World Since 1945

Writings of Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels, used later by Lenin as a premise that material conditions, specifically the prevailing economic system, shaped who people are and what they think. Also, the proletariate will overthrow the bourgeoisie.

Started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Triple Entente=France, GB, Russia (leaves in 1917), Italy, & US
Central Powers=Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Vladimir Lenin's "Imperialism" published, labeling the flaws of global capitalism.
1)The contradiction within advanced capitalist economies.
2)The major capitalist countries increasingly collided over world markets.
3)The advanced capitalist states against the greater part of the world's population living in colonial & dependent countries.

The Red Army overthrow of the "capitalists" in Russia, creating the Soviet Union. Lenin hoped for it to be the first break in the capitalist chain of control which would then encircle the globe and spark other revolutions.

U.S. intervened in the war on the side of the Entente, ultimately deciding the outcome of the war.

President Woodrow Wilson's hope and vision for the world after WW1-called for self-determination of all countries and the ridding of colonization, no military rivalries, & open diplomatic relations, among others.

Japan invade's China's northeastern provinces (Manchuria).

In 1938, Hitler annexes Czechoslovakia. In 1939, the Germans quickly take over Poland. In 1940, France falls to the Nazis in 6 weeks. Finally in 1941, Hitler breaks the non-aggression pact with Stalin and invades the USSR.

Allies=US, GB, France, Russia
Axis=Germany, Italy, Japan