists, philosophers and writers of this time period include:
 Johann Sebastian Bach – Baroque composer
 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – classical composer
 Voltaire – philosopher
 Miguel de Cervantes – novelist
 Eugène Delacroix – painter (transition to the Romantic School of the 19th century)

New schools of art and forms of literature of this time period include:
 paintings depicted classical subjects, public events, natural scenes and living people (portraits)
 new forms of literature evolved, such as the novel (for example – Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes)

New technologies of this time period include:
 all-weather roads improved year-round transportation and trade
 new designs in farm tools increased productivity (agricultural revolution)
 improvements in ship design lowered the cost of transport
12
Latin American Revolutions

Spanish conquests in Latin America saw the rapid decline of native populations and introduction of slaves from
Africa. Conquistadors were given governmental known as viceroys.

Characteristics of the colonial system in Latin America included:
1. colonial governments mirrored the home governments
2. Catholicism had a strong influence on the development of the colonies
3. a major element of the economy was the mining of precious metals for export
4. major cities were established as outposts of colonial authority including: Havana, Mexico City,
Lima, São Paulo and Buenos Aires
5. a rigid class system existed, which included: viceroys/colonial officers, creoles and mestizos
Havana
Mexico City
Lima
São Paulo
Major Cities That
Developed in Latin
America under the
Colonial System

The American and French Revolutions influenced
Latin American independence movements in the
following ways:
 Haiti: slaves rebelled, abolished slavery and
won independence
 Mexico: Father Miguel Hidalgo started
independence movement
 French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies
gained independence
Buenos Aires
13

Countries that gained independence during the 1800's include:
 Mexico
 Brazil
 Haiti
 Toussaint L'Ouverture:
1. former slave who led Haitian rebellion against the French
2. defeated the armies of Spain, France and Brita


Colombia
Venezuela

Haiti
Mexico
Simón Bolivar
1. native resident who led revolutionary efforts
2. liberated the northern area of Latin America
The Monroe Doctrine

After the American Revolution, the U.S. wished to prevent
foreign interference in America. The Monroe Doctrine was
issued in 1823 alerting European powers that the American
continents should not be considered for any future
colonization.

The impacts of the Monroe Doctrine were:
 the Monroe Doctrine was issued by President James Monroe in 1823
 Latin American nations were acknowledged to be independent
 the U.S. would regard as a threat any attempt by European powers to
impose their system on any independent state in the Western Hemisphere
Venezuela
Colombia
Brazil
th
19
Century Europe

Napoleon's legacy included:
 unsuccessful attempt to unify Europe under French domination
 the Napoleonic Code (set of laws)
 awakening of feelings of national pride and growth of nationalism

The Congress of Vienna attempted to restore
Europe as it had before the French Revolution
& Napoleon's conquests.
The legacy of the Congress of Vienna included:
a. the "balance of power" doctrine
b. restoration of monarchies
c. a new political map of Europe
d. new political philosophies
(liberalism and conservatism)

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Europe before the
Congress of Vienna
Europe after
the Congress
of Vienna

The rise of nationalism was a powerful force behind European politics during the 19 th century. Widespread
demands for political rights led to revolutions and legislative actions in Europe.

How did nationalism and democracy influence national revolutions?
 national pride, economic competition and democratic ideals stimulated the growth of nationalism
 the terms of the Congress of Vienna led to widespread discontent in Europe, especially in Italy
and the German states; unsuccessful revolutions of 1848 increased nationalistic tensions
 in contrast to continental Europe, the United Kingdom expanded political rights through
legislative means and made slavery illegal in the British Empire
Unification of Italy and Germany

Italy and Germany became nation-states long after the rest of Europe.
a. Unification of Italy
1. Count Cavour unified Northern Italy
2. Giuseppe Garibaldi joined southern Italy to northern Italy
3. the Papal States (including Rome) became the last to join Italy
b. Unification of Germany
1. Otto von Bismarck led Prussia in the unification
of Germany through war and by appealing to
nationalistic feelings
2. Bismarck's actions were seen as an example
of Realpolitik (realpolitik = any and all
means are justified in order to achieve
and hold power
3. the French-Prussian War led to the
creation of the German state
Otto von
Bismarck
The Industrial Revolution
15

Important aspects of the Industrial Revolution included:
 originated in England because of (1) its natural resources (such as coal and iron ore) and (2) the invention
and improvement of the steam engine and (3) the British Enclosure movement
 spread to Europe and the U.S.
 cotton textile, iron and steel industries were all important
 rise of the factory system and the demise of cottage industries
 rising economic powers wanted to control raw materials and markets throughout the world

Technological advances/advancements in science and medicine during the Industrial Revolution included:

Spinning Jenny
by James Hargreaves
Steam Engine
by James Watt
Cotton Gin
by Eli Whitney
Process for Making Steel
by Henry Bessemer
Smallpox Vaccination
by Edward Jenner
Discoveries about Bacteria
by Louis Pasteur
Impacts of the Industrial Revolution on industrialized countries included:
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population increase
increased standards of living for many but not all
improved transportation
urbanization
environmental pollution
increased education
dissatisfaction of working class with working conditions
growth of the middle class
The Industrial Revolution placed new demands on the labor of men, women and children.
 Workers organized labor unions to fight for improved working conditions and workers' rights.

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The nature of work in the factory system:
 family-based cottage industries displaced by
the factory system
 harsh working conditions with men competing
with women and children for wages
 child labor that kept costs of production
low and profit high
 owners of mines and factories exercised
considerable control over the lives of their laborers

Impact of the Industrial Revolution on slavery included:
 the cotton gin increased the demand for slave labor on
 American plantations
 the U.S. and Britain outlawed the slave trade and then slavery

Social effects of the Industrial Revolution included:
 women and children entered the workforce as cheap labor
 reforms to end child labor were introduced
 expansion of education
 women's increased demands for suffrage

The rise of labor unions led to:
 encouragement of worker-organized strikes to demand
increased wages and improved working conditions
 lobbying for laws to improve the lives of workers,
 including women and children
 calls for more workers' rights and collective
 bargaining between labor and management
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Economic Theories
Capitalism and market competition also fueled the Industrial Revolution. While wealth increased the standard of
living for some, social dislocations associated with capitalism produced a range of economic and political ideas,
including socialism and communism. There was a growing dissatisfaction with poor working conditions and the
unequal distribution of wealth in societies.
 Capitalism:
 Adam Smith wrote about capitalism in The Wealth of Nations
 market competition & entrepreneurial abilities important
 increase in standard of living and the growth of the middle class
 Socialism and Communism:
 Karl Marx wrote about them in Das Kapital and


The Communist Manifesto (which he wrote with
Friedrich Engels)
responded to the injustices of capitalism
redistribution of wealth important to communism
Imperialism
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 Nationalism motivated European nations to compete for colonial possessions. Forms of imperialism included:
 colonies
 protectorates
 spheres of influence
 Characteristics of Imperialism in Africa and Asia:
 European domination
 European conflicts carried to the colonies
 Christian missionary tried to carry Christianity to the colonies
 Spheres of influence in China
 British influence over Suez Canal
 (British) East India Company's domination of India
 America opened Japan to trade (Commodore Perry
delivered letter from President Fillmore to Japan)
 Responses of colonized people:
 armed conflicts (such as events leading
 to the Boxer Rebellion in China)
 rise of nationalism (such as the first
Indian nationalist party founded in the mid-1800's)
World War I
 Causes of World War I (1914-1918):
 alliances that divided Europe into competing camps
 nationalistic feelings
 diplomatic failures
 imperialism
 competition over colonies
 militarism
 Major Events of World War I:
 assassination of Austria's Archduke Ferdinand
 U.S. enters the war following the sinking of the

Lusitania and the Zimmerman Telegram
Russia leaves the war when Lenin becomes leader
 Major Leaders of World War I:
a. Woodrow Wilson (U.S.)
b. Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany)
 Outcomes and global effect of World War I:
 colonies participated in the war, which increased their demands for independence
 end of several empires - Ottoman, German, Austro-Hungarian and tsarist Russia
 enormous cost of the war in lives, property and social disruption
18
 Treaty of Versailles (agreement that ended World War I):
 forced German to (1) accept responsibility for war and loss of territory and (2) pay reparations
 limited the size and ability of the German military
 League of Nations was formed in connection with it
Russian Revolution
 Tsarist Russia entered World War I as an absolute monarchy with sharp class divisions between the nobility
and the peasants. The grievances of workers and peasants were not resolved by the Tsar. Inadequate
administration in World War I led to revolution and an unsuccessful provisional government. A second
revolution by the Bolsheviks created the Communist state that ultimately became the U.S.S.R.
 Causes of 1917 Russian Revolution:
 Russia suffered defeat in its war with Japan in 1905
 large landless peasantry (serfs)
 incompetence of the ruler - Tsar Nicholas II
 military defeats and high casualties suffered by Russia in World War I

Rise of communism:
 Bolshevik Revolution in Fall 1917, followed by a civil war (Red Guard vs. White Guard)
 Vladimir Lenin's New Economic Policy (allowed limited capitalism to get U.S.S.R. back on its feet)
 Joseph Stalin became the leader of the U.S.S.R. after Lenin died
Interwar Period

The League of Nations was formed after World War I:
 was an international cooperative organization
 was established to prevent future wars
 the U.S. was not a member (this was a weakness)
 the League of Nations failed because it did not
have the power to enforce its decisions

The Mandate System:
 during World War I, Great Britain
and France agreed to divide large
part of former
portions of the Ottoman Empire in
Ottoman Empire
the Middle East between themselves
 after World War I, the "mandate system" gave:
(1) Great Britain control over Iraq, Transjordan
and Palestine
(2) France control over Syria and Lebanon
 the division of the Ottoman Empire through the
mandate system planted the seeds for future
conflicts in the Middle East
The Depression
19

A period of uneven prosperity in the decade following World War I (the 1920's) was followed by a worldwide
depression in the 1930's. Depression weakened Western democracies making it difficult for them to challenge
the threat of totalitarianism.

Causes of the worldwide depression:
 reparations Germany had to pay pursuant to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
 expansion of production capacities (too much supply; not enough demand/customers)
 dominance of the U.S. in the global economy (other countries' economies tied to health of U.S. economy)
 high protective tariffs (tariff = tax on imported goods)
 excessive expansion of credit (too much money lent)
 Stock Market Crash of 1929

Impacts of the worldwide depression:
 high unemployment in industrial countries
 bank failures and the collapse of credit
 collapse of prices in world trade
 Nazi Party's growing importance in Germany/Nazi Party's blame of European Jews for economic collapse
Rise of Dictators in Europe Between World War I and World War II
Economic disruptions following World War I led to unstable political conditions. Worldwide depression in the
1930's provided opportunities for the rise of dictators in the Soviet Union, Germany, Italy and Japan.
A communist dictatorship was established by Vladimir Lenin and continued by Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
The Treaty of Versailles worsened economic and political conditions in Europe and led to the rise of totalitarian
regimes in Italy and Germany. Japan emerged as a world power after World War I and conducted aggressive
imperialistic policies in Asia.

U.S.S.R. between World War I and World War II under Joseph Stalin:
 entrenchment of communism
 Stalin's policies included: five-year plans, collectivization of farms, state industrialization and the use of
 secret police
 the Great Purge took place (trying to rid Soviet Union of anyone seen as a threat to Communism/Stalin)

Germany between World War I and World War II under Adolf Hitler:
 inflation and depression were issues
 democratic government weakened
 anti-Semitism increased
 extreme nationalism
 National Socialism (Nazism) grew
 Germany occupied nearby countries

Italy between World War I and World War II under Benito Mussolini:
 rise of Fascism
 ambition to restore the glory of Rome (Roman Empire)
 invaded Ethiopia

Japan between World War I and World War II under Hirohito (emperor) and Hideki Tojo (military general):
a. militarism characterized Japan
b. Japan became increasingly industrialized, leading to a drive for raw materials
c. Japan invaded Korea, Manchuria and the rest of China
World War II
20

Economic and Political Causes of World War II:
 aggression by the totalitarian powers of Germany, Italy and Japan
 nationalism
 failures of the Treaty of Versailles
 weakness of the League of Nations
 appeasement
 tendencies towards isolationism and pacifism in Europe and the U.S.

Major events of World War II (1939-1945):
 German invasion of Poland
 fall of France to Germany
 Battle of Britain (German bombing of Britain and British cities)
 German invasion of the Soviet Union
 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
 D-Day (Allied invasion of Europe)
 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S.

Major leaders of World War II:
 Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S. President)
 Harry Truman (U.S. President after death of President Roosevelt)
 Dwight D. Eisenhower (Allied commander in Europe)
 Douglas MacArthur (U.S. general)
 George C. Marshall (U.S. general)
 Winston Churchill (British prime minister)
 Joseph Stalin (Soviet dictator)
 Adolf Hitler (Nazi dictator of Germany)
 Hideki Tojo (Japanese general)
 Hirohito (Emperor of Japan)

The Holocaust
 There has been a climate of hatred against Jews in Europe and Russia for centuries.
 Elements leading to the Holocaust:
a. totalitarianism combined with nationalism
b. history of anti-Semitism in Europe
c. German defeat in World War I and economic depression in Germany blamed on German Jews
d. Hitler's belief in the master race
 Hitler’s Final Solution = extermination camps and gas chambers

Genocides in Addition to the Holocaust
 genocide = the systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious or cultural group
 Examples of genocide in the 20th century:
a. Ottoman Empire: targeted Armenians
b. Soviet Union: peasants, government, military leaders and members of the elite targeted by Joseph Stalin
c. Cambodia: artists, technicians, former government officials, monks, minorities and other educated
individuals targeted by Pol Pot
d. Rwanda: Tutsi minority targeted by Hutus
21

Outcomes of World War II:
 loss of empires by European powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Ottoman)
 establishment of two major powers in the world: the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
 war crimes trials in Nuremberg and cities
 division of Europe among Allied powers
 division of Western and Eastern Europe - the “Iron Curtain”
 establishment of the United Nations
 Marshall Plan (U.S. provided aid to European countries)
 formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact

Efforts for reconstruction of Germany:
 democratic government installed in West Germany and West Berlin
 Germany and Berlin divided among four Allied powers
 emergence of West Germany as economic power in postwar Europe

Efforts for reconstruction of Japan:
 Japan occupied by the U.S. under administration of Douglas MacArthur
 democratic government put in place; assisted with economic development
 Japan's military offensive capabilities eliminated; guarantee of
Japan's security by the U.S.
 emergence of Japan as dominant economy in Asia

International Cooperative Organizations after World War II:
 United Nations
 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
 Warsaw Pact

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
 established and adopted by members of the United Nations
 provided a code of conduct for the treatment of people under the protection of their government
 issued in 1948 to protect the "inherent dignity and…the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
human family…."
Second Half of the 20th Century
Competition between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. laid the foundation for the Cold War. The Cold War influenced the
policies of the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. towards other nations and conflicts around the world. The presence of nuclear
weapons has influenced patterns of conflict and cooperation since 1945. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s,
Communism failed as an economic system in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. After World War II, the U.S. pursued
a policy of containment against communism. This policy included the development of regional alliances against
Soviet and Chinese aggression. The Cold War led to armed conflict in Korea and Vietnam.

Beginning of the Cold War (1945-1948):
 Yalta Conference – Britain, U.S. and Soviet Union made decisions about post-WWII Europe
 Soviet Union took control of Eastern Europe
 rivalry between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
 democracy and the free enterprise system vs. dictatorship and communism
 President Truman implemented the policy of containment (containment = a policy of preventing the
expansion/spread of communism)
 in Eastern Europe - Soviet satellite nations/Eastern Bloc
 the “Iron Curtain” divided democratic/free enterprise Western Europe from communist Eastern Europe
22

Characteristics of the Cold War (1948-1989):
 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) vs. Warsaw Pact
 Korean War
 Vietnam War
 Berlin and the significance of the Berlin Wall
 Cuban Missile Crisis
 nuclear weapons and the theory of deterrence

Collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe:
 Soviet economic collapse
 nationalism in Warsaw Pact countries
 tearing down of Berlin Wall
 breakup of the Soviet Union
 expansion of NATO

Conflicts and revolutionary movements in China:
 China divided into two nations at the end of the Chinese civil war:
a. Nationalist China (island of Taiwan) – led by Chiang Kai-Shek (also known as Jiang Jieshi)
b. Communist China (mainland China) – led by Mao Tse-tung (also known as Mao Zedong)
 there is a continuing conflict between the two Chinas
 Communist China assisted North Korea in the Korean War

Conflicts and revolutionary movements in Vietnam:
 France exercised imperial control over Vietnam
 Ho Chi Minh led the communist movement (became communist leader of Vietnam after the Vietnam War)
 Vietnam was a divided nation (communist North and non-communist South prior to Vietnam War)
 U.S. became involved in Vietnam War pursuant to its policy of containment
 Today Vietnam is one country and it is communist

Major World Leader Following World War II:
 Indira Gandhi (Prime Minster of India)
a. formed a closer relationship between India and the Soviet Union during the Cold War
b. developed a nuclear program in India
 Margaret Thatcher
a. British prime minister
b. favored free trade and less government regulation of business
c. had a close relationship with the U.S./agreed with U.S. foreign policy
d. asserted United Kingdom's military power (Falkland Islands War)
 Mikhail Gorbachev
a. implemented policies of glasnost (increasing openness and transparency) and perestroika (call for political
reform)
b. supported the fall of the Berlin Wall
c. last president of the Soviet Union
 Deng Xiaoping
a. reformed Communist China's economy into a market economy, which led to rapid economic growth
b. continued communist control of China’s government
20th Century – Independence Movement in India
23
British policies and India’s demand for self-rule led to the rise of the Indian independent movement, resulting in
the creation of new states in the Indian sub-continent. The Republic of India, a democratic nation, developed
after the country gained independence.

Regional setting for the Indian independence movement:
 Indian sub-continent
 formerly British India becomes:
a. India
b. Pakistan (Formerly West Pakistan)
c. Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan)
d. Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon)

Evolution of the Indian independence movement:
 British rule in India prior to independence
 Indian National Congress developed to advocate for independence
 Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi was a leader in the independence movement
 Gandhi used the techniques of civil disobedience and passive resistance
 political division of India along Hindu-Muslim lines: Pakistan (Muslim)/India (Hindu)
 Republic of India today:
a. is the world’s largest democratic nation
b. has a federal system, giving many powers to the states

India as a democracy (post-independence):
 Jawaharlal Nehru, a close associate of Gandhi, was Prime Minister
 Nehru supported western-style industrialization
 the 1950 Constitution of India sought to prohibit caste discrimination
 ethnic and religious differences caused problems in the development of India as a democratic nation
 new economic development has helped to ease financial problems of the nation
20th Century – Independence Movements in Africa
The charter of the United Nations guaranteed colonial populations the right to self-determination. Independent
movements in Africa challenged European imperialism.

Factors that contributed to the independence movement in Africa:
 right to self-determination promoted by the U.N. Charter
 peaceful and violent revolutions in Africa after World War II
 pride in African cultures and heritage
 resentment of imperial rule and economic exploitation
 loss of colonies by Great Britain, France, Belgium and Portugal
 influence of superpower rivalry during the Cold War

Examples of independence movements in Africa:
 West Africa (peaceful transition to independence)
 Algeria: gained independence from France through war
 Kenya: was a British colony; gained independence through a violent struggle led by Jomo Kenyatta
 South Africa: Black South Africans' struggle against apartheid led by Nelson Mandela, who became the
first black president of the Republic of South Africa
End of the Mandate System in the Middle East
24
The mandate system established after World War I was phased out after World War II. With the end of the
mandates, new states were created in the Middle East.

Mandates in the Middle East:
 established by the League of Nations
 granted independence after World War II
 resulted in Middle East conflicts created by religious differences
 French mandates in the Middle East included Syria and Lebanon
 British mandates in the Middle East included Iraq, Jordan (originally Transjordan) and Palestine (a part of
which became independent as the State of Israel).

Golda Meir:
 Prime Minister of Israel
 after initial setbacks, led Israel to victory in the Yom Kippur War
 sought support of the U.S.

Gamal Abdul Nasser:
 President of Egypt
 nationalized the Suez Canal
 established relationship with Soviet Union
 built the Aswan High Dam
Contemporary World Conditions
Developed and developing nations face many challenges. These include migrations, ethnic and religious conflicts,
and the impact of new technologies. Developed and developing nations are characterized by different levels of
economic development, population characteristics and social conditions. Economic development and the rapid
growth of population are having an impact on the environment. Sound economic conditions contribute to a stable
democracy, and political freedom helps foster economic development. Both developed and developing nations of the
world have problems that are brought about by inequities in their social, cultural and economic systems.
Some individuals choose to deal with these unequal conditions through the use of terrorist activities. Terrorism is
the use of violence and threats to intimidate and coerce for political reasons. A major cause of terrorism is
religious extremism.

Contrast between developed and developing nations:
 location - developed countries typically in Northern Hemisphere and developing countries typically in
Southern Hemisphere
 economic conditions
a. relationship between economic and political freedom: free market economies produce rising standards of
living and an expanding middle class, which produces growing demands for political freedoms and
individual rights - recent examples include Taiwan and South Korea
 social conditions (literacy, access to health care)
 population size and rate of growth

Migrations
 refugees an issue in international conflicts
 migrations of "guest workers" to European cities
25

Factors affecting environment and society:
 economic development
 rapid population growth

Environmental challenges:
 pollution
 loss of habitat
 global climate change

Social challenges:
 poverty
 poor health
 illiteracy
 famine
 migration

Ethnic and religious conflicts in the world:
 Middle East
 Northern Ireland
 Balkans
 Horn of Africa
 South Asia

Examples of international terrorism:
 Munich Olympics
 terrorist attacks in the U.S. (such as 9/11/201) motivated by extremism (Osama bin Laden)
 car bombings
 suicide bombers
 airline hijackers

Governmental responses to terrorist activities:
 surveillance
 review of privacy rights
 security at ports and airports
 identification badges and photos

Impact of new technologies:
 widespread but unequal access to computers and instantaneous communications
 genetic engineering and bioethics

Economic interdependence:
 role of rapid transportation communication and computer networks
 rise and influence of multinational corporations
 changing role of international boundaries
 regional integration, e.g. European Union
 trade agreements, e.g. North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) and World Trade Organization
(WTO)
 international organizations, e.g. United Nations (UN) and International Monetary Fund (IMF)
26
Religions in the Contemporary World
Five world religions have had a profound impact on culture and civilization. These religions are found worldwide,
but their followers tend to be concentrated in certain geographic areas.

Judaism:
 monotheistic
 Ten Commandments are rules about moral and religious conduct
 Holy text is the Torah, which contains written records and
beliefs of the Jews
 concentrated in Israel and North America

Christianity:
 monotheistic
 belief in Jesus as Son of God
 belief in life after death
 holy text is the New Testament, which contains the life and teachings of Jesus
 establishment of Christian doctrines by early church councils
 concentrated in Europe, North America and South America

Islam:
 Monotheistic (belief in one God)
 Muhammad is the prophet
 Holy text is the Qur'an (Koran)
 Five Pillars of Islam = five basic acts to perform
(prayer, fasting, giving to the poor, pilgrimage to Mecca
and the declaration of belief in one God/prophet is Muhammad)
 Mecca and Medina are important cities within the faith
 concentrated in the Middle East, Africa and Asia

Buddhism:
 founder: Siddharta Gautama (Buddha)
 Four Noble Truths (based in idea that life is suffering;
way to escape suffering is by letting go of desires and
following the Eightfold Path)
 Follow the Eightfold Path (eight correct ways of living) to
achieve Enlightenment (also known as Nirvana)
 spread of Buddhism from India to China and other parts
of Asia, resulting from Asoka's missionaries and their writings
 concentrated in East and Southeast Asia

Hinduism:
 many forms of one God
 reincarnation: rebirth based upon karma
 karma = knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences
 concentrated in India