Canadian Politics, WWI, the 1920s, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Indigenous Issues, and Quebec Vocabulary

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms from a lecture on Canadian Politics, WWI, the 1920s, the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, Indigenous Issues, and Quebec.

Constitution

A set of fundamental laws and principles that outlines how a country is governed.

Capitalism

An economic system where private individuals or companies own businesses and resources, and operate for profit.

Communism

A political and economic system where the government owns all property and controls production to ensure equality.

Socialism

An economic system where the government owns major industries and services, but individuals can own smaller businesses.

Fascism

A far-right political system led by a dictator, emphasizing extreme nationalism, control, and suppression of opposition.

Prime Minister

The head of government in Canada; leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons.

MP (Member of Parliament)

An elected representative who serves in the House of Commons.

Executive Branch

Carries out laws and runs the day-to-day business of government (includes Prime Minister and Cabinet).

Legislative Branch

Makes and passes laws (includes the House of Commons and the Senate).

Cabinet

A group of MPs chosen by the Prime Minister to head government departments and make decisions.

Senate

The upper house of Canada's Parliament; senators are appointed and review laws passed by the House of Commons.

House of Commons

The lower house of Parliament where elected MPs debate and vote on proposed laws (bills).

Majority Government

The ruling party has more than half the seats in the House of Commons.

Minority Government

The ruling party has fewer than half and needs support from other parties to pass laws.

First-past-the-post

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a riding (area) wins, even without a majority.

Notwithstanding Clause

Allows governments to pass laws that override certain rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for up to 5 years.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

A part of Canada’s Constitution that guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms.

Cabinet Solidarity

All Cabinet members must publicly support government decisions, even if they privately disagree.

Triple Alliance

A military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before WWI.

Triple Entente

An alliance between Britain, France, and Russia (Canada joined as part of the British Empire).

Enemy Aliens

People in Canada from countries at war with the Allies. Many were placed in internment camps and treated unfairly.

CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force)

The army of Canadian soldiers who fought in Europe during WWI.

War Measures Act

A law giving the Canadian government emergency powers during wartime.

Conscription

Forced military service. Introduced in Canada in 1917.

Military Voters Act (1917)

Allowed Canadian soldiers overseas to vote in the election.

Wartime Elections Act (1917)

Gave the vote to women related to soldiers, but took it away from immigrants from enemy countries.

Victory Bonds

Canadians could lend money to the government by buying bonds to help finance the war effort.

Income Tax (introduced 1917)

A temporary tax on income to help pay for the war.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The peace treaty that officially ended WWI.

Convoy System

Groups of merchant ships protected by warships to defend against German U-boats (submarines) in the Atlantic.

War of Attrition

A strategy of wearing down the enemy over time by causing heavy losses, rather than quick victories.

Trench Warfare

Soldiers fought from deep ditches dug into the ground. Conditions were horrible.

Winnipeg General Strike (1919)

One of the largest and most influential strikes in Canadian history in Winnipeg to demand better working conditions.

Autonomy

Means self-government or independence.

Balfour Report (1926)

A report that stated Canada and other dominions were equal in status to Britain.

Statute of Westminster (1931)

A British law that gave Canada full legal independence.

Commonwealth of Nations

A group of former British colonies that chose to stay connected through friendship, trade, and shared values, not control.

Famous Five

A group of Canadian women who fought for women’s rights.

Persons Case (1929)

The Supreme Court of Canada said women were not persons under the law. The British Privy Council overturned this.

Stock Market Crash (1929)

Happened on October 29, 1929 (“Black Tuesday”) when the New York stock market collapsed.

Pogey

Slang term for government welfare or relief payments.

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods.

On-to-Ottawa Trek (1935)

Hundreds of relief camp workers rode freight trains from B.C. to protest in Ottawa.

CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation)

A socialist party founded in 1932 (later became the NDP).

Union Nationale

A Quebec political party that stood for French Canadian nationalism.

Fascism

A political system led by a dictator that values nationalism, militarism, and total control.

Nazism

The extreme fascist ideology of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party in Germany.

Appeasement

Giving in to an aggressor to avoid war.

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939)

Germany and the USSR agreed not to attack each other and secretly agreed to divide Poland.

United Nations (UN)

Formed in 1945 after WWII to maintain world peace countries.

Igor Gouzenko (1945)

A Soviet spy working in Ottawa who defected and revealed the existence of a Soviet spy ring in Canada which helped start the Cold War.

Korean War (1950–1953)

A war between North Korea and South Korea.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

A military alliance formed in 1949 by Western countries to defend each other from Soviet aggression.

Indian Act (1876 – present)

Defines who was legally considered “Indian”, set up reserves, and banned ceremonies.

Assimilation

The government policy of trying to erase Indigenous cultures and identities.

Quiet Revolution (1960s)

Took control of education and health care from the Catholic Church.

Bill 22 (1974)

Made French the official language of Quebec.

Bill 101 (1977)

Made French the dominant language in business, education, and signs.

Constitution Act, 1982

Brought the Constitution home from Britain and included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Part of the 1982 Constitution, it guarantees fundamental freedoms, equality, and legal rights for all Canadians.

Amending Formula

Requires approval from Parliament + 7 provinces representing 50% of the population to change the Constitution

Notwithstanding Clause (Section 33)

Allows federal or provincial governments to pass laws that override parts of the Charter (for 5 years at a time).

Meech Lake Accord (1987)

Recognized Quebec as a “distinct society” and gave provinces more powers--failed.

Sovereignty-association

A proposal where Quebec would become politically independent but still share a common currency and economy with Canada.

Distinct Society

A phrase used to recognize that Quebec has a unique culture, language, and identity within Canada.