Chapter- 2

World in the Twentieth Century

Prepared by

SANOOP.P
What is meant by capitalism?
 The economic system in which production and distribution are controlled by the capitalists with
the aim to increase profit is known as Capitalism.
What is meant by colonization?
 European countries economically exploited Asian, African and Latin American countries using
political powers and military forces, this process is called Colonization.
What are the factors that forced the capitalist countries to begin production in their colonies in
Asia and Africa?
 Cheap labour.
 Availability of raw materials.
 Low cost as a result of manufacturing and selling goods in colonies.
What is meant by imperialism?
 The distinctive phase of flow of finance capital to colonies is known as Imperialism.
 Imposing a nation's political, economic and cultural dominance on another nation is a
fundamental feature of imperialism.
How did imperialist forces implement exploitative policies in the colonies?
 By using legal system.
 Military force.
 Administrative measures, etc.
How did imperialism affect the colonies?
 Traditional economic system of the colonies was destroyed.
 Administrative and judicial systems were replaced.
 People in colonies were forced to cultivate cash crops in lieu of traditional food crops.
 Poverty and unemployment increased.
 Natural resources were widely exploited.
 Indigenous arts, literature, language, culture and education systems were destroyed.
Explain the causes of the First World War based on the following indicators.
(A) The System of Secret Alliance.
 (B) Aggressive Nationalism.
(C) Imperialist Crisis.
(D) Immediate Cause.
First World War (1914 -1918)
 The conflicts among the imperialist powers ultimately led the entire world to a war.
(A) The System of Secret Alliance
 The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were examples of secret military alliances.
 Triple Alliance:- (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy)
 Triple Entente:- (England, France and Russia)
(B) Aggressive Nationalism
 The European nations used aggressive nationalism to attack other countries.
 Aggressive nationalists considered their own nations as the supreme and justified whatever be the
actions of their nations.
 Movement based on the aggressive nationalism - such as Pan-Slave Movement, Pan-German
Movement, and Revenge Movement.
(C) Imperialist Crisis
(How did the imperialist crises cause the First World War? Explain.)
 Moroccan Crisis and Balkan Crisis
 Moroccan Crisis
 A secret treaty was signed between Britain and France in 1904.
 Britain accepted the French supremacy in Morroco (Africa).
 Germany did not approve it.
 Germany sent battleships to Morroco.
 The problem was solved by giving some parts of French Congo to Germany.
 Balkan Crisis
 Balkan was a part of the Ottoman Empire.
 In 1912, Balkan League (Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria) defeated Turkey.
 Difference of opinion among Balkan countries started in sharing the benefits of the war.
(D) Immediate Cause
 The Serbian Youth Gravel Prinsep, assassinated Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the thrown on
Austria at the Bosnian capital Sarajevo in 1914.
Impact (results) of the First World War
 Over 10 million people lost their lives or were injured in the war.
  Agriculture, industry and communication system were destroyed.
 Poverty, unemployment and inflation increased.
 Economic dominance of Europe diminished.
 Liberation movements in Asia and Africa strengthened.
 League of Nations was formed.
Treaty of Versailles
 Signed with Germany in 1919
 Germen Colonies were divided among the victorious powers
 Germany pay a huge amount as war indemnity.
 The allies occupied the rich mines of Germany.
 War guilt was imposed on Germany.
 Germany was disarmed.
Impact of economic depression 1929
 The economic crisis originated in the USA.
 Acute unemployment and poverty.
 Inflation became uncontrollable.
 Banks collapsed.
 People, who become pauper because of the war, Couldn't afford the communities.
 Goods were kept unsold in factories.
Fascism and Nazism
 Fascism - Italy - Benito Mussolini
 Fascism - Germany - Adolf Hitler.
Characteristics (Features) of Fascism and Nazism
 Purity of race.
 Destruction of political rivals.
 Military dictatorship.
 Diffusion aggressive nationalism.
 Justifying war.
 Glorifying the nation.
 Opposition to democracy and Socialism.
What are the circumstances (factors) under the Fascist Party (Mussolini) came to power in Italy?
 Italy got nothing in the First World War.
  Post-war destruction of industries, Unemployment, increase of tax etc. kept people away from
government.
 Industrialist in fear of Italy moving to socialism, to support Fascism.
What are the circumstances (factors) that helped Hitler come to power in Germany?
 Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany.
 Economic destruction and inflation.
 Failure of German government and political uncertainty.
Similarities of ideologies put forth by both Fascism and Nazism

The Second World War (1939 - 1945)

Causes
(1) Treaty of Versailles (1919)
(2) Fascism and Nazism (Aggressive Foreign Policy)
(3) Formation Alliance
 Axis Powers: - Italy, Germany and Japan.
 Allied Powers: - Britain, France and China.
 (4) Policy of Appeasement
 Germany, Italy and Japan attacked other nations
 Capitalist countries like Britain and France did not prevent the attacks.
 They considered soviet union as their chief enemy
 This policies which encouraged fascist attack is known as the Policy of Appeasement.
(5) Failure of League of Nations
(6) Immediate Cause
 On 1st September 1939, Germany attacked Poland.
Effects of the Second World War
 The entry of Soviet Union and America changed the complexion of the Second World War.
 Italy and Germany surrendered immediately.
 Mussolini was killed by the local partisans.
 Hitler committed suicide.
 The Soviet Union moved to Japan through Trans-Siberia to subjugate Japan's.
 But before it could reach Japan, the United States of America dropped two atom bombs in
Japan- 'Little Boy' in Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and 'Fat Man' in Nagasaki on 9
August.
 Soon, Japan surrendered.
 World War II is over.
Impact (Results - Consequences) of Second World War
 Over 10 million people died.
 Economic system of European countries was destroyed.
 European dominance in world diminished.
 Freedom movements in Asia and Africa Intensified.
 America and Soviet Union emerged as global powers.
 In a bid to preserve and maintain world peace, the UNO was formed.
United Nations Organization (UNO)
 Formed in October 24, 1945.
 Headquarters - New York (USA)
Objectives
 Protect international laws.
 Foster social and economic development of countries.
 Save from the war.
Decolonization
 Colonies started to secure freedom from the imperialist control. This process is called
decolonization.
Leaders
 India - Mahatma Gandhi.
 South Africa - Nelson Mandela.
 Ghana - Quami Nkrumah.
 Kenya - Jomo Kenyatta.
Cold War
 Enmity based on ideological conflict and diplomatic conflict between two power blocs was called
the cold war.
 USA - led by - Capitalist Bloc
 USSR (Russia) - led by - Socialist Bloc
 Base - Ideological conflict and political mistrust.
Non Aligned Movement (NAM)
 Movement formed after the Second World War.
 Following the Second World War many Asian, African and Latin American countries become
independent.
 This liberated nation decided not to join any blocs.
 It was a unity of nations which did not become part of capitalist or socialist bloc.
 NAM was formed in the conference held at Bandung in Indonesia in 1955.
 First Conference held in Belgrade in 1961.
The leaders who formed the Non-Aligned Movement
 Jawaharlal Nehru – India.
 Gamal Abdul Nasser – Egypt.
 Marshal Tito – Yugoslavia.
 Ahmed Sukarno – Indonesia.
West Asia
Balfour Declaration
 Until the First World War the territory including Palatine was part of the Turkish Empire.
 As turkey was defeated in the war, Britain took over the region.
 Since the Jews helped the Britain in the war.
 Then Arthur Balfour declared the establishment of a Jewish nation in west Asia as a reward.
Zionism
 An international movement with an objective of establishment of a homeland for the Jews.
 In 1948 the nation Israel was formed.
PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)
 Establishing a nation for the Palestinians a movement called Palestine Liberation Organization
[PLO] was founded the Yasser Arafat as the President.
Oslo pact
 Israel agreed in principle to recognize the Palestine as free nations. This agreement mediated by
the USA is called the Oslo Pact.
Disintegration of Soviet Union
 Deviation from the basic principles of socialism.
 Corruption and in efficiency of the bureaucracy
 Failure changes in economic sector.
 The administrative measures of Mikhail Gorbachev [Glasnost and Perestroika]
The disintegration of Soviet Union [1991] had a wide impact on international relations.
 Ended cold war.
 Lost the socialist power all over the world.
 The capitalist countries remained unquestioned
 A unipolar world has emerged under the leadership of USA
Unipolar World - American Dominance
 America emerged as a global power and center of world politics following the disintegration of
Soviet Union.
What are the strategies adopted by America to establish its dominance over the world?
 Utilizing international agencies.
 Extended military alliances.
 Media were used to promote American interest.
Neo Imperialism
 Multinational companies began to interfere in the economic, social and cultural sectors of the
latter for serving the interest of the capitalist Countries.
 Liberalization, privatization and Globalization were the concept of new imperils.
Liberalization
 Adoption of liberal regulations and taxation systems to facilitate the import of multinational
products to domestic markets.
Privatization
 Privatization of public sector undertakings in an attempt to promote private sector.
Globalization
 Economic system of the country linked to global economy.
Effects of Globalization
 The interests and motives of the multinational companies protected
 Competition driven market came into existence.
 Trans border flow of products, services, raw materials, capital, latest technology and human
resources facilitated.
Institutions that devising (formulating) and executing various policies in favour of globalization.
 World Bank,
 International Monetary Fund,
 World Trade Organization.
The Advantages of Globalization
 Globalization opened up many opportunities and possibilities around the world.
 The dissemination of information technology.
 The cross-border exchange of goods and services gave rise to the idea of a global village.
What are the challenges posed by globalization to the developing countries?
 Destructions of indigenous culture.
 Price of agricultural products decreases.
 Public sector were destroyed
 Government withdrew from social service sector.
 Natural resources were looted.