must know documents Flashcards
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
Overview: Published in 1776, this seminal work laid the foundations of classical economics. Smith discusses the division of labor, free markets, and the “invisible hand” guiding economic activity.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Overview: Published in 1848, this pamphlet outlines the principles of communism, calling for the proletariat (working class) to overthrow the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and establish a classless society.
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
Overview: Published in 1792, this early feminist work argues for the education and rational treatment of women, asserting their rights to equality and independence.
The Tennis Court Oath
Overview: In 1789, members of the French Third Estate vowed not to disband until they had written a new constitution, marking a pivotal event in the early stages of the French Revolution.
The Napoleonic Code
Overview: Introduced in 1804 by Napoleon Bonaparte, this civil code standardized laws across France, emphasizing clearly written and accessible laws. It influenced many legal systems worldwide.
Treaty of Versailles
Overview: Signed in 1919, this treaty ended World War I. It imposed harsh penalties and reparations on Germany, contributing to economic hardship and political instability in the country.
treaty of nanjing
Overview: Signed in 1842, this treaty ended the First Opium War between Britain and China, leading to significant concessions by China, including ceding Hong Kong to Britain and opening several ports to British trade.
wilson’s 14 points
Overview: Proposed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1918, these points outlined his vision for post-World War I peace, including the creation of the League of Nations to prevent future conflicts.
The Munich Agreement
Overview: Signed in 1938 by Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, this agreement allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in a failed attempt to prevent war.
Potsdam Agreement
Overview: Reached in 1945 by the Allied powers (U.S., UK, and USSR), this agreement outlined the post-World War II administration of Germany and the terms for Japanese surrender.
Truman Doctrine
Overview: Announced in 1947 by U.S. President Harry Truman, this policy aimed to contain Soviet expansion by providing political, military, and economic assistance to countries resisting communism.
NATO/Warsaw Pact
Overview: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in 1949 as a military alliance of Western countries. The Warsaw Pact was the Soviet Union’s response, forming a military alliance of Eastern Bloc countries in 1955.
Stalin’s Five Year Plans
Overview: Initiated by Joseph Stalin in the late 1920s, these plans aimed to rapidly industrialize the Soviet Union and collectivize agriculture, leading to significant economic and social changes.
SALT I
Overview: The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) led to the 1972 agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to limit the number of nuclear missiles and other strategic arms.
Reagan’s Berlin Wall Speech
Overview: In 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivered a speech at the Brandenburg Gate, famously challenging Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” symbolizing the call for the end of the division of Berlin and the Cold War.
Balfour Declaration
Overview: Issued in 1917 by the British government, this statement expressed support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine.
Sykes-Picot Agreement
Overview: A secret 1916 agreement between Britain and France, with Russian assent, dividing the Ottoman Empire’s Middle Eastern territories into spheres of influence.
Deng Xiaoping’s Four Modernizations
Overview: Introduced in 1978 by Deng Xiaoping, these reforms aimed to modernize China’s agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology, transforming its economy.
Mao’s Little Red Book
Overview: Officially titled “Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung,” this book compiled Mao Zedong’s speeches and writings, serving as a symbol of his ideological influence during the Cultural Revolution.
Kyoto Protocol
Overview: An international treaty adopted in 1997 committing its signatories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aimed at combating global climate change.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Overview: Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, this document outlines fundamental human rights to be universally protected, marking a milestone in the promotion of global human rights.
