Concepts

Militarism

The belief in building up strong armed forces to prepare for war.

Colony

A territory controlled and governed by a foreign power.

Nationalism

Strong pride in and loyalty to one's nation, sometimes leading to the desire for independence.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country’s power by acquiring colonies or dominating weaker nations.

Propaganda

Biased or misleading information used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Victory Bonds

Government-issued bonds sold during wartime to help finance the war effort.

War Measures Act

A Canadian law allowing the government to take emergency actions during war or crisis.

Conscription

Mandatory military service imposed by the government.

Pandemic

A disease outbreak that spreads globally, affecting large numbers of people.

Total War

A war that involves all of a nation’s resources and people, not just the military.

Unions

Organizations of workers formed to protect and advance their rights and interests.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people.

Appeasement

Giving in to aggressive demands to avoid conflict, especially used to describe pre-WWII actions.

Aryan

In Nazi ideology, a supposed superior race of non-Jewish Caucasians, especially of Nordic descent.

Ceasefire

An agreement to stop fighting temporarily during a conflict or war.

Concentration Camp

Detention centers established by Nazis for imprisonment, forced labor, and extermination.

Crown Corporations

Government-owned companies that provide goods or services (e.g., CBC, Canada Post).

Drafted

Being legally required to join the military.

Fascism

A far-right authoritarian political system with strong nationalism, dictatorship, and suppression of opposition.

Final Solution

Nazi Germany’s plan to systematically exterminate the Jewish population in Europe.

Genocide

The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation.

Great Depression

A worldwide economic downturn in the 1930s marked by high unemployment and poverty.

Inflation

The general rise in prices over time, reducing purchasing power.

Internment

The forced confinement of people, often during wartime, without trial (e.g., Japanese Canadians in WWII).

Isolationism

A national policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs and conflicts.

Manifesto

A public declaration of political beliefs, goals, or policies.

Middle Power

A country that is not a superpower but still has moderate international influence (e.g., Canada).

Recession

A period of economic decline marked by reduced trade and rising unemployment.

Social Dividend

A share of national income distributed to citizens, often associated with socialist policies.

Stock Market

A marketplace where shares of public companies are bought and sold.

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD)

A weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction (e.g., nuclear, chemical, biological).

Social Welfare

Government programs that provide financial or social support to citizens in need.

Bill of Rights

A document guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms (Canada’s was passed in 1960).

Social Safety Net

A collection of services provided by the state to support people in times of need (e.g., EI, pensions).

Capital Punishment

The legal penalty of death for a crime.

Separatism

The desire of a region or group to break away from a larger political entity (e.g., Quebec from Canada).

Civil Rights Movement

A struggle for social justice, especially for racial and minority equality (most prominent in the U.S. during the 1950s–60s).

Multiculturalism

A policy or belief system promoting the coexistence of diverse cultures within a society.

The White Paper

A 1969 federal policy proposal aiming to eliminate the Indian Act and assimilate Indigenous peoples; strongly opposed by Indigenous communities.

Portfolio for the Status of Women in Cabinet

A government role or department responsible for promoting gender equality and women's rights.

The Official Languages Act

A 1969 law making English and French Canada’s official languages, ensuring equal status in federal services.

Self-Governance

The right of a group or region to govern itself, particularly in the context of Indigenous autonomy.

The Persian Gulf War

A 1990–1991 conflict in which Canada joined a U.N. coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Superpowers

Extremely powerful nations with global influence (e.g., the U.S. and USSR during the Cold War).

Arms Race

A competition between nations to build up powerful weapons, especially during the Cold War.

Iron Curtain

A symbolic and physical division between communist Eastern Europe and capitalist Western Europe during the Cold War.

Deterrent

A strategy aimed at discouraging enemy attacks, often through the threat of severe retaliation (e.g., nuclear weapons).

The Marshall Plan

A U.S. program that gave economic aid to rebuild Western Europe after WWII to prevent the spread of communism.

UN Declaration of Human Rights

A 1948 document stating fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

Gross National Product (GNP)

The total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year, including overseas income.

Nationalize

When the government takes control of private industries or services.

Dual Citizenship

Holding citizenship in two countries at the same time.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights and freedoms protected by law from government interference.

Sovereignty-Association

A proposal for Quebec to become politically independent while maintaining economic ties with Canada.

Distinct Society

A term used to recognize Quebec’s unique culture and language within Canada.

Notwithstanding Clause

A section in the Canadian Charter that allows governments to override certain rights for up to five years.

Land Claims

Legal declarations by Indigenous groups to gain rights to traditional lands.

National Energy Program

A 1980s federal policy aiming to secure Canadian control over energy resources, controversial especially in Western Canada.