Start with the first 4 sections of the Unit 7 one-page cheatsheet below. The full sheet is a PDF you can print.
Why old empires fell:
Key pattern: Land-based and maritime empires gave way to new states by century's end. Look for internal instability + external challenge as the combination.
Government intervention after WWI & Great Depression:
| State | Approach |
|---|---|
| Soviet Union | Five Year Plans; repressive, negative for population |
| USA | New Deal |
| Italy/Germany | Fascist corporatist economy |
| Brazil/Mexico | Strong popular support govts |
Pattern: Active state role in economy became normal.
How tech shaped global conflict:
Broader causation: Tech + challenged political/social order + empire collapse + nationalism = global conflict.
Essay tip: Don't isolate one cause. Weave together imperialism, economics, ideology, tech, and state collapse.
What sparked it:
How it was fought:
5 more sections are on the one-page PDF:
Imperial Tensions Between Wars (7.5)
Common Test Traps & Distinctions
WWII Causes & Totalitarian Mobilization (7.6, 7.7)
Mass Atrocities & Genocide (7.8)
Continuity vs. Change Across Unit
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Unit 7: Global Conflict, 1900-Present on one page, aligned to the 2026-2027 course. Made and checked by the Fiveable Content Team.
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Format
Topic
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Preview: Standard
AP World History: Modern Unit 7 Key Terms
Vocab sheet
7.1 Shifting Power After 1900
Standard
7.9 Causation in Global Conflict
Standard
Each topic has a full study guide. See the whole unit.