AP World History Unit 7: Global Conflict 1900 - Present

Major Shifts in State Power

Decline of Western Dominance:
- Changes in Western power dynamics in the 20th century.
- Decline of land-based and maritime empires, emergence of new states.
Ottoman Empire:
- Overthrown by Young Turks in 1908.
- Secularized schools and laws, made Turkish the official language.
- Alienation of minorities like Arabs, leading to nationalist movements.
- Ended after World War I due to internal and external pressures.
Russian Empire:
- 1905 Revolution led to demand for reforms.
- Nicholas II’s limited reforms were insufficient.
- World War I exacerbated issues, leading to 1917 Russian Revolution.
- Bolsheviks under Lenin formed the Soviet Union.

China:
- Revolutionary movements against Western powers.
- Fall of Qing Dynasty, end of imperial rule.
- Provisional government failed, leading to civil war and communist state under Mao Zedong.
Mexico:
- Mexican Revolution against Porfirio Diaz.
- Land redistribution and social reforms were central issues.
- New constitution in 1917 addressing revolutionary grievances.

MAIN Causes of WWI:
- Militarism: Arms race led by Britain and Germany.
- Alliances: Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary), Triple Entente (Russia, France, Britain).
- Imperialism: Competition for colonies in Africa and Asia.
- Nationalism: Heightened national identities leading to conflicts.
Total War:
- Mobilization of entire populations, including civilians.
- Gavrilo Princip’s assassination of Archduke Ferdinand triggered alliances.
Technology and Propaganda in WWI:
- Introduction of machine guns, chemical gas, tanks.
- Trench warfare led to stalemates and high casualties.
- Propaganda used to demonize enemies and boost nationalism.

End of WWI:
- US intervention in 1917 aided Allied victory.
- Treaty of Versailles punished Germany.
Great Depression:
- US stock market crash in 1929 led to global economic crisis.
- Roosevelt’s New Deal introduced to combat economic downturn.
Soviet Economic Policies:
- Lenin’s New Economic Plan and Stalin’s Five Year Plans.
- Collectivization of agriculture to support industrial workers.

Colonial Tensions:
- Colonized nations remained under foreign control.
- League of Nations’ mandate system expanded Western control.
Japan’s Expansion:
- Invasion of Manchuria in 1931.
- Establishment of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
India’s Resistance:
- Growth of Indian National Congress under Gandhi.

Factors Leading to WWII:
- Treaty of Versailles’ repercussions on Germany and Italy.
- Imperial ambitions of Axis powers: Japan, Italy, Germany.
- Global impact of the Great Depression.
- Rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes.
Fascism:
- Defined by extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, militarism.
- Prominent in Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Hitler’s Aggressions:
- Renounced reparations, militarized Rhineland.
- Annexed territories in Europe.
Start of WWII in Europe:
- 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazis.
Comparison to WWI:
- Both total wars involving mass mobilization.
- Propaganda and alliances crucial in both conflicts.
Government Mobilization in WWII:
- Fascist states prioritized state interests.
- Stalin’s Five Year Plans in Soviet Union.
- Democratic nations relied on public cooperation.

State Repression:
- US internment camps for Japanese immigrants.
- Germany’s Nuremberg Laws and concentration camps.
Military Innovations:
- Firebombing and atomic bombs by Allied forces.

Armenian Genocide:
- Turkish nationalism led to mass extermination of Armenians.
Holocaust:
- Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews and others.
- Driven by racial purity ideologies.
- Compared to historical racial systems like the Casta System.