#AP World History: Modern - Interwar Period Study Guide

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP exam with a super focused review of the Interwar Period. We'll break down the key stuff, make it memorable, and get you feeling confident. Let's do this! 💪

#🌍 The Unresolved Legacy of WWI

#The Paris Peace Conference and Wilson's Fourteen Points

Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points: A proposal for a more just post-war world, including:
- End of colonialism
- Reduction of arms
- Free trade
- Self-determination for former territories
Rejection: European powers rejected Wilson's idealistic plan, prioritizing their own interests. 💔
Result: The US adopted an isolationist policy, feeling snubbed by its allies. This set the stage for future conflicts.

Key Concept

The failure of Wilson’s Fourteen Points to be fully adopted sowed seeds of resentment and nationalism that would contribute to future conflicts.

#🇯🇵 Japanese Imperialism

#The Rise of Japan

Meiji Restoration (1868): A period of rapid modernization and industrialization.
- Economic Modernization: Government policies spurred industrial growth. 🏭
- Political Centralization: Strengthened the government and promoted stability.
- Military Modernization: Created a modern army and navy, making Japan a major power. ⚔️
Victories: Japan's military strength was evident in its victories against China and Russia.

#Expansionist Policies

Great Depression: Military leaders saw expansion as the solution to economic woes.
Invasion of Manchuria: Japan invaded and renamed it Manchukuo. The League of Nations was powerless to stop it. 😠
Rape of Nanjing (1937): A horrific event where Japanese forces committed mass atrocities.

Common Mistake

Don't confuse the Meiji Restoration with the later expansionist policies. The Meiji Restoration was about modernization, while the later period was about aggressive imperialism.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: Japan's attempt to consolidate control over East and Southeast Asia. This created a lot of resentment among the local populations.

Japan's expansion

Caption: Map of Japan's expansion in the 1930s, showing the extent of its territorial ambitions.

#🌍 The Mandate System and Self-Determination

#The Mandate System

Dissolution of Empires: The Ottoman Empire and German colonies were broken up after WWI.
Mandates: Former colonies were placed under the control of Allied powers (like Britain and France).
Justification: The Allies claimed they were ruling these areas until they were ready for self-determination. This was seen as hypocritical by many locals. 😒

#The Rise of Nationalism

Local Resentment: People in mandates felt that they were being exploited, not helped. They questioned why outside powers should dictate their future. 🤨
Nationalism: This resentment fueled nationalist movements, which would become very important in the decolonization period.

Quick Fact

Mandates were supposed to be temporary, but they often became a source of tension and nationalist fervor, setting the stage for future independence movements.

#✊ Anti-Imperial Resistance

#Transnational Movements

Pan-Africanism: Called for the unity of all African people, regardless of location. It emphasized shared history, culture, and struggle against oppression. 🌍✊🏿

Caption: The Pan-African flag, a symbol of unity and solidarity among people of African descent.

Pan-Arabism: Aimed for a unified Arab nation, promoting solidarity and self-determination. 🌍🤝
Key Elements:
- Unity and Solidarity: Building bridges across communities and countries.
- Self-Determination and Self-Reliance: The right to govern themselves and be economically independent.
- Cultural Pride and Identity: Preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

#Nationalist Organizations

Increased Literacy: Led to the formation of nationalist groups demanding independence.
Indian National Congress: Led by Mohandas Gandhi, advocating for peaceful independence from Britain. 🇮🇳
- Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922): A campaign of civil disobedience.
- Salt Satyagraha (1930): A symbolic march to protest British salt taxes.
West Africa: Continuous strikes and congresses symbolized resistance to French rule. A new generation of leaders, often educated in Europe, pushed for self-rule.

Memory Aid

Think of "PANTS" to remember the key elements of Pan-Africanism and Pan-Arabism: Pride, Autonomy, Nationalism, Transnationalism, Solidarity

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

Japanese Imperialism: Understand the causes and consequences of Japan's expansionist policies.
Mandate System: Know how it fueled nationalist movements.
Anti-Imperial Resistance: Be familiar with Pan-Africanism, Pan-Arabism, and the Indian independence movement.

#Common Question Types

Multiple Choice: Expect questions on the causes and effects of imperialism, the mandate system, and resistance movements.
Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Be prepared to analyze the impact of WWI on colonial territories and the rise of nationalism.
Free Response Questions (FRQs): Practice writing essays that compare and contrast different anti-imperial movements or analyze the long-term effects of the mandate system.

#Last-Minute Tips

Time Management: Don't spend too long on any one question. Move on and come back if you have time.

Exam Tip

Common Pitfalls: Avoid generalizing about all colonies or mandates – focus on specific examples.

Common Mistake

Strategies: Use the documents provided in the FRQs to support your arguments.

Exam Tip

#✍️ Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

Which of the following best describes the primary goal of the Pan-African movement? (A) To establish new European colonies in Africa (B) To unite all people of African descent and promote their rights (C) To promote the economic interests of European powers in Africa (D) To maintain the existing colonial boundaries in Africa
The mandate system, established after World War I, was intended to: (A) Grant immediate independence to former colonies (B) Divide former colonies among the victorious powers (C) Prepare former colonies for self-governance (D) Establish permanent European control over former colonies
Which event is most closely associated with Japanese expansionism in the 1930s? (A) The Meiji Restoration (B) The Russo-Japanese War (C) The invasion of Manchuria (D) The Salt Satyagraha

#Free Response Question (FRQ)

Analyze the causes and consequences of the mandate system established after World War I. In your response, be sure to:

Explain the historical context of the mandate system.
Describe the goals and justifications for the mandate system.
Analyze the impact of the mandate system on the development of nationalist movements in the mandated territories.
Provide specific examples to support your analysis.

Scoring Breakdown:

Thesis (1 point): Presents a historically defensible thesis that addresses all parts of the question.
Contextualization (1 point): Describes the broader historical context of the mandate system (e.g., the end of WWI, the collapse of empires).
Evidence (2 points): Provides specific examples of the goals and justifications of the mandate system, as well as its impact on nationalist movements. (e.g., Examples of mandates, local reactions, specific nationalist movements)
Analysis and Reasoning (2 points): Analyzes the causes and consequences of the mandate system, explaining how it fueled nationalist sentiments and resistance. Explains the contradictions of the system.