Social Studies Study Guide
Chapter 12 Test
Names & Terms 
Nationalism – strong pride in one’s nation or ethnic group

Colonialism – a system by which a country maintains colonies outside its borders. A country takes
raw materials from lands it controls overseas and then sells finished goods to those lands.

NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a defense alliance formed in 1949, with the countries of
Western Europe, Canada, and the United States agreeing to defend one another if attacked. It’s main
purpose was to defend Western Europe from possible Soviet Union attacks

Adolf Hitler – dictator elected by the German people to run Germany (1933) – leader of the National
Socialist - or Nazi party. They believed in Fascism – country run by a central government that is
controlled by the military and a strong/powerful dictator. Blamed the Jews (and many others) for
German’s problems – and put them in concentration camps.

Holocaust - millions of people were deliberately killed and others starved or died from disease in
camps.

Warsaw Pact – a treaty signed in 1955 that established an alliance among the Soviet Union, Albania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

Iron Curtain – a political barrier that isolated the peoples of Eastern Europe after WWII restricting their
ability to travel outside the region. It was NOT a steel wall – just an ‘imaginary’ political barrier.

Cold War – (not a ‘real’ war) – after WWII, a period of political non-cooperation between the members
of NATO and the Warsaw Pact nations, during which these countries refused to trade or
cooperate with each other.

Dual Monarchy – one ruler governed by two countries

Alliance – an agreement among people or nations to unite for a common cause and to help any
alliance member that is attacked.

World War I – (WWI) a war fought from 1914 to 1918 between the Allies and the Central Powers.
Allies – Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, & the United States
Central Powers – Austria-Hungary, Germany, Turkey, & Bulgaria

World War II – (WWII) - a war fought from 1939 to 1945 between the Axis powers and the Allies
Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, & Japan
Allies – United Kingdom, Soviet Union, & the United States
Things to Remember –

In the early 1900s, most Western European nations had a constitutional monarchy form of government.

Germany was forced to pay for all damages done to the Allied countries as a result of the Treaty of
Versailles.

The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand caused World War I – WWI to break out.

When Germany invaded Poland – it started World War II – WWII

Stalin was the leader in control of the Soviet Union during WWII.

Most countries in Eastern Europe were communist states after WWII.

In 1917, Lenin helped overthrow the Soviet czar.

The conflict in which countries never actually ‘fought’ each other was the Cold War.

If a leader is a member of a ‘puppet government’ they do what they are told by another country.

The Marshall Plan provided financial, industrial, and agricultural aid to the countries of Western Europe
after World War II.

Fascism is the belief in a strong central government (usually with military support) led by a dictator.
Short Answer Questions –
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of joining an alliance for your country.
An advantage would be you would have help protecting your country.
A disadvantage is it could cause your country to become involved in a war for which it did not want to
be involved.
In what ways were Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin similar leaders.
Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin both believed in a strong central government, led by a dictator. Both
were ruthless leaders who punished or executed people to stay in control. They also practiced extreme
forms of nationalism.
Explain why a nation would want colonies in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Colonies supplied raw materials needed to produce goods and the colonies were important markets for
manufactured goods to be sold.