#AP World History: Modern - The World Wars, Cold War, and Decolonization: A Last-Minute Review 🚀

Hey! Let's get you prepped for the exam. We're going to break down the connections between the World Wars, the Cold War, and decolonization – key topics that often show up together on the AP exam. Think of this as your ultimate cheat sheet! 😉

#💥 World War I: The Seeds of Change

#The Fallout of WWI

• Empire Collapse: WWI was a major turning point. Empires like Austria-Hungary 🇦🇹 and the Ottoman Empire 🇹🇷 crumbled, creating new nations and redrawing the map of Europe and the Middle East.

• Economic Devastation: Germany 🇩🇪 faced severe economic hardship, which would later contribute to the rise of extremist ideologies.

• Rise of Nationalism: Colonies that fought in WWI for their imperial rulers began to develop their own sense of nationalism 💡. They started to see themselves as distinct entities rather than just extensions of their colonizers.

  • Examples include the Irish and Korean Declarations of Independence.

• Self-Determination: This newfound nationalism fueled a desire for self-determination and independence from imperial rule, setting the stage for decolonization.

#🌍 World War II: Shifting Global Power

#Impact of WWII

• Anti-Imperialism Intensifies: WWII further fueled anti-imperialist sentiment 💪. Colonies that contributed to the war effort expected greater autonomy, if not full independence.

• European Devastation: Western Europe was economically and physically devastated by WWII, creating a power vacuum. This vacuum was filled by the two emerging superpowers: the United States and the USSR.

• Rise of Superpowers: The United States 🇺🇸 and the USSR 🇷🇺, largely untouched by the worst of the fighting, emerged as the two dominant world powers. They had strong economies and powerful militaries.

• The Cold War Begins: The alliance between the U.S. and USSR quickly dissolved due to disagreements about the future of Europe and the post-war order, leading to the Cold War.

#WWII Results: A Quick Glance

| WWII Event | Effect | | :------------------------------------------------- | 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