All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which event led to the United States entering World War II?
Answer: The attack on Pearl Harbor. This surprise attack forced America to abandon isolationism and enter the war.
Flashcard 2: What event sparked the beginning of World War I?
Answer: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This single act triggered a cascade of alliances that escalated into global war.
Flashcard 3: What was the main reason for the partition of India in 1947?
Answer: Religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. Irreconcilable religious differences made unified independence impossible.
Flashcard 4: Which war was caused by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea?
Answer: The Korean War. North Korea's communist invasion aimed to unify the peninsula by force.
Flashcard 5: What triggered the start of the Gulf War in 1990?
Answer: Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Saddam Hussein's aggression threatened regional oil supplies and stability.
Flashcard 6: Identify the major cause of the Korean War.
Answer: The division of Korea into communist North and capitalist South. Cold War ideology split the peninsula along ideological lines.
Flashcard 7: What was the main cause of the Vietnam War?
Answer: The spread of communism in Southeast Asia. U.S. containment policy aimed to prevent communist expansion.
Flashcard 8: What was the purpose of the League of Nations?
Answer: To maintain world peace and prevent future wars. Created after WWI to establish collective security among nations.
Flashcard 9: What was the main cause of the Bosnian War?
Answer: Ethnic tensions following the breakup of Yugoslavia. Serb, Croat, and Bosniak nationalism erupted after communist control ended.
Flashcard 10: What was the main cause of the Spanish Civil War?
Answer: Political polarization between Republicans and Nationalists. Left-wing and right-wing forces battled for Spain's political future.
Flashcard 11: Which policy led to the escalation of the Cold War arms race?
Answer: Nuclear deterrence and mutually assured destruction. Fear of nuclear attack drove both superpowers to accumulate weapons.
Flashcard 12: What was the primary cause of decolonization post-World War II?
Answer: Growing nationalism and weakened European powers. War-weakened European powers couldn't maintain overseas empires effectively.
Flashcard 13: Which conflict was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Answer: World War I. The archduke's death in Sarajevo activated European alliance system.
Flashcard 14: Which alliance system was central to the start of World War I?
Answer: The Triple Alliance and Triple Entente. These competing alliances turned a regional crisis into world war.
Flashcard 15: What was the primary cause of World War II?
Answer: The rise of totalitarian regimes and aggression. Fascist and Nazi expansionism led to global military confrontation.
Flashcard 16: Identify the main ideological conflict during the Cold War.
Answer: Capitalism vs. Communism. These opposing economic systems defined the global struggle post-WWII.
Flashcard 17: Which treaty ended World War I?
Answer: The Treaty of Versailles. Imposed harsh terms on Germany and officially concluded the Great War.
Flashcard 18: What event sparked the beginning of World War I?
Answer: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This single act triggered a cascade of alliances that escalated into global war.
Flashcard 19: What triggered the Rwandan Genocide in 1994?
Answer: Ethnic tensions between Hutus and Tutsis. Long-standing ethnic hatred exploded into systematic mass murder.
Flashcard 20: Identify the main cause of the Falklands War in 1982.
Answer: Territorial dispute between Argentina and the UK. Argentina's military junta sought to reclaim the disputed islands.
Flashcard 21: What event led to the start of the First Gulf War?
Answer: Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Saddam Hussein's aggression threatened regional oil supplies and stability.
Flashcard 22: Which event marked the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide?
Answer: The assassination of President Habyarimana. The president's death provided the signal for planned ethnic cleansing.
Flashcard 23: What was the main cause of the Suez Crisis in 1956?
Answer: Nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt. Nasser's action challenged Western control of this vital waterway.
Flashcard 24: Identify the main cause of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Answer: Popular discontent with the Shah's regime. Authoritarian rule and Western influence sparked widespread Islamic uprising.
Flashcard 25: What was the primary cause of the Algerian War of Independence?
Answer: Algerian demands for independence from France. National liberation movement challenged French colonial control in North Africa.
Flashcard 26: What was the main cause of the First Intifada?
Answer: Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation. Popular uprising against Israeli military control of Palestinian territories.
Flashcard 27: What was the main cause of the Mau Mau Uprising?
Answer: Kenyan resistance to British colonial rule. Kikuyu nationalism challenged British settler dominance in East Africa.
Flashcard 28: What triggered the Russian involvement in World War I?
Answer: Alliance with Serbia and conflict with Austria-Hungary. Pan-Slavic solidarity and Austrian aggression drew Russia into European conflict.
Flashcard 29: Identify the event that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Answer: Mass protests and the easing of travel restrictions. Popular pressure and policy changes made the barrier unsustainable.
Flashcard 30: What was the main cause of the Six-Day War in 1967?
Answer: Tensions between Israel and neighboring Arab states. Israel's preemptive strike arose from Arab military buildup and threats.