The Age of Exploration

The time period from the 1400-1600s when many Europeans setsail across the Atlantic because they wanted the 3 Gs: god, glory,

and goods. Also, The Age of Discovery.

The Age of Imperialism

Western civilization reached the high point of its long-standingglobal expansion. This expansion in this period took many forms.There was, first of all, economic expansion. Europeans investedlarge sums of money abroad, building railroads and ports, minesand plantations, factories and public utilities. Trade betweennations grew greatly and a world economy developed. Between1750 and 1900 the gap in income disparities betweenindustrialized Europe and America and the rest of the world grew atan astounding rate.

The American Revolution

A war for independence waged between the 13 American colonies and the mother country- GreatBritain. Fought in America between central rule and local self-government revolving around "no

taxation with representation." George Washington led his troops and eventually forced thesurrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown with the assistance of the French.

The Cold War

refers to the period following WWII until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.This wasa period when much of the world was divided by the communist/non-communist battle for

military and political superiority. While the USA and the USSR were unquestionably the world'stwo superpowers, they avoided direct military conflict. Instead, they sought to bring other

countries into their fold.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

When Kruchev tried to build nuclear bases in Cuba, the two superpowers were brought to thebrink of war. This base was just 90 miles away from Florida and was a threat to the US. In 1962,

President Kennedy declared a naval blockade of Cuba. In the end, Kruchev agreed to remove themissiles from Cuba.

Discovery of the New World

Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492.The leaders of the conquest of the Aztec Empire were Hernán Cortés

and Pedro de Alvarado. Francisco Pizarro led the conquest of the IncanEmpire.

The Enlightenment

A philosophical movement which started in Europe in the 1700's and spread to the colonies. It emphasized reason and thescientific method. Writers of the enlightenment tended to focus on government, ethics, and science, rather than on

imagination, emotions, or religion.

Main Points: Democratic approach to knowledge, education, opinions, Everyone is equal in society (in principle), Scienceand reasoning should explain the universe.

Fall of the Berlin Wall

1989 - Beginning of the fall of communism and the Soviet Union - symbolized the failure of communism and massivesocialism.

After years from being separated from the rest of Germany the people of Berlin start to tear down the Berlin Wall which hadfor the most part of the Cold War completely separated themselves from the rest of the world by the Soviet Union. The city of

Berlin was given to the Soviet Union by the Allied Powers at the end of WWII.

The French Revolution

In 1789, the French Revolution was where the French people rebelled against their King tooverthrow him. Afterwards, a republic was started, where revolutionists began to controversially

cut the heads off of nobles. The Republican party was formed because of the French Revolution,and brought much inspiration to the U.S. at first. However, this didn't last long, as Federalists

became afraid of the possibility of such extremes that were shown in France.

The Haitian Revolution

Toussaint L'Ouverture, and educated slave on a sugar plantation, forged therebellious slaves into an army able to defeat British forces seeking to seize theisland and then an expedition hoping to reestablish French authority. The slave

uprising led to the establishment of Haiti as an independent nation in 1804.

Holocaust

A methodical plan orchestrated by Hitler to ensure German supremacy.It called for the elimination of Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-

Aryans, and mentally and physically disabled during WWII.

The Industrial Revolution

It began in England from the late 1700's to the middle 1800's when new power driven machinesreplaced hand tools. Britain innovates mass production of textiles using machines, new energy

sources (coal, steam), factories, cheap and urbanized labor, and capital. Technology andtransportation (trains, canals) made possible industrial commerce across Europe.

Korean War

(1950-53) A conflict between UN forces led primarily US and S Korea(Democracy) against North Korea, and later China (Communist).

Resulted in Korea remaining divided at the 38th parallel.

The Protestant Reformation

16th century religious movement led by Martin Luther that sought to reform the Roman CatholicChurch and led to the formation of Protestantism, Using his 95 Thesis

Main Reasons: clerical immorality, ignorance, indulgences, bible translation, and churchcorruption.

The Renaissance

"Rebirth" time period from 1350-1650. People studied literature from ancientGreece and Rome, paintings, plays, poems, musical compositions, and

scientific inventions. Artists and inventors were taking more credit for theirwork.

September 11, 2001

terrorist attacks on the united states that killed thousandsof people at the twin towers and the pentagon

The Sinking of the Lusitania

a British passenger liner, which was also carrying arms and munitions, that was sunk by aGerman submarine. More than 1,000 lives were lost, including 139 Americans

American protests forced the Germans to temporarily halt unrestricted submarine warfare.

Space Race

Many scientists and military leaders believed that control of space would be very important.Consequently, the USA and USSR (Soviet Union) invested billions of dollars in developing

satellites, space stations, rockets, etc. This investment led to great scientific advances, but alsocaused hostility and insecurities between the USA and USSR.

Sputnik

First artificial Earth satellite, it was launched by Moscow in 1957and sparked U.S. fears of Soviet dominance in technology andouter space. It led to the creation of NASA and the space race.

Vietnam War

a prolonged war (1954-1975) between the communist armies of NorthVietnam who were supported by the Chinese and the non-communist

armies of South Vietnam who were supported by the United States

World War I

From 1914 - 1919 this armed conflict was caused by the assassination ofthe Archduke of Austria-Hungary. The Allies Powers won the conflict,

which led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

World War II

War fought Between Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and Allied Powers(U.S., France, U.S.S.R., and U.K.); Single largest war in the history of U.S.;

Introduced Age of Nuclear Weapons; New system of international diplomacydeveloped as a result; 1939 to 1945, but U.S. involved from 1941-1945

The Zimmerman Note

The German telegram decoded and published in newspapers nationally in March 1917 thatsuggested that Mexico would be able to reclaim lost territory if it declared war on the United

States. It turned the public against Germany, contributing to the idea of the "German menace,"which caused the US to enter WWI.