World History Since 1945 Flashcards
1
Q
Anti-colonialist Definition
A
a movement against colonization
2
Q
Cold War Definition
A
a war of ideologies between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies
3
Q
Colonial Rule Definition
A
when a powerful nation exerts control over less-powerful countries
4
Q
Demilitarized Zone Definition
A
an area in which military powers or contending groups forbid military installations or activities
5
Q
French Indochina Definition
A
a territory in Southeast Asia that consisted of modern-day Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam
6
Q
Proxy Conflicts Definition
A
conflicts that took place during the Cold War between the United States and a party other than the Soviet Union, often as a stand-in for the conflict between the U.S. and Soviet Union; in these conflicts, the ideals underlying the U.S.-Soviet conflict were usually at stake, such as capitalism/democracy versus communism
7
Q
Second Indochina War Definition
A
a war in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia that lasted from 1955 to 1975; also known as the Vietnam War
8
Q
Vietnam War Definition
A
a war in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia that lasted from 1955 to 1975; also known as the Second Indochina War
9
Q
Decolonization Definition
A
the action or process of a state withdrawing from a former colony, leaving it independent
10
Q
Mass Migrations Definition
A
the large-scale movement of people from one country, region, or place of residence to another. It can be one-way or temporary, forced or voluntary
11
Q
Partition of India Definition
A
the division of the British colony of India into two nations—India and Pakistan—in 1947
12
Q
Superpower Definition
A
a state with a dominant position and power on a global scale
13
Q
Acquit Definition
A
to find someone not guilty of a crime
14
Q
Crimes Against Humanity Definition
A
certain crimes, such as genocide, that are committed as institutional policy and directed toward civilians
15
Q
Geneva Conventions Definition
A
protocols that outline international legal standards for humanitarian treatment in times of war; amended in 1949 after the atrocities of World War II
16
Q
International Military Tribunal Definition
A
the court that ran the Nuremberg trials
17
Q
Nuremberg Trials Definition
A
the first international war crimes trials intended to prosecute high-ranking Nazi officials for war crimes
18
Q
Roma Definition
A
a traditionally nomadic ethnic group with global spread and a large presence in Europe; also known as “Gypsies,” although this term is considered insulting by the Roma people
19
Q
Tribunal Definition
A
a court
20
Q
Atomic Bomb Definition
A
a nuclear weapon first developed by Americans during World War II; atomic bombs have only been used twice in history and both were dropped by the Americans onto the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in August 1945
21
Q
Cuban Missle Crisis Definition
A
a stand-off between the United States and the Soviet Union in October 1962, which was the result of tensions over Cuba and the Soviet Union’s efforts to put nuclear weapons on the island of Cuba
22
Q
Détente Definition
A
a relaxation of tensions between countries
23
Q
Manhattan Project Definition
A
the American research project in the 1940s, with British and Canadian help, that developed the first nuclear weapons
24
Q
Mutually Assured Destruction Definition
A
the theory of mutual warfare that proposed that as soon as one country used a nuclear weapon, the other would do so as well. Therefore, it was in each country’s own interest to not use nuclear weapons.
25
Cosmonaut Definition
a Soviet or Russian astronaut
26
International Space Station (ISS) Definition
a space station in orbit around the earth, run through cooperation between five different space agencies
27
Space Race Definition
the race between the U.S. and the USSR during the Cold War to reach achievements in outer space first
28
Deterrence Definition
a military strategy when one power uses the threat of a reprising attack to rule out an attack from an adversary power in the first place; usually used in the context of the threat of a nuclear attack
29
Korean War Definition
a war fought between North Korea and South Korea from 1950 to 1953
30
Marshall Plan Definition
an aid program to rebuild Western Europe
31
Sphere of Influence Definition
an area over which a country or government has influence yet no formal authority
32
Viet Cong Definition
a South Vietnam supporter of the North Vietnam communists
33
Counterculture Movement Definition
a movement beginning in the 1960s that attracted youths who were against war, racial discrimination, and sexism
34
Second Wave Feminism Definition
a women’s rights movement that emphasized equal pay for women, access to contraception, and legal and economic equality
35
McCarthyism Definition
the Cold War practice of accusing people of disloyalty to the government and unfairly investigating them; named for U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy
36
Red Scare Definition
the fear of communism in the United States during the Cold War that led to the surveillance of any citizen suspected of being a communist
37
Russian Revolutions Definition
the period from about 1917 to 1922 when Russia was in turmoil; during 1917, three separate revolutions occurred: the abdication and murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family; the overthrow of the Duma provisional government; and the Bolshevik’s overthrow of the most recent government, after which the nation descended into civil war
38
Sedition Act of 1918 Definition
a law that allowed the U.S. government to monitor those whose beliefs were considered communist or a “threat” to national security
39
Wiretap Definition
a device used by law enforcement such as the FBI to secretly monitor telephone conversations
40
Containment Policy Definition
the United States policy during the Cold War of preventing the spread of communism
41
Hippies Definition
the young members of the 1960s counterculture movement who rejected mainstream culture
42
Truman Doctrine Definition
a U.S. policy established by President Truman in 1947 that was intended to stop the spread of communism by providing aid to countries where communism was on the rise
43
Bosniak Definition
an individual who is Muslim and from Bosnia, part of the former Yugoslavia
44
Croat Definition
an individual from Croatia, part of the former Yugoslavia
45
Ethnic Cleansing Definition
the forced removal of a group of people from an area based on their race, religion, or ethnicity
46
Irish Republican Army Definition
a group in Northern Ireland fighting to leave the United Kingdom during the Troubles
47
Mass Atrocity Definition
an action that results in the death of civilians on a large scale
48
Serb Definition
an individual from Serbia, part of the former Yugoslavia
49
Slovene Definition
an individual from Slovenia, part of the former Yugoslavia
50
Srebrenica Massacre Definition
an event in the summer of 1995 in which Bosnian Serbs systematically murdered more than 7,000 Bosniaks and removed another 20,000 civilians from the region
51
The Troubles Definition
a period in the late 1960s to 1998 in which different groups fought in Northern Ireland over whether or not to leave the United Kingdom
52
Yugoslav Definition
an individual from Yugoslavia
53
Atlantic Charter Definition
a joint statement released by Great Britain and the United States in 1941 outlining their goals in fighting World War II, including the preservation of self-determination for oppressed people
54
Fifth Pan-African Congress Definition
a conference held in Manchester, England, in 1945 to discuss how the end of World War II could mean freedom for everyone of Black African descent
55
First Pan-African Congress Definition
a conference held in London in 1919 to bring leaders of Black African descent together to discuss liberation and put an end to racism and colonialization
56
Pan-Africanism Definition
the belief that everyone of African descent should be politically unified
57
Pan-Arabism Definition
a philosophy that promotes the cooperation between and unity of all Arab states
58
The Arab League Definition
a political union of Arab-speaking member states formed in 1945
59
United Arab Republic Definition
a sovereign state formed in 1958 that combined Egypt and Syria
60
Zakat Definition
the traditional Islamic practice of giving a certain percentage of your income to charity
61
Authoritarian Definition
a government that controls virtually everything about a country other than possibly a social organization such as a religion; it is not limited by a constitution, the rule of law, or elections, and typically it would be run by one or a few individuals
62
Fragmentation Definition
the ethnic, religious, and cultural divisions within a state
63
Gridlock Definition
a lack of progress in political talks
64
Infrastructure Definition
the basic systems, such as road and building construction, that are necessary for a society to function effectively
65
Plurality Definition
the most votes; a term used in reference to democratic voting in a parliament system
66
Secessionist Movement Definition
a group of people who claim their land is independent from a larger territory
67
Single-Product Economy Definition
a state economic system that relies on just one export for the majority of its income
68
Coup d'état Definition
a violent takeover of the government
69
Mandate Definition
an administrative system that gave the Allied powers, particularly France and Great Britain, control over former German and Ottoman territories after World War I
70
Protectorate Definition
a country that is controlled by, but not governed by, another country
71
Zionism Definition
the movement to establish a Jewish homeland
72
Apartheid Definition
a system of political and social segregation based on race
73
Insurgency Definition
a prolonged rebellion or revolt
74
Liberation Movement Definition
an organized effort to free a nation
75
Paramilitary Group Definition
a group not associated with a country’s military that operates in a similar manner, using military strategies and structures to achieve its goals
76
Jainism Definition
an ancient Indian religion that focuses on nonviolence, non-absolutism, and nonattachment
77
Satyagraha Definition
the term used to describe Gandhi’s policy of nonviolent resistance
78
Sedition Definition
the organized resistance to an established authority
79
Coalition Government Definition
a type of government created when leaders from two or more political parties agree to form one national government
80
Parliamentary Republic Definition
a democratic form of government where the party with the greatest number of representatives in the parliament (or legislature) forms the government and its leader becomes prime minister
81
Secularism Definition
an ideology that focused on making decisions without religious or spiritual basis
82
Glasnost Definition
a policy to make the government of the Soviet Union more open and transparent
83
Nation-state Definition
an autonomous, self-governing entity that exerts political power inside and beyond its territorial borders
84
Perestroika Definition
a policy to reform the communist economic system of the Soviet Union
85
Draft Dodger Definition
an American man who evaded the Vietnam draft
86
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Definition
a U.S. resolution giving President Johnson all necessary power to fight the enemy in Vietnam
87
Atlantic Charter Definition
a joint statement released by Great Britain and the United States in 1941 outlining their goals in fighting World War II, including the preservation of self-determination for oppressed people
88
Ho Chi Minh Trail Definition
a supply line from North Vietnam to South Vietnam supplying Viet Cong forces with weapons
89
Trusteeship Definition
a supervisory control by one or more countries over a territory
90
Viet Cong Definition
a South Vietnam supporter of the North Vietnam communists
91
Viet Minh Definition
a Vietnamese resistance movement that fought against both French and Japanese colonial control
92
Coup Definition
a sudden upheaval in government where the ruler is taken out of power
93
Divide and Rule Definition
a policy to deliberately weaken a unified group by separating it into sections with different privileges and rules
94
Scorched-earth Tactics Definition
a military strategy to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy
95
Loom Definition
a tool for weaving yarn or thread into fabric
96
Personal Computer Definition
a computer designed to be used by one person at a time
97
5CB Definition
a chemical used to make liquid crystal displays for computers, televisions, and cell phones
98
Americans with Disabilities Act Definition
a law that prohibits the discrimination of individuals with disabilities
99
Ammonia Definition
a chemical often used in fertilizers
100
Chemical Definition
a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared by scientists
101
Communications Decency Act Definition
a law passed to fight against what was considered objectionable material on the internet
102
DDT Definition
an artificial pesticide developed in the 1940s
103
Environmentalism Definition
a movement focused on protecting the environment
104
March of Dimes Definition
an organization that was created to help people who had been impacted by polio
105
Penicillin Definition
an antibiotic produced from blue molds
106
Polythene Definition
a chemical used to make plastics
107
Entreprenuer Definition
a person who turns an idea or invention into a business
108
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Definition
the total amount of goods and services in a market during one year’s period of time
109
Multinational Corporation Definition
a company whose reach goes beyond that of a national border
110
Great Leap Foward Definition
an economic and social program by the Chinese Communist Party to transition China from an agrarian to an industrialized society
111
Tiananmen Squure Protests Definition
the Chinese pro-democracy protests in 1989 that resulted in the suppression of political dissent and the reaffirmation of Chinese Communist Party authority
112
Absolute Advantage Definition
the ability to produce more of a product
113
Comparative Advantage Definition
the ability to produce a product at a lower cost of resources
114
Cost of Labor Definition
the amount workers are paid for their efforts
115
Opportunity Cost Definition
the loss of value in a decision made in production
116
Physical System Definition
an arrangement of parts or elements that together exhibit behavior
117
Existentialism Definition
the philosophical belief that focuses on individuals and their choices
118
Pessimism Definition
the philosophical belief and outlook on life that negative events are usually expected to happen
119
Container Shipping Definition
the practice of packing goods in large steel containers that can travel by ship, truck, or train. They are unpacked only when they reach their final destination
120
Internet Definition
a system that links computers and allows them to communicate so that users can exchange and access information across the entire system
121
Microcomputer Definition
a small computer that can fit on the top of a desk and that an individual or small business can afford
122
Microprocessor Definition
a silicon chip containing large numbers of transistors that communicate with each other and can carry out a variety of complex tasks
123
Semiconductor Definition
a silicon chip containing a large number of transistors that perform a specific, complex task
124
Supply Chain Definition
a sequence of processes and interchanges that brings a good to a certain location
125
Transistor Definition
a cheap, lightweight switch that is central to all modern electronics
126
Bosnian Definition
a person who lives in the Balkans, speaks Bosnian, and is likely to be Muslim
127
Holodomor Definition
an intentional mass famine in Ukraine between 1932 and 1933 by the Soviet Union killing approximately 3.5 million
128
Hutu Definition
the major ethnic groups in the African Great Lakes Region; the former majority ethnic group in Rwanda (identifying as Hutu is now illegal)
129
Tutsi Definition
an ethnic group persecuted during the Rwandan genocide; the former minority ethnic group in Rwanda (identifying as Tutsi is now illegal)
130
African Union Definition
intergovernmental organization whose purpose is to unify and strengthen African states and promote economic development and international cooperation
131
Atrocity Definition
a seriously terrible act, usually involving violence
132
Censorship Definition
government suppression or editing of communication, media, or other information
133
International Criminal Court Definition
an independent judicial body with jurisdiction over individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity
134
Mass Killing Definition
multiple homicides
135
Media Definition
the means of mass communication
136
State-sponsored Terrorism Definition
terrorism used by a government to control a population through fear
137
Terrorism Definition
acts of violence used to create fear and intimidation to advance a political or social objective
138
War on Terror Definition
the United States’ ongoing international counterterrorism military campaign launched after September 11, 2001
139
Network Definition
a system of interconnected or interdependent people or things
140
Purge Definition
to quickly and violently remove a group of people who are targeted by a government due to religion, ethnicity, race, or ideology
141
Revolutionary Terrorism Definition
terrorism used to overthrow a government or push an agenda
142
Disinformation Definition
the false information that is deliberately spread in order to mislead people
143
Misinformation Definition
the false information spread by someone who believes it to be true
144
Rohingya Definition
an ethnic group living in southwest Myanmar
145
Civil Liberties Definition
the individual rights, usually considered the natural rights of all humans, which are widely agreed should be protected by laws in a just nation
146
Human Rights Definition
the rights that all people deserve according to the moral principles ascribed to human behavior, typically codified as legal rights and defined by international law
147
Human Rights Violation Definition
the taking away of human rights or making them difficult to access
148
Tribunal Definition
a body established to try cases and pass judgment about a specific situation, such as human rights violations carried out during a genocide
149
Uighur Definition
a minority ethnic group native to Xinjiang, China; pronounced “wee-ger”
150
International Law Definition
the generally acknowledged norms governing interactions between nations
151
Natural Rights Definition
the rights that are not given by a government or society, but exist universally
152
Autocratic Government Definition
a government in which the leaders have absolute power
153
Nongovernmental Organization Definition
an organization that operates independently from and sometimes in coordination with governments to assist with humanitarian crises
154
Nonintervention Definition
a policy of not directly interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations
155
Public Awareness Campaign Definition
a public effort to build recognition of a problem using media, messaging, and an organized set of communication tactics in order to achieve a goal
156
Sovereignty Definition
independent, autonomous authority
157
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Definition
the United Nations international agreement that outlines the fundamental freedoms and rights of all people
158
Autocracy Definition
a government in which political preferences cannot be expressed and citizens are not guaranteed civil liberties
159
Developing Country Definition
a country with a comparatively small economy, often dominated by agriculture, and having a generally low quality of life
160
Resource Curse Definition
the international development theory that having a large amount of natural resources in a developing country is bad because it leads to the rise of autocracy, an economy that depends on natural resources, and violent conflict over control of resources
161
Wahhabism Definition
a conservative Sunni Muslim religious movement
162
Developed Country Definition
a country with a comparatively large economy, often concentrated in manufacturing and services, and having a generally high quality of life
163
Rentier State Definition
a state in which the government gets a large amount of its income from rents, or money paid by foreigners, to use the state’s natural resources, instead of taxes paid by the local people
164
Climate Change Definition
the trends in weather, ice formation, and sea levels influenced by changes in the Earth’s atmosphere; human-made climate change results primarily from the release of airborne pollutants
165
Conservation Definition
the act of preserving the environment with the intention of long-term sustainability
166
Shifting Cultivation Definition
the use of a piece of land for a particular purpose for only a short period of time
167
Coal Seam Definition
an underground layer of coal that can run for miles and connect to other seams
168
Paris Agreement Definition
a 2015 international agreement on climate change that set goals for reducing carbon emissions and established methods for financing environmental policy goals
169
Tar Sands Definition
a mix of sand, clay, and water soaked with a thick, black, sticky oil called bitumen that can be refined into gas
