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Unit 8 Themes

Cold War and Decolonization

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Theme 1: Rise of Nationalism

  • Driving force behind decolonization movements
  • Colonized nations sought for independence
  • Reshaped political map of the world
  • Fueled Cold War tensions between United States and the Soviet Union

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Theme 2: New Global Powers

  • Challenged existing geopolitical power
  • Increased competition and tensions between nations
  • Some (China, India, etc) challenged dominant traditional Western powers
  • United States and Soviet Union sought to expand influence
  • Fueled decolonization movements for new political and economical structure

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Theme 3: Globalization Impact

  • Allowed the spread of ideas, people, and goods
  • Increased economic interdependence between nations
  • Helped fuel growth of international organizations (UN)
  • Spread nationalists movements
  • Helped with the influence of allies during the Cold War between the US and USSR

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Theme 4: Human Rights Struggles

  • Central issue of decolonization
  • Colonized nations sought political independence and social economic equity
  • Cold War expressed struggle between democracy and human rights
  • Used as argument against Soviet Union and United States
  • Fueled growth of international organizations (UN)

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Theme 5: Technological Advancements

  • “Arms Race” where US and SU sought to develop new and more powerful weapons
  • Development of nuclear weapons
  • “Space Race”
  • Fueled growth of decolonization with communication and transportation to move people and goods around the world
  • New forms of media (TV, Film) for share of public opinion