20th Century American History Glossary: Terms, Events, and Figures

Great Migration

This event was the movement of six million African Americans out of the rural South to the urban North and West from the 1920s to the 1970s. It led to the growth of urban populations of African-Americans and increased racism in the North.

Mass Media

This type of culture was revolutionized twice during this period. The first time was the result of the invention and spread of commercial radio. The second was the result of the invention and spread of television.

Unemployment

This was a major

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Causes and Consequences of World War I: A Global Conflict

World War I: Main Causes

Rivalry Among Colonial Powers

Rivalry among colonial powers (they wanted to control as many colonial empires as possible).

Germany, who had control over few colonies, wanted to prevail over France and Great Britain.

Nationalist Exaltation

It provoked confrontation between Germany and France (which was caused by the loss of Alsace and Lorena after the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 which benefited Germany). The war between Germany and Great Britain (cause: to have control over the

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The Ancient Régime and the French Revolution

THE ANCIEN RÉGIME

The ancient régime was the principal economic, social, and political system in Europe in the 18th century. It had different characteristics:

  • Stratified society: Nobility, Clergy, and Ordinary people.
  • Manorial and agrarian economy.
  • Absolute monarchy.

The society was divided by traditional law into three estates:

  • Nobility were privileged.
  • Clergy were privileged.
  • Ordinary people that belonged to the third state and included the rural peasants, urban working class, and bourgeoisie.

The nobility

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Decolonization: Causes, Phases, and Impact on Asia, Africa, and Oceania

Decolonization

Decolonization refers to the political independence of most of the territories that made up the colonial empires. This process began in 1945 when many political changes were taking place.

Causes

  1. Weakening of Colonial Power: After World War II, people in the colonies became aware that the colonial powers were not invincible. As a result, popular leaders emerged who played decisive roles in the process of independence. Financially, the colonies were expensive to run, and the cost to the
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Decolonization and the Rise of the Third World

Decolonization

Decolonization refers to the political independence of formal colonial territories. This process began in 1945 when many political changes were taking place.

The Causes of Decolonization

  • Weakening of colonial powers: After World War II, colonies realized colonial powers were not invincible. The colonies had contributed to the war with natural resources and troops. It also served them as military training. This led to the emergence of influential leaders pushing for independence.
  • Favorable
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Joaquín Costa’s Critique of the Restoration Settlement

The author of this chapter is Joaquín Costa, one of the main representatives of the Regeneracionismo movement. Regeneracionismo was a movement that sought to change politics in Spain, not by introducing new changes but by changing the government from its structure. That is, they did not oppose the continuation of the party system, for example. However, they were very critical of the lack of democracy in the system. The subject of this text is Costa’s critique of the Restoration Settlement. The

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