History WW1-WW2 Terms

Pan Slavism

An idea before WWI that all Slavic peoples (like Russians, Serbs) should unite and help each other.

Lebensraum

Lebensraum was Hitler’s plan to take over Eastern or Western Europe to create more living spaces

Enfranchisement

The process of an aboriginal person losing their indigenous status

Segregation

Separating people by race or group

Concentration

Gathering groups of people into a location

Extermination

Killing a whole group of people

Trench Raid

a small surprise attack on enemy trenches

Indirect Fire

Using a machine gun to spray bullets in an area to keep soldiers’ heads down

Creeping Barrage

Tactic involving soldiers moving forward in stages

Buying on Credit

Buying now and paying later

Anti‑Semitism

hate toward Jewish people,

Black Christmas

the fall of Hong Kong on Dec 25, 1941 when Allied troops surrendered .

Black Tuesday

the stock market crash on October 29, 1929

Armistice

Agreement between parties to stop fighting

November 11, 1918 was an agreement to stop fighting.

Kristallnacht

Kristallnacht was in November 1938 when Nazis violently attacked Jews and destroyed property.

Eugenics

idea of improving humans by controlling who can have children—used by Nazis.

Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan was Germany’s WWI plan to defeat France fast by going through Belgium.

Ultimatum

final demand before war

Dominion

self‑governing country in the British Empire,

Commonwealth

a group of countries that worked together, many formed after WWII.

Genocide

Purposely killing a whole group of people

Total War

A nation uses all resources—soldiers, civilians, factories—to fight

Self‑determination

When people decide their own government

Collective Security

Countries team up so if one is attacked, all defend together.

Appeasement

Letting Hitler take land (like Sudetenland) to avoid war—led to WWII.

Tariff

Tax on imported goods—used in the 1930s to protect local industries.

Branch Plant Economy

When foreign companies build factories abroad

Stocks

Shares you buy in a company so you get profit and private companies profit too

Bonds

Lending money to the government or company and get interest back.

Enemy Aliens

During both wars, “enemy aliens” were citizens of enemy nations living in Canada or USA.

War Measures Act

In WWI and WWII Canada used War Measures Act to give government more power in emergencies.

Internment

Internment was locking up ‘enemy aliens’ like Japanese Canadians during WWII without trial.

Halifax Explosion

When a ship carrying explosives blew up in Halifax, killing thousands, just as war ended.

Africville

A Black community in Halifax that was removed by the city in the 1960s.

Voyage of the Damned

Refugee ships (like those fleeing Nazis) were denied entry by many countries.

MV Sun Sea

MV Sun Sea brought Tamil refugees to Canada seeking asylum.

Komagata Maru

Indian passengers were turned away from Canada by law and sent back on the Komagata Maru.

Prohibition

Made alcohol illegal to save money for men fighting overseas(?)

On‑to‑Ottawa Trek

When unemployed Canadian workers rode west by rail to protest in Ottawa.

Labour Camps

Places where prisoners must do hard work

Person’s Case

Legally recognized women as “persons” under the law.

Parts of a Trench

A trench had a front line, support trench, and reserve trench to protect soldiers in WWI.

CEF equipment

Ross Rifle, Lee enfield

Enabling Act

Gave Hitler power to make laws without parliament.

Beer Hall Putsch

Hitler’s failed attempt to overthrow the government of Bavaria

Nuremburg Trials

Nuremberg Trials punished Nazi leaders for war crimes.

Manhattan Project

Secret WWII project led by the US, Canada, and Britain to build a nuclear weapon before Germans.

Fat Man

Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in August 1945.

Little Boy

Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan

Chinese Head Tax

Canada charged a special tax to Chinese immigrants entering the country.

Continuous Journey Act

Canada banned immigrant ships that didn’t come directly

Chinese Exclusion Act

When Canada banned most Chinese people from immigrating.

Balfour Declaration

Stated that dominions are autonomous communities equal to the British Empire not subordinate to United Kingdom

Chanak Incident

Canada asked Britain that they would have to ask for parliamentary approval before sending troops to turkey

Halibut Treaty

Canada signed its own fishing treaty rights with the US without Britain’s signature

King‑Byng Affair

Canada’s Governor‑General Byng refused PM King’s request to dissolve Parliament.

Imperial Conference

Imperial Conferences were meetings attended by all heads of the state of the dominions and Britain

League of Nations

Made by woodrow wilson, aimed to create independent nations

Alliance Systems

Countries coming together to protect economy and resources

United Nations

The United Nations formed after WWII to replace the League and help keep global peace.

Imperialism

Building empires by taking over other countries—led to tensions before WWI.

Militarism

Militarism is when countries build big armies and glorify military power, fueling WWI and WWII.

WWII Planes

WWII planes include fighters and bombers used in battles like Battle of Britain and Pacific War.

July Crisis

The July Crisis of 1914 was the month-long events after Archduke Ferdinand was killed that started WWI.

Bush Pilots

Bush pilots flew small planes in remote areas—used to deliver mail and supplies in WWII.

Big Band

Big band music was popular in the 1930s–40s and often played at wartime dances.

Jazz

Jazz is upbeat, improvised music from African‑American musicians that spread worldwide by WWII.

Nanook of the North

1st documentary

Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf was Hitler’s autobiography that shared his racist ideas before and during WWII.

Regina Riot

In 1935 at Regina, Saskatchewan, a march by unemployed workers turned violent when police stopped it.

Winnipeg General Strike

Huge protest by workers after WWI for better wages and to improve working conditions

Conscription

Mandatory military service

A chat chez nous

Achat chez nous was a Quebec WWII movement to buy French‑Canadian goods,

Annexation of Austria

In 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria in a move called the Anschluss before WWII.

Invasion of Sudetenland and the Munich Agreement

In 1938, Hitler took part of Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) with Britain’s approval at Munich, failing appeasement.