Modern World: World Wars I & II, Cold War, Decolonisation
Delhi Police Exam History Section
1) World War I (1914 – 1918)
Causes:
Militarism
Alliances (Triple Entente vs Triple Alliance)
Imperial Rivalries
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Immediate trigger)
Result:
End of monarchies in many nations (Russia, Germany etc)
Formation of League of Nations
Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany → future anger rises
2) World War II (1939 – 1945)
Causes:
Failure of League of Nations
Rise of Dictators (Hitler, Mussolini)
Harsh terms of Treaty of Versailles
Invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 → immediate cause
Major Blocks:
Allies: Britain, USSR, USA, France
Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan
Result:
Formation of United Nations (1945)
Germany divided
US & USSR emerged as Superpowers
Start of Cold War era
3) Cold War (1945 – 1991)
Meaning: Political + Ideological rivalry between USA (Capitalism) and USSR (Communism)
No direct war → only proxy wars, military alliances
Major Alliances:
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – USA led
WARSAW Pact – USSR led
Ends when?
USSR disintegrated in 1991
4) Decolonisation (Post 1945)
Meaning: Colonies getting independence from European powers after WWII.
Reason:
Europe became weak after WWII
Rise of nationalist movements in Asia + Africa
United Nations support for self determination
Examples:
India (1947)
Sri Lanka (1948)
Indonesia (1949)
Ghana (1957)
Many African countries in 1960s became free
Quick Recap
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| WWI | Started 1914 → due to alliances + rivalries |
| WWII | Started 1939 → Axis vs Allies, led to UN |
| Cold War | US vs USSR ideological conflict |
| Decolonisation | Post-war weakening → colonies became free |
Sample Question
Explain how World War II led to the beginning of the Cold War.
WWII ended with US and USSR as superpowers with opposing ideologies (Capitalism vs Communism). The power vacuum in Europe, division of Germany, and mutual distrust created tensions. The US Marshall Plan and Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe intensified the ideological conflict, leading to the Cold War.
Previous Year Questions
What incident triggered World War I?
Year: Previous Year
View Answer
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Name the two superpowers involved in the Cold War.
Year: Previous Year
View Answer
USA and USSR
Which year did the United Nations form?
Year: Previous Year
View Answer
1945
You've completed Modern World History Concepts!
Courage Tip: Focus on understanding the cause-effect relationships between these major events - how WWI led to WWII, how WWII led to Cold War and Decolonisation. Remember key dates: WWI (1914-1918), WWII (1939-1945), UN formation (1945), Cold War (1945-1991). The alliances in both World Wars and the ideological conflict of Cold War are frequently tested. Decolonisation timeline and examples are important for understanding post-war global changes.
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