DSE History Flashcards - Wyatt's Notes
DSE History — Flashcards
20 interactive flashcards. Press Space to flip, rate 1-4
Additional Flashcard Topics
Causes of WWI: alliance system (Triple Alliance vs Triple Entente), militarism, imperialism, nationalism. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 was the immediate trigger, but underlying tensions had been building for decades. The alliance system meant a local conflict in the Balkans quickly escalated into a global war.
Chinese Communist Revolution: Mao Zedong’s Long March (1934-35) preserved the CCP. The CCP won peasant support through land reform. By 1949, the PRC was established after the civil war against the KMT. Key factors included CCP guerrilla tactics, KMT corruption, and peasant disillusionment with the Nationalists.
Hong Kong handover: the Sino-British Joint Declaration (1984) guaranteed Hong Kong’s autonomy under “one country, two systems” for 50 years after the 1997 handover. This was a significant moment in decolonisation. The declaration promised Hong Kong its own legal system, currency, and civil liberties until 2047.
Cold War proxy conflicts: Korea (1950-53), Vietnam (1955-75), and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) were key episodes where the US and USSR competed through allies rather than direct confrontation. The doctrine of mutually assured destruction (MAD) prevented direct superpower conflict.
Decolonisation in Asia and Africa: after WWII, European powers could no longer maintain colonies. India (1947), Ghana (1957), and many African nations (1960s) gained independence. The process was sometimes peaceful (India) and sometimes violent (Algeria, Vietnam).
Rise of Japanese militarism: Japan’s invasion of Manchuria (1931) and full-scale war with China (1937) preceded WWII in Asia. The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was Japan’s justification for imperial expansion.
Intuition
History is about understanding cause and effect across time. Think of events as links in a chain: WWI led to WWII, which led to the Cold War, which influenced decolonisation. Each flashcard helps you see not just what happened, but why it happened and what followed. The DSE History exam rewards analysis over description—examiners want to see that you understand causation, significance, and multiple perspectives, not just dates and names.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing correlation with causation: just because two events happened around the same time doesn’t mean one caused the other. Look for direct evidence of causation: primary sources, official documents, or clear chronological sequences.
- Presentism: judging historical events by modern standards without considering the context of the time. Understanding historical context is essential for fair analysis. For example, evaluating colonial policies requires understanding the imperial mindset of the era.
- Over-simplifying complex events: the Chinese Revolution wasn’t just about Mao vs Chiang; it involved warlords, Japan, the US, and millions of ordinary people. The DSE exam rewards nuanced analysis that considers multiple factors.
- Relying on a single perspective: good history considers multiple viewpoints. The Cold War looks different from Washington than from Moscow, and different again from Beijing or Hanoi. Use evidence from multiple sources.
- Forgetting to evaluate sources: when using primary sources, consider who created them, when, why, and for whom. A British colonial report on Hong Kong will have different biases than a Chinese nationalist newspaper.
Cross-References
- Cold War: Cold War is covered extensively; proxy conflicts and ideological rivalry are key topics.
- Modern China: Modern China is tested in depth, including the revolution, civil war, and PRC establishment.
- WWII: WWII is a major topic that connects causes (WWI aftermath) to consequences (Cold War, decolonisation).
- Geography: Geography provides context for historical events—resource distribution, strategic locations, and climate affect historical outcomes.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.