Social Studies and History Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions covering nationalism, revolutionary France, World Wars, and international organizations based on lecture study sheets.

Nationalism

Pride and loyalty to your nation.

Ethnic nationalism

Nationalism based on shared ethnicity or ancestry.

Civic nationalism

Nationalism based on shared citizenship and values.

Patriotism

Love and support for your country.

Sovereignty

A country's power to govern itself.

Self-determination

The right of people to choose their own government.

Imperialism

Extending a country's power over other lands.

Militarism

Building up military strength and influence.

The Estates General

France's representative assembly before the French Revolution.

Decentralization

Spreading power away from a central authority.

subordinate

to place under control/ lower rank

Condemn

to strongly disapprove or punish

prescribed

officially ordered or set by rules

Insurrection

A rebellion against authority.

Les émigrés

French nobles who fled during the Revolution.

Les Jacobins

Radical revolutionaries in France.

Les Girondins

More moderate French revolutionaries.

Napoleonic Code

Napoleon's system of laws.

Resurgence

A return or revival.

Restoration

Returning a former ruler or system to power.

Conservative

Favoring tradition and gradual change.

Liberal

Supporting individual rights and reform.

Tribunal

A court of justice.

The National Assembly

Revolutionary French lawmaking body.

The Committee of Public Safety

Group that led France during the Reign of Terror.

Ultranationalism

Extreme nationalism.

Splendid Isolation

Britain's policy of avoiding alliances.

Alliance

An agreement between countries to work together.

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before WWI.

Triple Entente

Britain, France, and Russia before WWI.

Armaments

Military weapons and equipment.

Total war

Using all a nation's resources for war.

Conscription

Mandatory military service.

woodrow wilson fourteen points

plan for peace after ww1

The Treaty of Versailles

Treaty that ended WWI.

The League of Nations

International organization created to keep peace after WWI.

Internment camps

Camps where people are detained during wartime.

Annexation

Taking control of territory and adding it to a country.

Punitive

Intended to punish.

Antagonist

An opponent or enemy.

Consent

Permission or agreement.

Imperative

Absolutely necessary.

Peril

Serious danger.

Occupation

Military control of a foreign territory.

Fascism

Dictatorship with extreme nationalism and strict government control.

Dictatorship

Government ruled by one person or small group with absolute power.

Totalitarianism

Government control over nearly all aspects of life.

Indictment

Formal criminal charge.

Repudiation

Rejection of an idea, agreement, or debt.

Reparations

Payments for war damages.

Appeasement

Giving in to demands to avoid conflict.

Ethnic cleansing

Forcing an ethnic group out of an area.

Genocide

Deliberate destruction of a group of people.

Apartheid

System of racial segregation in South Africa.

Crimes against humanity

Large-scale attacks against civilians.

War crimes

Serious violations of the laws of war.

Holodomor

Famine in Ukraine (1932-1933) caused by Soviet policies.

Collectivization

Combining private farms into government-controlled farms.

Cynical

Distrustful of others' motives.

"White Man's Burden"

Idea that Europeans had a duty to rule and "civilize" others.

Decolonization

Colonies gaining independence.

Successor state

New country that replaces a former state.

Internationalism

Cooperation among nations.

Isolationism

Avoiding involvement in world affairs.

Unilateralism

Acting alone without others.

Multilateralism

Working with multiple countries.

Supranationalism

Countries sharing authority in a larger organization.

U.N. Genocide Convention

U.N. treaty making genocide a crime.

U.N. General Assembly

Main meeting body of the United Nations.

U.N. Security Council

U.N. body responsible for international peace and security.

The World Court

U.N. court that settles disputes between countries.

The World Trade Organization (WTO)

Organization that regulates global trade.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

U.N. agency focused on public health.

Peacekeeping

Using forces to maintain peace after conflict.

Peacemaking

Negotiating agreements to end conflict.

Humanitarianism

Helping people in need.

NGOs

Non-governmental organizations (e.g., Red Cross, Amnesty International).

NATO

Military alliance of North American and European countries.

Thwart

To stop or prevent.

Extol

To praise highly.

Reciprocate

To return a gesture, action, or feeling.