Contemporary History Exam 1 (Part 2)

Front 1

Mao Zedong

Back 1

One of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1921 and the founder of the People’s Republic of China. He was widely recognized for political and military strategies. He was enthusiastic about Marxism and worked along with peasant masses while upholding his belief that revolution should be expressed through violence. “Maoism” was later formed in honor of Mao.

Front 2

Chiang Kai-shek

Back 2

He was a major Nationalist leader in China. He was recognized more as a military man than a politician. The Kuomintang was taken over by him in 1926, a year after Sun Yat-sen’s death. Even though Chiang led the Northern Expedition in defeat of warlords and defeated communist rebels soon afterwards, Chiang was left to deal with social, economic, and political problems as his Nationalist government was being widely recognized.

Front 3

Long March

Back 3

A military retreat of the Red Army of the communists led by Mao Zedong. The march itself began in October 1934 from Kiangsi to Yenan (North China). This event was a strategic withdrawal to escape the pursuit of the Kuomintang. Soldiers endured bitter conditions (starvation and cold temperature). This retreat marked the beginning of Mao’s leadership over the communists.

Front 4

Spanish Civil War

Back 4

It was a revolution by the Spanish army in Spanish Morocco for the overthrow of the Spanish Republic in July 1936. The Spanish army was fighting for the Nationalist cause, while the republican government was aided by Loyalists and Communists. This war left about 600,000 dead and over a million in Nationalist concentration camps.

Front 5

Boer Wars

Back 5

Two wars that occurred between the British and the Boer Republic, beginning in 1880 and 1899. The “Boers” were Dutch settlers who were known as farmers.

Front 6

Scramble for Africa

Back 6

This refers to the invasion and occupation of the European powers during the “New Imperialism” period.

Front 7

New Deal

Back 7

A series of economic programs passed by the government under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt beginning in 1933. It was in response to the economic woes of the Great Depression. The New Deal was built on the principles “relief, recovery, and reform.” One example of a development included the “Tennessee Valley Authority,” which was to provide electric power and manufacturing to the Tennessee area.

Front 8

Wall Street Crash of 1929

Back 8

Also known as “Black Tuesday,” refers to the most devastating stock market crash in U.S. history. It occurred on October 29, 1929. The stock market lost approximately $14 billion on that day. Many believe that this event led to the Great Depression. It signaled the loss of trust in the U.S. financial system across the nation.

Front 9

Gavrilo Princip

Back 9

He is recognized as the one who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austrian throne) and his wife in June 1914. That action set off a chain of events that would lead to World War 1. He was a member of the terrorist group “Black Hand” and was a Serbian nationalist who hated everything about the Austrian Empire.

Front 10

Anschluss

Back 10

the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938.

Front 11

Satyagraha

Back 11

a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed and conceived by Mohandas Gandhi.

Front 12

Jawaharlal Nehru

Back 12

the first prime minister of India who took office in 1947. He was once mentored by Mohandas Ghandhi. He was a strong advocate for complete independence from the British Empire.

Front 13

Amritsar Massacre

Back 13

British Indian Army soldiers opened fire on an unarmed gathering of innocent men, women and children without any warning. This tragedy occurred on April 13, 1919.

Front 14

Russo-Japanese War

Back 14

a conflict that grew out of the rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea. This war began in 1904. The Japanese won the war; the Treaty of Portsmouth ended the war.

Front 15

5. What were the most significant factors (domestic and international) that led to the Great Depression? In what ways were the lives of ordinary Americans affected by the economic collapse? In addition, discuss the major policy initiatives enacted by the FDR administration to address the economic collapse.

Back 15

The primary reasons or events that led up to the Great Depression were: (1) “Black Tuesday” (October 29, 1929); (2) Bank failures; (3) Post-World War 1 debts; (4) Decrease in business deals and purchasing. Numerous banks would suddenly lose people’s savings, contributed to my view of bank failures being one of the primary reasons for the Great Depression. Besides that, the most obvious lesson taught in high school was about the stock market crash or “Black Tuesday” in October 1929. There were about 9,000 bank failures.
The “Roaring 20’s” was a great decade for the United States, besides World War 1. Our nation enjoyed great achievements in not only the economy but in sports, entertainment, literature and the arts, etc. So with great success must have been much spending and celebration. And not only the U.S., but the Great Depression had a global affect on nations around the world. One thing that all of the nations had in common was the post-World War 1 effects. The debt of paying for that war and its reparations affected everyone, especially Germany (being hit hard the most). Well the U.S. loaned money out to Germany. So with all of those decisions, as well as the later decision of the “Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act” concerning foreign trade, contributed to the economic downturn. In my opinion, I believe that the Great Depression could not have been prevented. Loss of businesses, increase in unemployment rates, decrease in the wealth of socioeconomic classes, and other results occurred which parallels the economic situation of our nation in today’s time.