Long-standing empires faced internal unrest and external pressure. Revolutions and political crises changed the balance of power in the early twentieth century.
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Unit 07 · c. 1900–present
Global Conflict
Investigate the causes, conduct, and human costs of the world wars and other upheavals of the early twentieth century.
The big picture
What to know
Investigate the causes, conduct, and human costs of the world wars and other upheavals of the early twentieth century.
Peace settlements and political instability left major grievances unresolved. Authoritarian movements gained support in several countries.
Use evidence to weigh the causes of global conflicts, including economic crisis, imperial rivalry, nationalism, and political ideology.
Check your understanding
01 / Multiple choice · 3 questions
Choose one answer for each question. Feedback appears below it.
Question 01
Which topic helps explain this development? Long-standing empires faced internal unrest and external pressure. Revolutions and political crises changed the balance of power in the early twentieth century.
Select an answer to check your thinking.
Question 02
Which topic helps explain this development? Peace settlements and political instability left major grievances unresolved. Authoritarian movements gained support in several countries.
Select an answer to check your thinking.
Question 03
Which topic helps explain this development? Use evidence to weigh the causes of global conflicts, including economic crisis, imperial rivalry, nationalism, and political ideology.
Select an answer to check your thinking.
02 / Write with evidence
Write a short response
Why did local tensions grow into global conflicts?
- Make a claim that answers the question.
- Use two examples from the review.
- Explain how the examples support your claim.
See a model response
Investigate the causes, conduct, and human costs of the world wars and other upheavals of the early twentieth century. The Ottoman Empire lost territory and collapsed after World War I. The Treaty of Versailles imposed penalties that many Germans resented.
Resources & review
Quick study check
Before opening another resource, explain these examples from memory. Reveal each explanation to check yourself.
Shifting Power After 1900
Long-standing empires faced internal unrest and external pressure. Revolutions and political crises changed the balance of power in the early twentieth century.
Unresolved Tensions After World War I
Peace settlements and political instability left major grievances unresolved. Authoritarian movements gained support in several countries.
Causation in Global Conflict
Use evidence to weigh the causes of global conflicts, including economic crisis, imperial rivalry, nationalism, and political ideology.
Read / watchOER Project · Unit 7 ↗
Find this numbered lesson in the unit’s articles, videos, and activities.
Video / reviewKhan Academy · World History AP ↗A second explanation when you need to see a topic another way.
Official practiceAP Classroom ↗AP Daily videos and teacher-assigned topic questions. Sign in with your school AP account.
OER Project and Khan Academy may organize some lessons differently. Use the topic number on this page to match the material you need.
Explore every topic
TOPIC 7.1
Shifting Power After 1900
Long-standing empires faced internal unrest and external pressure. Revolutions and political crises changed the balance of power in the early twentieth century.
TOPIC 7.2Causes of World War I
Alliance commitments, nationalism, imperial rivalries, and militarism raised tensions. The assassination at Sarajevo triggered a much larger war.
TOPIC 7.3Conducting World War I
Industrial weapons and mass mobilization changed warfare. Trench fighting and attacks on civilians made the conflict costly across multiple fronts.
TOPIC 7.4Economy in the Interwar Period
The world economy struggled after World War I. The Great Depression intensified unemployment and pushed governments toward different economic responses.
TOPIC 7.5Unresolved Tensions After World War I
Peace settlements and political instability left major grievances unresolved. Authoritarian movements gained support in several countries.
TOPIC 7.6Causes of World War II
Expansion by Germany, Italy, and Japan, along with weak collective responses, helped turn regional aggression into another global war.
TOPIC 7.7Conducting World War II
World War II mobilized entire societies and involved fighting across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Bombing, new weapons, and civilian suffering marked the war.
TOPIC 7.8Mass Atrocities After 1900
States and armed groups committed genocide and other mass atrocities. Study the causes and consequences while keeping victims and survivors at the center.
TOPIC 7.9Causation in Global Conflict
Use evidence to weigh the causes of global conflicts, including economic crisis, imperial rivalry, nationalism, and political ideology.