Glossary
Great Depression
A severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s, characterized by widespread unemployment and economic hardship.
Example:
The global economic crisis of the Great Depression fueled aggressive expansionist policies in some nations, as leaders sought resources and markets.
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
A concept created and promulgated by the Empire of Japan to promote the unity and self-sufficiency of East Asian nations under Japanese leadership, often through military conquest.
Example:
Japan presented the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere as a liberation from Western imperialism, but it largely served to justify Japanese domination and resource extraction.
Indian National Congress
A major political party in India, founded in 1885, that played a central role in the Indian independence movement against British rule.
Example:
The Indian National Congress, led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, organized widespread non-violent resistance to achieve India's freedom.
Invasion of Manchuria
Japan's military invasion of the Chinese region of Manchuria in 1931, leading to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo.
Example:
The Invasion of Manchuria highlighted the League of Nations' inability to effectively intervene against acts of aggression by powerful nations.
Isolationist Policy (US)
A national policy of remaining apart from the political affairs, alliances, and wars of other countries.
Example:
Feeling snubbed by European powers, the US adopted an isolationist policy after WWI, refusing to join the League of Nations.
Mandate System
A system established after World War I where former colonies of the defeated Central Powers were administered by Allied powers, ostensibly to prepare them for self-governance.
Example:
Under the Mandate System, territories like Syria and Lebanon were placed under French control, which often fueled local resentment and nationalist movements.
Meiji Restoration
A period of rapid political, economic, and social modernization in Japan that began in 1868, transforming it into a major world power.
Example:
The Meiji Restoration enabled Japan to quickly industrialize and build a powerful military, setting the stage for its later imperial ambitions.
Nationalism
A strong identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, often leading to movements for political independence or unification.
Example:
The rise of nationalism in mandated territories led to widespread protests and demands for independence from European control, challenging the legitimacy of the mandate system.
Non-Cooperation Movement
A large-scale civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in India from 1920-1922, aimed at resisting British rule through non-violent means.
Example:
During the Non-Cooperation Movement, Indians boycotted British goods, schools, and courts to pressure for self-rule and demonstrate their rejection of colonial authority.
Pan-Africanism
A movement that advocates for the unity, solidarity, and independence of all people of African descent worldwide, emphasizing shared history and culture.
Example:
Leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois promoted Pan-Africanism to foster a sense of collective identity and empower Africans globally against oppression.
Pan-Arabism
An ideology advocating the unification of the countries of North Africa and West Asia from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea, referred to as the Arab world.
Example:
The desire for a unified Arab nation, free from foreign influence and control, was a core tenet of Pan-Arabism in the interwar period.
Rape of Nanjing
A mass atrocity committed by Japanese forces against the residents of Nanjing, China, in 1937, involving widespread murder, rape, and destruction.
Example:
The horrific Rape of Nanjing became a stark symbol of the brutality and human cost of Japanese imperialism during World War II.
Salt Satyagraha
A major non-violent protest led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 against the British salt tax in colonial India, involving a march to the sea to produce salt.
Example:
The Salt Satyagraha, or Salt March, galvanized Indian public opinion against British economic exploitation and became a powerful symbol of peaceful resistance.
Self-determination
The principle that peoples have the right to freely determine their own political status and form their own government without external interference.
Example:
Woodrow Wilson's advocacy for self-determination inspired many colonial peoples to demand independence from imperial rule after World War I.
Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points
A proposal for a more just post-World War I world, advocating for principles like self-determination, free trade, and the reduction of arms.
Example:
After the Great War, President Wilson presented his Fourteen Points hoping to establish lasting peace and prevent future global conflicts through diplomacy.