Unit V1914 - Present
World War IGreat Depression
World War IICold War
Themes of Unit 51914-Present
• Redefinition and repositioning of the west – Western Europe looses position as world leader; United States and USSR.
• Democratic transition – many nations continue to declare independence and establish democratic governments.
• Increased contact – trade and cultural diffusion– “Globalization”
• Questioning of inequality – extension of civil rights and freedoms.
• Anti-imperialism and colonialism• new reliance on Non-religious philosophies
Events of Unit 5• World War I: 1914-1918• Great Depression: 1929-1939
– Worldwide economic depression
• World War II: 1939-1945• Cold War: 1945-1989
– Wars: Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq
• Israeli-Arab conflicts• Middle east conflicts; Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan• Decolonization and Anti-imperialism in India, Africa,
and Asia
World War I• Causes:
– Militarism: build-up of the military; glorification of the military and war
– Alliances: brought other nations into the war; Central Powers (Triple Alliance)- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Ottoman
– Imperialism: created rivalries; colonies brought into the war
– Nationalism: pride, devotion for your country
• June 28, 1914: assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
World War I
• Schlieffen Plan – a massive German attack and defeat of France, then a single-front against Russia.
• August 4, 1914: Germany invades neutral Belgium.
• Outbreak of war = great excitement and optimism (thought the war would be over by Christmas - NATIONALISM
• Quickly spreads to foreign countries; becomes a world war. Impacts colonies and fought in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
World War I
• 1st Global War: colonies FORCED to fight for European nations, Japanese seized islands in the Pacific, British stir up Arab rebellion against Ottoman rule.
• Canada, Australia, New Zealand fight in war• Western Front – trenches, stalemate, heavy loss
of life, machine gun, poison gas• Eastern Front – fluid, Russian retreat and
devastating losses.
Effect of World War I on Russia• February Revolution – provisional government
established; Romanov dynasty ended.• Bolshevik Revolution - 1917 led by Lenin
– “peace, land, and bread”– Armed revolution to replace Provisional government
• Russia signs Treaty of Brest Litovsk– Lost huge amounts of land on western front– Out of world war I– Germany only has to fight on one front now.
• Russia lost land, millions of deaths (mostly civilian).
U.S. entry into World War I
• Try to remain neutral; isolationist
• German unrestricted submarine warfare; British ship the Lusitania sunk.
• Zimmerman note – German telegraph sent to Mexico for them to attack America.
• Russian Revolution
• America enters WWI in 1917 – end the war quickly
Versailles Treaty
• Armistice November 1918
• Very harsh terms; punish Germany
• Germany accepts responsibility for the war, lost colonies and military, must pay reparations to France and Great Britain.
• Destroys German economy
• Treaty creates several new countries; Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Lithuania.
Woodrow Wilson
• President of the United States
• Does not want to punish Germany at Paris Peace Conference
• 14 points; limit militaries, end alliances, freedom of the seas, self-determination – wants each nation to determine own government and policies (nationalism).
Versailles Treaty
• Georges Clemenceau and David Lloyd George wanted revenge against Germany for losses in World War I.
• Oppose Wilson’s plan for lenient treatment of Germany.
League of Nations
• Formed after WWI• International organization to prevent future wars
and protect human rights.• America never joins• Extremely weak; cannot enforce rules
– Italy invades Ethiopia, Japan invades Manchuria – League of Nations cannot enforce decisions
• Did provide some help to refugees and humanitarian aid
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk• Ottoman Empire – “sick man of Europe”• Ended after World War I – Central Powers• 1923 Kemal became first president of Turkey
– Overthrew the Ottoman sultan– Modernize and Secularize– Known as “the father of the Turks”– Changed alphabet from Arabic to Latin– Introduced western-style dress and customs– Culture based on Europe as opposed to the Middle
East– Ruthless tactics to implement changes
Mandates• Created by Versailles Treaty
• Former colonies/lands of Central Powers were placed under the control of the League of Nations.
• Arab leaders were frustrated by limited autonomy granted them as mandates
• Britain remains “in charge” of former colonies.
Effect of WWI on Women• Women gained the right to vote in many
industrialized countries after WWI.• Provided an effective home front labor force• Many of the jobs went back to men returning
home after the war.• Women encouraged to return to the home and
take care of domestic tasks after WWI.• For their role, women’s suffrage movement was
advanced.
• Balfour Declaration 1917: the British government committed to supporting a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
• Anti-colonialism movements:– Led by European-educated elites– Wanted independence– Mandates established
• Unfulfilled promise: becomes mandate• Arabs frustrated with lack of
independence.
Russia• Stalin takes power when Lenin dies• Establishes totalitarian government
– Secret police, great purge, kills all that opposed him, censorship, oppression.
• 5 year Plans – economic plan designed to quickly transform the Soviet Union into a leading industrial power.
• Collectivization – creation of large-state run farms; results in lower crop production
• Kulaks – wealthy peasants lost land and power; despised the collectivization process.
China• Chinese civil war; Guomindang vs. Communist• Sun Yat-sen: leader of the Chinese Nationalist
Party; fighting against the Communists; supported by Europe and the United States
• Chiang Kai-shek replaces Sun Yat-sen.• Mao Zedong – leader of the Communist Party;
appeals to the peasants, gains a lot of support.• Long March – solidifies Mao’s position as leader;
established the reputation of Mao Zedong and paved the way for the creation of a Communist state in China
Great Depression• 1929-1939: severe worldwide depression, plagues
most of the interwar years.– Economic depression, weakness in democratic
governments.• Decrease in world trade, massive poverty and
unemployment, stock market crash, bank closing• people turn to communism, socialism for help.• John Maynard Keynes – supported government
assistance, provide jobs, expand money supply, public work projects.
• 1932: FDR elected President of the United States – tries to reassure Americans; “fire-side” chats; elected to four terms.
WWI and Great DepressionEffect on Asia and Africa
• Anti-colonial movements – being forced to fight in WWI intensified resistance to colonialism.
• Decrease in trade resulted in a decrease in European influence.
• Japan greatly expanded its influence in Asia.• Great Britain granted limited self-government in
India.
Effect of the Great Depression• Poor economy, weak government, poverty,
unemployment led to the rise of Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin.
• Promised revenge and rise in power; 3rd Reich.• Used propaganda to persuade citizens that
giving up their rights was the only way to improve economy and end hardships.
• Italy, Japan, Germany began process of militarism, imperialism, alliances, and NATIONALISM.
• Industrialized nations suffer more than non-industrialized countries – lack of trade
Adolf Hitler• 1932: becomes chancellor of Germany• Eliminates rivals – Gestapo, secret police,
brownshirts, and the SS• Establishes NAZI Party as the only party in
Germany.• Mein Kampf – extremely racist book; argues for
separation of races; Aryan race is superior, justifies imperialism of “weaker” ethnic groups and nations.
• Appeasement – Hitler allowed to take over Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Rhineland.
• European leaders believed Hitler would honor agreements made at the Munich Conference.
• Weak nations, fear of war, poor economy led to World War II.
• Benito Mussolini – Fascist leader of Italy:– Ultra nationalist propaganda– Emphasis on sacrifice for the nation state– Ending labor movement– Glorification of the military– Allowed free market; some private business– Blackshirts eliminated all rivals– Established one-party system
Japan
• Experienced a dramatic increase in world power between WWI and WWII.
• Becomes very militaristic after WWI; Great Depression really hurts their economy.
• Japanese goal was to dominate east Asia; take over the Chinese coast, all of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia.
• Wanted to end European control – “Asia for Asia” really meant “Asia for Japan”
Japan• By December 1941, Japan conquered Korea,
Taiwan, Manchuria, large amounts of China, Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing.
• Created the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere – Japanese empire they conquered before and during WWII.
• Abused Chinese and Southeast Asian civilians.• Executed thousands of prisoners of war.• Forced prostitution from Korea and Southeast
Asia.• Performed chemical and biological experiments
on prisoners of war.
Causes of World War II
• 1939-1945• Fought in “theaters” of “arenas”• Causes:
– Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism.– Harsh terms of the Versailles Treaty– Appeasement of Hitler– Weakness of the League of Nations
• Began with Japanese invasion of Manchuria (China)
• European theater began when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.
World War II• 55-60 million causalities; over half civilians,
trillions of dollars in destruction.• Axis Powers: Germany, Japan, Italy• Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Soviet
Union (1940), United States (1941)• Blitzkrieg – “lightening war” sudden and
massive German invasion of Poland, France.
• Early German victories in France, Russia; Japanese victories in the Pacific
Winston Churchill
• Prime minister of Great Britain.
• Stood alone against Hitler; refused to surrender, encouraged civilians.
• RAF defeated German air force in Battle of Britain.
• Involved in Peace treaties after the war
• Gave “iron curtain” speech during Cold War.
• December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attacked– America enters World War II
• Operation Barbarossa – Hitler attacks Russia; eventually stopped at Stalingrad– winter weather and American supplies
• Massive bombings on both sides– Tokyo, Dresden, Berlin, Doolittle Raiders
• Holocaust – 6 million Jews killed• Japanese-Americans put in interment camps• Limitation of civil rights, propaganda on both
sides, bonds, victory gardens, recycling, rationing
World War II• Airplanes, tanks, aircraft carriers, atomic bombs,
radar, code-breaking, Manhattan Project• Less trench warfare used• Machine guns, missiles, 101 Airborne• Midway, D-Day, Bulge, Stalingrad, Iwo Jima,
Okinawa, Guadalcanal • The key to Allied victory was industrial
production – we out produced Axis Powers.• “leapfrogging” or “island-hopping” used in the
Pacific theater in steps to invade Japanese mainland.
• Japanese finally surrender after atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
World War II - Women
• “Rosie the Riveter” became a symbol for increased involvement of women in the industrial workplace during WWII.
• Return to domestic jobs after the war; Communist nations encourage women to work outside the home.
Truman Doctrine
• Containment of Communism
• Will support any nation threatened by communist takeover
• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization– Collective security
• Warsaw Pact – created by Soviet Union in response to the creation of NATO
Marshall Plan
• European Recovery Plan
• Create allies rather than enemies
• Rebuild Europe to prevent spread of Communism and stop Soviet expansion.
• Millions of dollars spent to rebuild W. Europe’s economy.– Less likely to become communist
United Nations• Begins after WWII, first met in San Francisco, 50
nations, today in New York City.– UN Security Council: USA, China, France, GB, USSR– Every nation is a member today
• International organization – Humanitarian aid, prevent wars– Human rights
• 1947: the United Nations proposed that Palestine should be divided into Jewish and Arab halves.
• Israel become an independent state– Arab-Israeli conflict results from lack of a Palestinian
state.
Cold War – the Bi-Polar World
• State of hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union; 1945-1991
• Tension, fought indirectly between U.S. and USSR in several “hot” wars throughout cold war era.
• Capitalism vs. Communism• Standoff between the two superpowers: Soviet
Union and the United States never fought directly, but an estimated 50 million people (half civilian) died in small-to-medium conflicts fought worldwide during the Cold War.
Cold War• Brezhnev Doctrine: Soviet Union has the right to
invade any socialist country that was hostile to socialism.
• Stalin and the Soviet leadership pushed for as many concessions as possible from the U.S., both in Asia and Europe, but not at the risk of war.
• Marshall plan helped Western Europe recover from WWII; COMECON was Soviet plan to help Eastern Europe.
• 1948: Berlin Blockade – flew thousands of missions to bring food and supplies to West Berlin.
Domino Theory• If one nation in area falls, others will fall to
communism.• Many nations had just won independence and
might seek alignment.• If Soviets attempted to gain influence, America
had to compete.• Cuba (Castro) – 1959; Vietnam • America supported all anti-communist groups;
accepted dictators and other authoritarian governments
Dwight D. Eisenhower• 1948: elected President of the United States.• Was supreme commander of the European
Theater during WWII.• Moderate Republican; President during the
Korean War, • Great U.S. economy during his Presidency,
known as “Ike”, developed Interstate system.• Domino Theory, threatened use of nuclear
bombs in Korea.• Built-up conventional weapons• Richard Nixon was his Vice-President
Korean War• 1950-1953• North Korea (Communist) forces invade South
Korea (non-Communist) forces.• U.S. and United Nations defend the south• Soviet Union aids the north• More than 1 million deaths; 52,000 Americans
killed.• War ended with a divided country
Arms Race / Space Race• Massive military build-up during the Cold War
between the United States and the Soviet Union.• Everything was a competition; decolonization
caused U.S. and USSR to compete for influence in the regions.
• Yuri Gagarin become first person in space; John Glenn is first American.
• Sputnik is the first satellite launched into orbit.• Both events cause Americans to worry about
math and science education in the U.S.• Advancements in “space race” had military
implications – ICBM. Americans are nervous about the Soviet technological developments.
Decolonization• Former colonies are competed for by the Soviet
Union and the United States.• Regions in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the
Middle East become political and diplomatic battlegrounds for the Cold War.
• Areas are forced to choose align with the U.S. or USSR
• Some become military battlegrounds over which the two superpowers compete for influence.
Latin America• Attempt to modernize after WWII; led to
concentration of wealth in the hands of a few• Argentina: Juan Peron – appealed to the poor
– wife Eva was extremely popular with people– A brutal regime ruled from 1976-1983; ruthlessly purged
intellectuals and dissidents, 30,000 missing
• Brazil and Chile also had military regimes from the mid 1960’s to the mid 1980’s.
• Mexico – was run by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI); better economy (oil)– Protest against mistreatment of minorities and other
groups.
Cuba• 1959: Castro overthrew dictator Batista• Goals: modernize, industrialize, increase literacy
rates, eliminate inequality, land reform• Fought against U.S. imperialism and influence in the
area• Created alliance with the Soviet Union• 1961: Bay of Pigs – U.S. support of Cuban rebels to
overthrow Castro; invasion failed – Strengthened Castro’s position and ties with Soviet Union;
strengthened Castro’s commitment to communism– Diminished US prestige in Latin America
• 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis – Soviets put missiles in Cuba to protect against U.S. invasion; tense standoff.– Closest America and the Soviet Union came to war
John F. Kennedy• 1960: becomes President of the United States;
youngest ever elected.• First Roman Catholic to be president.• WWII veteran, extremely popular• Represents “youth” and energy in American
society.• Moderate Democrat, cut taxes, defense
spending, started the Peace Corps., first to send American “advisors” to Vietnam.
• President during Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis
• Assassinated in November, 1963.• Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president
Latin America• Castro did improve education and modernization,
but violate human rights and freedoms.• Latin America became a Cold War battlefield;
America supported any regime that opposed communism.
• 1979: Nicaraguan Revolution, Sandinista (Soviets supported) overthrew US supported Somoza dictator.– America began to support the Contras fighting
to overthrow Sandinista
Asia• 1967: Association of Southeast Asian Nations –
boosted economic, social, and cultural developments and cooperation among their members.
• The Philippines: decolonized after WWII; gained freedom in 1946
• India earned freedom in 1945– Gandhi assassinated in 1948
• Pakistan created as a Muslim republic– Supported by Muhammad Jinnah– Corruption, political repression, and military rule.
• India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons; increased tension in the area.
Japan• After WWII, Japan was occupied by American
forces; invested military and economy.• Japan became a parliamentary democracy,
Emperor was figurehead and Diet (parliament) runs the country.
• Japan modernized; becomes superpower in region; 3rd most productive nation.
• 1990’s – suffers recession and government corruption; younger generations demand change, challenge traditional roles, women’s rights.
Taiwan, South Korea• Developed prosperous and free societies• Not democracies, but anti-communists.• Chiang Kai-shek in control of Taiwan, until death
in 1975.• 1989: free elections in S. Korea• Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan are known
as the “little tigers” – later Thailand.• Important for American cold war strategies,
politically and economically.
Vietnam War• 1954-1975• Won independence from France; Laos,
Cambodia also achieve independence• United States supported the French. Use of
guerilla warfare tactics; country divided• Ho Chi Minh – becomes communist leader of
North Vietnam; Ngo Dinh Diem – elected leader of South Vietnam.
• 1959 - North Vietnam invades• 1965 – LBJ sends American ground forces• 1968 – Tet Offensive: major attack by north• 1973 – American withdrawal; 1975 – Northern
capture and unify country• 58,000 Americans killed; nation is Communist
• Lyndon B. Johnson
– President after Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.
– “Great Society” war on poverty– Welfare programs
• Cambodia – Communist Khmer Rouge movement killed over
2 million people – U.S. backed Ferdinand Marcos, corrupt, violent
North Korea
• Since WWII, has been Communist; remained isolated and rigid
• Kim II Sung – dictator, ruthless, oppressive• Maintains a huge military • Pursuing nuclear technology• Poverty, starvation of people• Facing economic collapse
China• 1949: People’s Republic of China - Mao Zedong
becomes the Communist leader of China (1949-1976).
• 1958: Great Leap Forward: plan for building up industry, collectivization of farms– Led to chaos, breakdown in industry and farming– Famines killed over 15 million people
• 1966-76: Cultural Revolution – eliminate all political enemies, government censorship– Wife supporter of Revolution: Jiang Qing– Professors, writers, artists sent to labor camps
China
• 1978: Deng Xiaoping defeated Mao supporters and came to power
• Deng wanted to modernize, he was idealistic
• He allowed free-market reforms in China– Huge economic growth– Wages and standard of living increased– Greater demand for freedoms and rights.
India• The world’s largest democracy, however struggles
with population, industrialization, religious and cultural division
• Jawaharlal Nehru becomes first prime minister; differed from Gandhi in views.– Modernization, industrialize, and secularize India– Caught in middle of Cold War politics; decides to follow
non-alignment strategy.
• Indira Gandhi continued father’s philosophy of modernization and industrialization– “green revolution” and involuntary sterilization– religious differences; assassinated in 1984– Son takes over from 1984-1991 also assassinated
Indonesia• Dutch, British, and French forced out after WWII;
Indonesia became independent in 1949.• Sukarno become leader of the Indonesian
Nationalist Party; became authoritarian.• One of the world’s largest and most populous
nations; very diverse, huge archipelago• 80% of population is Muslim; pursued a policy of
non-alignment• 1965: Communists battle for control; over 500,000
people killed• 1967-1998: Suharto – economic growth,
anticommunism, alliance with the United States.
Middle East - themes• OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries, 1960– Control the supply and price of oil– Very influential
• Islamic fundamentalism – balance traditional beliefs and reform
• Arab-Israeli conflicts• Competition between the United States and the
USSR for influence in the region
Egypt• 1954: Abdel Nasser takes control• Wanted to create a United Arab Republic; effort
failed• Modernized Egypt, stood up to the West• Nationalized industries and businesses.• 1956: Suez crisis – French and British forces tried
to seize canal from Egypt– America condemned the attack and forced British
withdrawal.• Nasser sides with Soviets; gain technology and
weaponry – build Aswan Dam• 1970: Sadat comes to power; closer relationship
with the United States; first Arab leader to recognize Israel; assassinated in 1981
Israel• 1948: State of Israel; homeland for Jews• Arabs fight several wars against Israel, but with
highly trained and motivated army and strong backing from the United States, Israel defeated Arab coalitions.
• Israel expands, taking away Arab territory• 1964: PLO led by Yasser Arafat • 1967 Six Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War• Arab-Israeli conflicts: constant conflict, no Palestinian state,
violence.– Terrorist groups act against Israel; government uses
violence to maintain order.– Tension remains high – several peace agreements in
1990s.
Iran
– Mohammad Pahlavi (1941-1979) modernizes and industrialized Iran
– Opposed Islamic traditionalism, encouraged Western dress and education, unveiling of women, ally of the United States.
– Used secret police and ruthless oppression to carry out modernization
– 1979: Ayatollah Khomeini takes power in Iranian Revolution; established a Islamic theocratic dictatorship; anti-American
– Took American hostages– Revolution was anti-modern and religiously
based
Iraq• 1979: Saddam Hussein takes power
– Becomes brutal dictator– Opposed to the United States– During war with Iran, used poison gas, killed
many civilians– 1990: invaded Kuwait and was ready to invade
Saudi Arabia– 1991: Gulf War – the first major conflict of the
post-Cold War era - United States led coalition to retake Kuwait.
– 1991-2003: trade sanctions, U.N. resolutions– 2003: U.S. led war; regime was overthrown
Africa• 1960: Decolonization; known as the “Year of Africa”• 1952: Egypt and Libya declare independence;
1956: Morocco and Tunisia• 1954-62: Algerian War for Independence• North Africa were larger, more united
– Colonizing powers left behind technology and industrialization
• Sub-Saharan Africa – more difficult– Ghana: Kwame Kkrumah, Kenya: Jomo Kenyatta, South
Africa: African National Congress– Mau Mau movement killed amost 2,000 people– Lots of violence in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda,
Zaire, Angola, and Mozambique.
Africa• Decolonization of British and French for the most
part went smoothly; prepared for freedom, educated, self-government
• Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) – violent movement• Worst transitions were in Belgian and Portuguese
colonies – vicious fighting in Angola, Mozambique, and Rwanda (Hutu and Tutsi genocide)
• South Africa – apartheid; racial segregation– Modern, but most repressive; Nelson Mandela become
leader of African National Congress; imprisoned from 1964-1990; hurting economy and international reputation.
– Mandela become the first black president
Problems facing Africa• Dictatorship and corruption• Failure to modernize – continue to export natural
resources.• The Cold War – became pawns in the global chess
game between the U.S. and USSR.• Rapid population growth – famines and food
shortages.• HIV/AIDS – caused millions of deaths• Lack of unity – political boundaries drawn across
social, religious, language, or cultural differences– Intertribal and interethnic conflicts
• Treatment of women and children – millions of children are forced to fight, women still not treated equally, polygamy, lack of education.
Third World• lagged behind in economic and political
development; unstable– Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Mid East– Kept under political and economic control– Attempted overthrow of dictators
• Strongly influenced by Soviet Union or the United States – competition for influence
• Balkans and African colonies have suffered because political boundaries were drawn without regard to ethnic or tribal groups.
20th – 21st Century Themes• Social, cultural, and intellectual changes; scientific
and technological advancement is faster than ever before.
• Increase in world population• World economies are interconnected• 4 Tracks:
– Western Europe, U.S. Canada – stable, great economic prosperity, urbanization, individual liberties, social welfare programs to achieve social equality, cutting-edge technology, consumerism, service based
– Japan, Taiwan, S.Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore – economic and technological modernization, urbanization, high-tech, slow to embrace diversity, individualism, and civil liberties
20th – 21st Century Themes• 4 tracks (cont.):
– Soviet Union and Eastern Europe – remain industrial, not as advanced in technology and science, dictatorships, not as democratic or economically prosperous
– Asia, Africa, the Mid-east, and Latin America – mixed: civil war, dictatorships, modernization, industrialization; China
• Modern period 1800-1945; postmodern era or contemporary era– Industrialization, representative governments,
economic equality, multiculturalism
Economic Globalization• During the Great Depression nations practiced
protectionism, but after WWII nations had increased contact.
• GATT/World Trade Organization – rules for imports, exports, and economic interaction; Bretton Woods System; includes over 100 nations.
• Eastern bloc refused to join; cut off from the rest of the world.
• Cultural imperialism – “Americanization” of foreign cultures; cause conflict.– Internet, McDonalds
Multinational Corporations
• Economic recovery during the 1980’s• Development of huge multinational corporations;
factories, wages, employ thousands of people• Help local economy• Further globalization and integration• Difficult to regulate and control
– Exploit labor, harm the environment, prevent domestic companies
Trade Organizations• The U.S., Canada, Japan, and Western Europe
– great prosperity.• European Economic Community – eliminate
tariffs and encourage free movement of money, goods, and services, and labor.
• NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement: U.S., Mexico, Canada– Creation of free trade zone
• G-8 Association – the world’s largest economies– United States, Canada, GB, Japan, Germany, France,
Italy, and Russia
Globalization• Fear that nation’s own indigenous cultures are
being crushed under the force of foreign popular culture and values.
• Competition - with cheap food and other products from other parts of the world.
• Interdependence – war, revolution, can cause economic problems in other parts of the world.
• Social effects: elimination of legal distinctions between social classes, meritocracy, creation of middle class, urbanization, social welfare system, universal education, equal rights for women and minorities
Standard of Living Disparity• Gap between the develop and developing world
– U.S consumes 25% of world’s energy; 5% of population
• Migrations of the 20th Century from non-industrialized to industrialized nations.
• North-South Split: most of the world’s advanced, postindustrial societies are located north of the equator:– 1st World: developed industrialized nations
• United States, Great Britain, Germany, Japan
– 2nd World: developing, industrializing nations• China, India, Brazil
– 3rd World: non-industrialized, non-developed• African nations, Haiti, Vietnam
Major Trends• Migration: millions migrate for economic
opportunity, violence in developing world, and political repression.– Provide much needed labor force, cultural diversity
• Population Growth:– 1900 population was 1.6 billion; 2000 6 billion– China, India over 1 billion each– Africa increasing by 3% per year– Latin America; 1950 - 165 million, 1980 – 400 million– Mexico City, Shanghai, and Buenos Aires densely
populated cities– Overconsumption of food and energy
• Consumer societies – inexpensive, mass produced goods are available to most people. Fewer people earn living by farming or industrial production; based on services.
• Social activism – demonstrations, protests, and strikes have brought about social, political, and economic change.– Helped end wars, toppled regimes, women’s liberation
• Environmentalism – “green” movement– Pollution, species extinction are threat to environment– Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring – insecticide DDT– Kyoto agreement of 1997 – carbon emissions, global
warming– Earth Day (1970), Greenpeace, Sierra Club
Major Trends• Terrorism: assassination of Archduke
– Used to achieve goals through violence and assassination
– PLO – Palestinian Liberation Organization – IRA - Irish Republican Army – Hamas, Hizbollah – anti-Israeli groups– AL-Qaeda– September 11, 2001- attack on World Trade
Center and U.S. Pentagon; killed over 3,000– Osama bin Laden– Extreme nationalism - genocide
20th – 21st Century• Women’s suffrage
– Gained after World War I
• Communist nations gave women more equality
• During the Great Depression; many women unemployed
• During WWII the image of “Rosie the Riveter” became a symbol for the role of women in U.S. wartime production– After the war many returned to home– “leave it to Beaver”
20th – 21st Century• 1949: Soviet Union detonates their own first
atomic bomb.• 1954: Brown vs. the Board of Education
Supreme court ruled to end segregation.• Multiculturalism – the interaction and fusion of
the world’s various ethnic, artistic, and intellectual traditions.
• Decolonization of Eastern Europe 1989-1990: Eastern European nations declared independence from the Soviet Union– Provided an example for others to declare
independence
20th – 21st Century• Mass media – increase of information
– Political purposes, propaganda, and indoctrination, advertisement, information
– Powerful tools of “westernization”– Disney, McDonalds, Coca-cola are recognizable;
symbols of America.– Can draw people together; creation of a “global village” –
Internet and World Wide Web.– Literature – nonwestern authors and artists have adopted
Western forms of writing and painting.– Diego Rivera (Mexico) – murals that showed plight of the
working poor; reverence for indigenous people
Cold War
• Détente – reduction in hostility between nations
“cooling off” period of the Cold War• Science and Technology made great strides
during this time.
great innovations, space technology
Albert Einstein – theory of relativity
Nuclear power, rockets, genetics, DNA, computers
Cold War• World War II diminished European power
and control over world trade.
• The spread of United States mass culture is often seen as a threat to local or indigenous cultures.
• Sino-Soviet Alliance during the late 1960’s and 1970’s broke apart and the relationship became quite unfriendly.
Independence movements
• Gandhi:– Satyagraha – the policy o f nonviolent
resistance, mixed with Hindu principle, preached by Gandhi.
• Mandela: became first black president of South Africa
• King: used Gandhi’s principle in U.S. during the civil rights movement.
U.S. Presidents• Richard Nixon (1968-1975)
– Vice-President for Eisenhower; excellent foreign policy, first to visit China
– Ended Vietnam War, resigned after Watergate scandal.• Jimmy Carter (1976-1980)
– Signed peace treaties and SALT treaties– Poor economy, recession, terrorism
• Ronald Reagan (1980-1988)– Increased defense spending; STAR WARS defense
program– Free market capitalism, cut taxes to increase revenues– Greatly improved the economy; “Reaganonmics”– Ended the cold war
Soviet Leaders• Nikita Khrushchev – strong defender of
communism– leader during the Cuban missile crisis; lost
prestige– Began the process of “de-Stalinization”
• Mikhail Gorbachev– Brought massive reform to the Soviet Union
beginning in 1985; “glasnost” – Allowed political and cultural liberalization– Perestroika – increased levels of free-market
economic activity allowed by the government
World Leaders
• Charles de Gaulle – President of France– Followed non-alignment policy– Resisted American domination of European affairs
• Margaret Thatcher – Prime Minister of G. B.– First female prime minister, privatized programs– Close ally of Reagan and Bush; opposing communism
• Helmut Kohl – West Germany– Led country to economic dominance during the 1980s– Reunification of Germany in 1990 after the collapse of the
Soviet Union.