Download Indicator 7-3.1: Achievements of the Scientific Revolution

7th Grade Social Studies Study Guide Contemporary Cultures: 1600 to the Present
Developed by Cynthia Sanders/Social Studies Specialist
Standard 7-1: Colonial Expansion of European Powers in 17th and 18th Centuries
Indicator 7-1.1: Identifying Colonial Expansion (1675 -1700) (use maps to identify
the following European conquests)
1. The Americas- the British colonies/ Newfoundland Spanish claims in Mexico/
northern and western United States, Peru, Chile, Caribbean, French in Nova Scotia,
New France territory(Louisiana territory)
2. Africa- French possessions in Senegambia, Dutch possessions in South
Africa/Angola, Portuguese in eastern Africa
3. Asia- Dutch and British in India, Spanish control of the Philippines
4. Oceania- British possessions
5. Important concepts- exploration- the act of discovering new territory/imperialismthe policy or practice of extending the power and dominion of one nation by direct
territorial acquisitions or by indirect control over the political or economic life of
other areas./colonization- the process of establishing a colony or
settlement/circumnavigation- going completely around the earth by water..
Indicator 7-1.2: Technological and Scientific advances-Growth of European Nations
and Indicator 7-1.6: The emergence of Capitalism and Mercantilism
1. Big Idea Statement: European exploration and increased trade stimulated a
global exchange, a commercial revolution, and other changes in Europe.
2. Cause and Effect- The Columbian Exchange
a) Immediate causes- Columbus and other Europeans arrive in the
Americas/Europeans encounter new plants and animals in the Americas
b) Long-term causes-Scientific revolution/Europeans search for a sea route to Asia
c) Immediate effects- millions of Native Americans die from diseases/enslaved
Africans sent to the Americas- important concepts- triangular trade- the Atlantic
slave trade was part of the triangular trade network that linked merchants in
Africa, Europe, and the Americas; traded rum ,molasses, gold, slaves, tobacco,
and cotton; /American foods introduced in Europe
d) Long-term effects- exchange of ideas, foods, art, and language between Europe
and the Americas/population migration from Europe to the Americas/growth of
capitalism
3. The Commercial Revolution- spurred trade, promoted new business methods, and
increased competition for profits among European nations.
4. Price Revolution: inflation-economic cycle that involves a rise of prices/caused by a
rise in population =more of a demand for goods and services.
5. Growth of capitalism- the investment of money to make a profit. Entrepreneurs
were enterprising merchants who assumed risks of doing business and sought to
expand into overseas ventures.
6. Mercantilism- an economic system developed during the 17th and 18th centuries to
increase and unify the wealth and power of a nation by strict governmental regulation
of the economy. Mercantilists believed that a nation’s real wealth was measured in its
gold and silver/ a nation should export more goods than it imported.
7. Mercantilists- believed that colonies existed for the benefit of the parent country.
Colonists could not set up their own industries.
8. Tariffs- taxes on imported goods. Tariffs were designed to protect local industries
from foreign competition.
Indicator 7-1.3: Comparing European Influence in the Americas
1. Big Idea Statement: France and England set up colonies and competed for
dominance in North America.
2. Building New France: by the early 1700’s, French forts, missions, and trading posts
stretched from Quebec to Louisiana. The population of New France remained small
compared to that of the 13 colonies.
3. The 13 English Colonies: geographic conditions helped shape different ways of life
in the New England, middle, and southern colonies. In the southern colonies, there
emerged a plantation economy-based on tobacco, rice, and other crops.
Indicator 7-1.4: European Colonial Power and its Impact on African Nations
1. Big Idea Statement: The Atlantic slave trade, the rise of new states, and power
struggles created turbulence in Africa.
2. European Outposts in Africa: the Portuguese lacked the power to push into the
interior of Africa. The Dutch, the English, and the French established forts along the
western coast of Africa.
3. Atlantic Slave Trade: it began in the 1500’s to fill a need for labor in the Spain’s
American empire. In the next 300 years, it grew into a huge and profitable business.
Each year, traders shipped tens of thousands of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic
to work on plantations.
4. Triangular Trade- the slave trade formed one part of a three-legged trade network.
On the first leg-merchant ships brought goods to Africa to be traded for slaves. On the
second leg- known as the Middle Passage- a horrifying experience where hundreds
of slaves were crammed into a single vessel/ (many died from diseases) and
transported to the West Indies. At this point, slaves were trade for sugar and
molasses. On the final leg, these products were shipped to Europe or European
colonies in the Americas.
5. Resistance- some enslaved Africans resisted and tried to seize control of the ship.
Some African leaders also attempted to stop this trade altogether, but the system that
supported the slave trade was too strong for them.
6. Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade- it caused the decline of some African states and
the rise of others. In West Africa, the loss of countless numbers of young women and
men resulted in some small states disappearing forever. At the same time, there arose
new African states whose way of life depended on the slave trade. The rulers of these
powerful new states waged war against other Africans so they could gain control of
the slave trade in their region and reap the profits.
Indicator 7-1.5: Characteristics of European Colonial Powers in Asia
1. Big idea Statement: Europeans used military power to build trading empires in
Southeast Asia.
2. Portugal’s Empire in the East: Despite their sea power, the Portuguese remained on
the fringe of Asian trade. They had neither the strength nor the resources to conquer
much territory on land. In India and China, they merely sought permission to trade.
The intolerance of Portuguese missionaries caused resentment. They attacked
Muslims, destroyed Hindu temples, and introduced the Inquisition.
3. Rise of the Dutch- in 1602, a group of wealthy Dutch merchants formed the Dutch
East India Company. Trade brought the Dutch enormous wealth. They were able to
enforce a monopoly in the Spice Islands.
4. Spain Seizes the Philippines- Spain conquered and colonized the islands, renaming
them for Spanish King, Philip II. Spanish priests sought out to convert the Filopino
people to Christianity. The Philippines became a key link in Spain’s overseas trading
empire.
5. British-French Rivalry in India: both the French and English traders played off
rival Indian princes against one another. Both the English and the French East India
companies made alliances with local officials. Each company organized its own army
of sepoys, or Indian troops. In India, Robert Clive, an agent of the British East India
Company, used an army of British troops and sepoys to drive the French from their
trading posts.
6. European Trade with China- Main idea-China, Korea, and Japan limited
contact with western nations. Foreigners could only trade under the supervision of
imperial officials. The Japanese were more open to missionaries than China, but by
1638, the Tokugawa promoted isolationism.
Standard 7-2: Absolute Monarchies and Constitutional Government in the 17th and
18th Centuries
Indicator 7-2.1: Essential Characteristics of Limited Government
1. Big Idea Statement: During the 1600’s, the British Parliament asserted its rights
against royal claims to absolute power.
2. England- a battle for power raged between King and Parliament during the 1600’s.
James I and divine right: “Kings are called gods because they sit upon God’s throne
on earth”. English Bill of Rights(1689): “that suspending of laws be regal authority,
without consent of Parliament is illegal/that levying money for or to the use of the
crown without grant of Parliament is illegal”.
3. Glorious Revolution-(May 1660) a new Parliament welcomed Charles II to return to
England. This revolution did not create democracy, but a type of government called
limited monarchy- the constitution or legislative body limits the monarch’s
powers.(limited government)
4. Big Idea Statement: Under the absolute rule of Louis XIV, France became the
leading power in Europe- Louis XIV believed in divine right(“I am the State”) The
Parliament known as the Estates General played no role in checking royal power.
(unlimited government).
5. Absolute monarchy in Russia: major theme: Czar Peter the Great and his
successor, Catherine the Great strengthened Russia and expanded Russian
territory. (unlimited government)- Peter the Great used terror to enforce his
absolute power. Catherine the Great was also a ruthless monarch.
Indicator 7-2.2: The Enlightenment and Democratic Thought (1707-1850)
1. Big Idea Statement: Enlightenment thinkers tried to apply reason and the
laws of nature to human society.
2. John Locke (English philosopher)- believed people were basically reasonable
and moral. He said people had natural rights or rights that belonged to all
humans from birth- the right to life, liberty, and property.
3. Jean Jacques Rousseau- wrote his ideas about government and society in “The
Social Contract”. He believed society placed too many limitations on people’s
behavior. The good of the community should be placed above the individual.
4. Montesquieu- in 1748 he published “The Spirit of the Laws”. He believed in the
separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government./ checks and balances we use today in the U.S.
Indicator 7-2.3: Outline the Role and Purposes of a Constitution
1. Big Idea Statement: the Enlightenment influenced the framers of the
Constitution in America. (We the people of the U.S.)
2. The Constitution created a federal republic- power divided between the federal
government and the states. Separation of powers between the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches was a main feature. Checks and balances – no
one branch was more powerful than the other.
3. Bill of Rights- the first ten amendments to the Constitution recognized the idea
that people had basic rights that the government must protect.
Standard 7-3: Age of Revolution 1770-1848
Indicator 7-3.1: Achievements of the Scientific Revolution
1. Major theme: A new way of thinking, based on
experimentation and observation, changed the way
Europeans looked at the world.
2. Scientific method- a step by step process used by scientist
to collect and accurately measure data.
3. Hypothesis- a possible explanation of the data.
4. The church condemned Galileo because his ideas
challenged Christian teaching that the heavens were fixed,
unmoving, and perfect.
Indicator 7-3.2: Causes and Effect of the French Revolution
1. Big Idea Statement: Social unrest,
economic troubles, and the desire
for political reforms led to the
French Revolution.
2. July 14, 1789, the storming of the
Bastille 9prison) became a symbol
of the French revolution.
3. Marquis de LaFayette admired the
Declaration of Independence and
American democratic ideals. With
these ideas in mind, he wrote the first
draft of the French Declaration of the
rights of Man and the Citizen.
4. Immediate causes of the
Revolution: huge government debt,
poor harvests and rising price of
bread, failure of Louis XIV to accept
financial reforms, formation of
National Assembly, and storming of
the Bastille.
5. Long-term causes: corrupt,
inconsistent, and insensitive
leadership, prosperous members of
the Third Estate resent privileges of
the First and Second Estates, spread
of Enlightenment ideas.
6. Immediate effects of the
Revolution: Declaration of the
Rights of man and the citizen
adopted, France adopts its first
written constitution, Monarchy
abolished, Revolutionary France
fights coalition of European powers,
Reign of Terror.
7. Long-term effects of the
Revolution- Napoleon gains power,
Napoleonic code established (
equality of all citizens before the
law, religious toleration), French
public schools set up. French
conquests spread nationalism,
Revolutions occur in Europe and
Latin America.
8. The French revolution would
inspire people in Europe and Latin
America to seek equality and
liberty. The spirit of nationalism
remained a powerful force.
Indicator 7-3.3: Latin American Independence Movements
1. Big Idea Statement: In the early 1800s, many new
nations emerged in Latin America as independence
movements freed people from European rule.
2. Haitian revolution- in 1802, Napoleon sent a large army to
reconquer Haiti. Toussasint L’Overture (freed slave),
urged Haitians to once again take up arms, this time to fight
for full independence from France. The guerrilla forces
were aided by a deadly ally, yellow fever. The French
agreed to a truce, or temporary peace. The French later
captured Toussaint L’Overture and he died in prison.
Finally in 1820, Haiti becomes a republic.
3. Independence for Mexico- Father Miguel Hidalgo made
an urgent appeal to the people in Mexico on September 15,
1810. He wanted them to fight for independence from
Spain. He was later captured and executed. In 1821,
Mexico was finally free of Spanish rule.
4. Simon Boliva- in 1810, he led an uprising that established
a republic in his native Venezuela. By 1821, he had
succeeded in freeing Venezuela. He was know as the
“Liberator” as he moved south into Ecuador, Peru, and
Bolivia.
Indicator 7-3.4: The Causes and Course of the Industrial Revolution 1750-1850
1. Big Idea Statement: The Industrial
Revolution had an impact on every
aspect of life in Western Europe
and the United States.
2. Main Idea: The Industrial
Revolution originated in Britain.
3. Reasons- Britain had large supplies
of coal to power steam engines. It
also has plenty of iron to build new
machines. In the 1700s Britain had a
large number of skilled mechanics.
Technology was an important part of
the Industrial revolution, but it did
not cause it. Demand and capital
paved the way for industrialization.
Trade from an overseas empire
helped the British economy to
prosper. Britain had a stable
government that supported economic
growth.
4. With the beginning of the Industrial
Revolution, the rural way of life
began to disappear. By the 1850s,
many country villages had grown
into industrial cities and towns.
5. New inventions contributed to an
agricultural revolution during the
1600s and 1700s. The Dutch built
dikes to reclaim land from the sea.
6. The agricultural revolution
contributed to a rapid growth of
population that continues today.
7. Under socialism, the people as a
whole rather than the private
individual would own the means of
production
8. Factory System- the heart of the
new industrial city was the factory.
There, the technology of the new
machine age imposed a harsh new
life on workers. Long hours (12-16)
women workers, child laborers were
slaves to the machines.
Indicator 7-3.5: Impact of new Technology/ Textile Production in England
1. Major theme: The Industrial Revolution first took hold in Britain’s largest
industry, textiles.
2. Major inventions- using the flying shuttle, weavers worked so fast they soon
outpaced spinners. 1764 the new spinning jenny spun many threads at the same time.
The waterframe used waterpower to speed up spinning still farther.
3. Spinners and weavers came each day to work in these first factories- places that
brought together workers and machines to produce large quantities of goods.
Indicator 7-3.6: Emergence of Nationalist Movements in the 19th Century
1. Big Idea Statement: Nationalist movements led to the creation of several new
nations across Europe.
2. Unification of Germany 1865-1871- Otto von Bismarck was responsible for
uniting the German states under Prussian rule. He was the master of “Realpolitik”realistic policies based on the needs of the state. Germany increased its power by
building up its industry and armed forces.
3. Unification of Italy 1858-1870- By 1871, Italy was a united nation with its capital in
Rome. Guiseppe Garibaldi and his Red Shirts played a vital role in achieving
unification.
4. The spirit of nationalism ignited by Napoleon remained a powerful force around
the world.
Standard 7-4: Impact of Imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries
Indicator 7-4.1: Economic Origins of European Imperialism Indicator 7-4.2: Use a
map to illustrate the geographic extent of European Imperialism Indicator 7-4.4:
Differing views with regard to Colonization
1. Big Idea Statement: In the late 1800s, industrial nations of the West engaged in
imperialism and dominated much of the world.
2. Imperialism- the domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural
life of another country or region.
3. Economic Interests- the Industrial Revolution created needs and desires that spurred
overseas expansion. Manufacturers wanted access to natural resources such as rubber,
petroleum, manganese for steel, and palm oil for machinery. They also hoped for new
markets to sell their factory goods.
4. The rush to colonize Africa was on. In the 20 years after the Berlin Conference, the
European powers partitioned almost the entire continent. As the Europeans carved out
their claims, they established new borders and frontiers. They redrew the map of
Africa with little regard for traditional patterns of settlement or ethnic boundaries.
5. Big Idea Statement- Despite Indian opposition, Britain gradually extended its
control over most of India. Rebellion- angry sepoys rose up against their British
officers. The Sepoy Rebellion swept across northern and central India. It left a bitter
legacy of fear, hatred, and mistrust on both sides.
6. Imperialism in Southeast Asia: Britain controlled Burma, North Borneo, Malaya,
parts of New Guinea, Australia. France-Vietnam Germany- Oceania, Dutch- Sumatra,
Borneo, parts of New Guinea.
7. Big Idea Statement: Imperialism brought both benefits and challenges to every
region of the world. New economic patterns emerged-a global
economy/westernization- forcing cultures to accept modern ways of
living/culture spread by missionaries/new political tensions-Europeans disrupted
traditional political units
8. Boxer Rebellion- a group of Chinese formed a secret society, the Righteous
Harmonious Fist. Their goal was to drive out the “foreign devils” who were polluting
the land with their “un-Chinese ways”, strange buildings, machines, and telegraph
lines.
9. Zulu War- The British met armed resistance across the continent of Africa. They
battled the Zulus in the south who put up strong resistance to the British presence.
Indicator: 7-4.3: Causes and Effects of the Spanish-American War
1. Big Idea Statement: For decades Cuban patriots had battled to free their island
from Spanish rule.
2. As they began to make headway, the U.S. joined their cause, declaring war on Spain
in 1898.
3. The brief Spanish-American War ended in a crushing defeat for Spain.
4. In the peace treaty ending the war, the U.S. acquired Puerto Rico in the Caribbean
and the Philippines and Guam in the Pacific.
5. Cuba was granted independence , but in 1901 the U.S. forced Cubans to add the Platt
amendment to their constitution. It gave the U.S. naval bases in Cuba and the right to
intervene in Cuban affairs.
6. As a result of defeating the Spanish Armada, the U.S. becomes a world power.
Indicator 7-4.5 Causes of Japan’s Imperial Expansion in East Asia
1. Big Idea Statement: During the late 1800s, Japan opened its doors to foreign
influence and became a modern industrial power.
2. Japan’s economic needs fed its imperialistic desires.
3. A small island nation, Japan lacked many basic resources that were essential for
industrial growth.
4. With its modern army and navy, it maneuvered for power in East Asia.
5. In 1894, competition between Japan and China led to the Sino-Japanese War, Japan
won easily. Japan used its victory to gain treaty ports in China and control over the
island of Taiwan, thus joining the West in the race for empire.
6. Ten years later, Japan successfully challenged Russia, its rival for power in Korea and
Manchuria. During the Russo-Japanese War, Japan’s armies defeated Russian troops.
7. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea outright, absorbing the kingdom into the Japanese
empire. Japan ruled Korea for 35 years.
Standard 7-5: Causes and Effects of World Conflicts in the 20th Century
Indicator 7-5.1: Causes and Key Events of World War One
1. Big Idea Statement: In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a number of forces were
pushing Europe to the brink of war.
2. Causes/Key Events of WWI- the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand
ignited the Balkan “powderkeg” and sparked WWI. Aggressive nationalism – belief
that people with the same language and culture should have their own country was the
focus of Eastern European ethnic groups who attacked each other.. Militarism and
the Arms Race- this was the glorification of the military and the fierce
competition between Britain and Germany. There was a tangle of Alliancesagreements among nations to protect each other in case of an attack by a third party.
Modern weapons resulted in huge numbers of casualties and helped prevent either
side from gaining an advantage. Trench warfare- where soldiers laid in ditches
that caused many diseases and had barbed wire. An underground network linked
bunkers, communications trenches, and gun emplacements .Propaganda- the
spreading of ideas to promote a cause or to damage an opposing cause.
3. Russian Revolution- in 1917, Russian pulled out of WWI due to a revolution at
home. Workers went on strike due to bread shortages, the monarchy collapsed and
gave rise to the communist under Lenin.
4. The Allies- France, Britain, Russia the U.S., Portugal, Italy/ Central PowersGermany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire
5. The U.S. was neutral until 1917. The U.S. enters the war due to German
unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman Note- Germany promised
Mexico American territory she lost during the Mexican War in 1848. This really
angered Americans and the U.S. declared war on Germany.
Indicator 7-5.2: The Outcome and Effects of World War One
1. Big Idea Statement: As Europe struggled to recover from the devastation of war,
world leaders met in Paris to craft a peace treaty.
2. Versailles Peace Treaty- the treaty severely limited the size of the once-feared
German military. It stripped Germany of its overseas possessions. The German
resentment of the Treaty would poison the international climate for 20 years and help
spark an even deadlier world war in 1939..
3. League of Nations- the U.S. Senate refused to join the League. The league was
powerless to prevent war, but it was a first step toward an international organization.
4. Immediate Effects of WWI- enormous cost in lives and money, Russian Revolution,
creation of new nations in Eastern Europe, requirements that Germany pay
reparations, German loss of overseas colonies, Balfour Declaration (Israel gains
statehood) and the League of Nations
5. Long-term Effects of WWI- economic impact of war debts on Europe, emergence of
the U.S. and Japan as important powers, growth of nationalism in colonies, rise of
fascism, and WWII.
Indicator 7-5.3: Great Depression, New Deal, and Rise of Nazism
1. Big Idea Statement: Following WWI, the leading democratic powers moved to
ensure peace but faced difficult political and economic challenges.
2. Causes of worldwide depression- both the American and world economy had weak
spots. One major problem was overproduction- a condition in which production of
goods exceeds the demand for them. Crash and collapse- people invested stocks
through margin-buying- paying part of the cost and borrowing the rest from
stockbrokers. In 1929, jitters about the economy caused brokers to call in these loans.
Investors who were unable to repay were forced to sell their stock. Financial panic set
in; stock prices crashed, wiping out fortunes.
3. New Deal- a massive package of economic and social programs. Under the New
Deal, the federal government became more directly involved in people’s everyday
lives than ever before
4. Rise of Nazism: Big Idea Statement: Under Adolf Hitler, the Nazi government
used terror, repression, and one-party rule to establish a totalitarian state.
5. Economic retrenchment in Britain- during the 1920s, unemployment was severe.
Wages remained low, leading to worker unrest and frequent strikes. In 1926, a
general strike lasted nine days.
Indicator 7-5.4: Totalitarian Governments in Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet
Union
1. Big Idea Statement: angered by political and economic problems, many Italians
turned to fascism for solutions.
2. Mussolini rises to power in Italy promising to end corruption. He actually
became a ruthless dictator.
3. Hitler rises to power in Germany promising to end inflation and ends up
becoming a ruthless dictator oppressing those he considered inferior to the
German race.
4. Japan’s militarists thought Japan should have an empire equal to that of the
West. In 1931, Japan seized Manchuria. 1937, Japan overran much of eastern
China.
5. Joseph Stalin becomes a ruthless communist ruler of the Soviet Union.
Indicator 7-5.5: Causes, Key Events and Outcomes of World War Two
1. Big Idea Statement: During the 1930s, dictators undermined world peace.
2. Japan-wanted to be queen of the Pacific arena.
3. Germany—Hitler was angry about the Versailles Treaty- he wanted to control
all of Europe, and eventually the world.
4. Italy- invades Ethiopia
5. Appeasement- giving in to demands of an aggressor(Hitler) to keep the peace.
6. Neutrality- in the mid-1930s, the U.S. passed a series of Neutrality Acts. One law
forbade the sale of arms to any nation at war.
7. Battle of Britain was a major defeat for the German airforce.
8. 1941-Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and brings the U.S. into the war.
9. Turning Points- during 1942 and 1943, the Allies won several victories that would
turn the tide of battle and push back the Axis powers.
10. Use of the atomic bomb to defeat the Japanese was controversial.
11. Aftermath of War- even as the Allies celebrated victory, the appalling costs of the
war began to emerge. It had killed 75 million people around the world.
Indicator 7-5.6: The Holocaust and Nuremberg Trials
1. During the war, the Allies were aware of the existence of Nazi concentration campsand death camps for the Jews. (Hitler is responsible) Hitler called for the
genocide- (destroying an entire race of people) against 6 million Jews. The death
camps revealed the horrible treatment of the Jewish people by the Nazis.
2. War Crimes Trial- the Allies agreed that the Nazis should be tried for “crimes
against humanity”. They were held at Nuremberg, Germany
Standard 7-6: International Developments in the Post-WWII World
Indicator 7-6.1: Political and Economic Transformation of Western and Eastern
Europe after WWII
1. Big Idea Statement: After World War Two, the Cold War and the decline of
European influence shifted the balance of world power.
2. The United Nations- it was set up at the end of WWII as a forum for settling
disputes.
3. Truman Doctrine- was rooted in the idea of containment- limiting communism to
the area already under Soviet control.
4. Marshall Plan- a massive aid package the U.S. offered to Western European nations
to strengthen democratic governments to help them rebuild. Billions in American aid
helped war-shattered Europe recover quickly.
5. NATO- in 1949, the U.S., Canada, and nine Western European nations formed a new
military alliance called North American Treaty Organization (NATO).
6. Warsaw Pact- in 1955, the Soviet Union responded by forming its own military
alliance, the Warsaw Pact. It included the Soviet Union and seven satellites in Eastern
Europe.
7. European Economic Community- small start to spur economic growth across
Western Europe.
Indicator 7-6.2: Events of the Cold War
1. The Berlin Wall- it was an ugly symbol of the Cold War and an embarrassment for
the Soviets. To stop the exodus of East Germans into West Berlin, East Germany
built the wall in 1961 to separate the two sectors of the city. It was a massive concrete
barrier topped with barbed wire and patrolled by guards.
2. Soviet Domination of Eastern Europe: After WWII, the Soviet Union emerged as a
superpower. The Soviets ruthlessly suppressed dissidents- those who spoke out
against the government.
3. Rise of Communism in China- Mao Zedong won the support of China’s huge
peasant population. The communists pledged to redistribute land to poor peasants and
end oppression by the landlords.
4. Korean Conflict- in early 1950, Kim II Sung called for a heroic struggle to reunite
Korea. North Korean troops attacked and soon overran most of the south. The U.S.
then organized a UN force to help South Korea. In 1953, both sides signed an
armistice- or end to the fighting.
5. Vietnam Conflict- the struggle for Vietnam became part of the Cold War. The
communist won because Ho Chi Minh was admired as a hero who had fought the
Japanese and the French. Many Vietnamese saw the U.S, as another foreign power
seeking to dominate their land.
6. Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, Khrushev (Soviet leader) tried to build nuclear
missile bases in Cuba. The crisis brought the two superpowers to the brink of war.
7. Big idea Statement: As many African nations won independence in the 1950s and
1960s, they held great hopes and faced great challenges.
Indicator 7-6.3: Causes and Major Features of Political and Social Changes in the
Middle East in Post-WWII Period
1. Big Idea Statement: three forces shaping the modern Middle East are
nationalism, religious and cultural diversity, and access to resources such as oil
and water.
2. Religious and cultural diversity- Judaism, Christianity and Islam all emerged in the
Middle East. Today most people are Muslims. Middle Easterners speak more than 30
different languages
3. Winning independence- Arab nationalists opposed the mandate system that placed
Arab territories under European rule. Iraq won freedom from Britain in 1932. After
WWII, British and French mandates won complete independence as the nations of
Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
4. The Birth of Israel- after Britain withdrew in 1948, Jews proclaimed the
independent state of Israel. The U.S. and Soviet Union recognized Israel. Balfour
Declaration- the British support for a Jewish homeland. Zionism- the belief that the
Jews should have their own state.
5. Middle East Conflicts- Islamic revolution in Iran in the 1970s, Iran-Iraq War in the
1980s, Arab-Israeli conflicts- 1948, 1967, 1973 and beyond. Three wars in the Gulf1991, late 1990s- no fly zone against Saddam Hussein, 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq due
to terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Terrorism- the use of violence to achieve
political goals.
Indicator 7-6.4: Gandhi’s role in the Non-violence Movement for India’s
Independence
1. Big Idea Statement: after winning independence, Hindu India and Muslim
Pakistan pursued separate roads to modernization.
2. Mohandas Gandhi- an advocate of “passive resistance”- using non-violent means to
achieve your political goals. He led the struggle against the British for independence
for his beloved India. He went on several fasts due to the horrible violence between
Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. January 30, 1948, he was shot and killed by a Hindu
extremist.
Standard 7-7: Major Changes in the World from the beginning of the Twentieth
Century to the Present
Indicator 7-7.1: Collapse of the Soviet Union
1. The Gorbachev Revolution (1985)- in foreign policy, Gorbachev sought an end to
costly Cold War tensions. He signed arms control treaties with the U.S. He
announced reforms for the Soviet Union: glasnost- openness and perestroika-the
restructuring of government and the economy.
2. Unexpected results- Gorbachev’s reforms brought economic turmoil. The Baltic
republics gained full independence in 1991. In Eastern Europe, nations broke out of
the Soviet orbit. Hard-liners tried to overthrow Gorbachev and restore the old order.
3. In 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president: the Soviet Union collapsed after 74
years of dominance; the Berlin Wall came down as a symbol.
4. In 1994, the new leader Boris Yeltsin- failed in his brutal attempt to crush a revolt
in Checnya. In 1999, Yeltsin resigned and Vladimir Putin, a veteran of the secret
police became the new leader.
5. On the international scene, the one-time superpower had suffered grievous setbacks
in the years since the end of the Cold War.
6. After September 11, 2001, Russia pledged support for the U.S.-led war on terror.
7. In 2002, a new NATO Russian Council was established.
Indicator 7-7.2: Information, Technological, and Communications Revolution
1. The Computer Revolution- by 2000, a huge computer network linked individuals,
governments, and businesses around the world. Computerized robots operated in
factories, and computers appeared in more and more homes and schools. Ecommerce-buying or selling on the Internet.
2. Space Age- since the cold war, the U.S. and the Soviet Union have cooperated in
joint-space ventures. European nations, as well as Japan and China launched their
own satellites. Satellites mapped weather and tracked droughts, livestock diseases,
and plagues. In the weightlessness of space, scientists experimented with promising
new drugs and vaccines.
Indicator 7-7.3: Global Influences on the Environment
1. Environmentalists- by the 1970s, they raised the alarm about threats to the planet’s
fragile environment. Acid rain- a form of pollution in which toxic chemicals in the
air fall back to the earth as rain, snow, or hail. Acid rain damage forests, lakes, and
farmland. Global warming- the emission of gases into the upper atmosphere(increase
in temperatures) Al Gore has written so much on this topic and people are becoming
more serious about this threat.
2. Urbanization- since 1945, people in the developing world have flocked to cities to
find jobs and escape rural poverty. Cities offer economic opportunities and
attractions. Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas.
Indicator 7-7.4: Global Efforts to Advance Human Rights
1. Human Rights- the right to life, liberty, and security of person. In 1948, United
Nation members approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It states
that all people are entitled to basic rights and freedoms without distinction of any
kind, such as race, color, sex, language, property, birth, or other status.
2. Collapse of apartheid- in 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black
President of South Africa. It marked the end of the apartheid- strict separation of the
races in South Africa. Mandela called upon black and white South Africans to work
together to build a new nation based on justice.
Indicator 7-7.5: Social, Economic, and Political Opportunities for Women
1. Big Idea Statement: after 1945, women’s movements brought changes to both
western and developing nations. The UN charter supported “equal rights for
men and women”
2. A small, but growing number of women won elected office. Women headed
democratic governments in Britain, Israel, India, and other nations.
3. The West- in the industrialized world, more and more women worked outside the
home. By the 1970s, the feminist movement- sought greater access for women to
jobs and promotions, equal pay for equal work and an end to sexual harassment on
the job. Women advanced into high-profile jobs as business owners and executives,
astronauts, scientists, and technicians.
4. Religious Influences- despite revolutionary changes, religious traditions remain a
powerful force throughout the modern world.
Indicator 7-7.6: Impact of Increasing Global Economic Interdependence
1. Big Idea Statement: The industrial nations of the global North and the
developing nations of the global South have become increasingly interdependent.
2. Multinational corporations- have branches in many countries and have invested in
the developing world. They bring new technology to mining agriculture,
transportation, and other industries.
3. The Oil Crisis- In an interdependent world, events in one country or region can
affect people everywhere. Much of the world’s oil comes from the Middle East. In
1973, a political crisis in the region led OPEC to halt its oil exports and raise oil
prices. Shortages and soaring fuel prices set off economic shock waves.
Indicator 7-7.7: Dangers to the Natural Environment
1. Big Idea Statement: industrial accidents have focused attention on threats to the
environment.
2. In Bhopal, India, a leak from a pesticide plant in 1994 killed 3,600 people.
3. In 1986, an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the Soviet Union exposed
people, crops, and animals to deadly radiation over a wide area.
4. Although industries and governments have developed safety measures, such measures
are often expensive and not always successful.

Suggested Research-Based Instructional Strategies:
1. Graphic Organizers
2. Questioning
3. Identifying Similarities and Differences
4. Summarizing and note-taking
5. Establishing Objectives and Providing Feedback
6. Homework and Practice
7. Cooperative learning
8. Using Thematic Units
9. Role-playing for active involvement
10. Creative Writing Opportunities/ short stories, skits, etc. to internalize the
context of a particular time period or region of the world.
11. Encourage students to create their own questions and lead discussions
12. Research Projects to extend learning
13. Creating a Literacy-rich environment- provide students with high quality
reading materials
14. Provide explicit instruction of “What”, “When”, and “Why”- offer students
opportunities to apply these practices.
15. Teach students how to write with the infusion of the grade level vocabulary.
16. Photo-analysis/ have students to analyze specific historical photographs
17. Double-entry journals- have students to respond to primary source materialson the left hand side of the paper, the student will summarize the events from the
article. On the right side of the paper, students will write their personal views
relative to the article.