History Terms (Mod 10)

Command Economy

An economic system where the government centrally plans, controls, and directs all major aspects of production, distribution, and resource allocation.

Market Economy

An economic system where supply and demand determine the production, distribution, and pricing of goods and services, with minimal government intervention.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who exercise that power directly or through elected representatives.

Authoritarian

A governing system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms, often led by a single leader or party.

Totalitarian

A political system that seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, often under a single party or leader, with strict regulation of society and the economy.

Communism

A political and economic ideology that advocates for a classless society in which all property and means of production are collectively owned, eliminating private ownership and promoting equality.

Socialism

A political and economic theory advocating for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, aiming to achieve greater social and economic equality.

Fascism

A far-right political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

Duma

The legislative assembly of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, established to provide a measure of political representation, though often limited by autocratic governance.

Mensheviks

A faction of the Russian socialist movement that emerged in the early 20th century, advocating for a more democratic and reformist approach to socialism, in contrast to the more radical Bolsheviks.

Bolsheviks

A faction of the Russian socialist movement that seized power in the October Revolution of 1917, advocating for a radical and immediate transition to socialism through a vanguard party and the overthrow of the capitalist system.

Proletariat

The working class, particularly in Marxist theory, which sells its labor for wages and is considered the class that is exploited within a capitalist system.

Bourgeoisie

The capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production, typically contrasted with the proletariat in Marxist theory.

Marxist-Leninist Ideology

A political theory that combines the ideas of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, advocating for a revolutionary approach to establish a socialist state led by a vanguard party. It emphasizes the role of the proletariat in overthrowing capitalism and establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat as a transition to a classless society.

Soviet

A council of workers' and soldiers' deputies in the Russian Empire, which became a key component of the political structure in the Soviet Union, representing the interests of the working class and other segments of society.

New Economic Program

A policy introduced by Lenin in 1921 to stabilize the Soviet economy after the devastation of the Russian Civil War. It allowed for a partial reintroduction of private trade and small-scale private enterprise while maintaining state control over major industries.

Politburo

The executive committee and leading decision-making body of the Communist Party, particularly in the former Soviet Union, responsible for overseeing government policy and administration.

Collectivization

A policy implemented by Joseph Stalin in the late 1920s and 1930s aimed at consolidating individual peasant farms into large, state-controlled collective farms (kolkhozes). The goals were to increase agricultural efficiency, support rapid industrialization, and control rural areas. It led to widespread resistance, famine, and millions of deaths.

Holodomor

A man-made famine that occurred in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, caused by Stalin's policies of collectivization and grain requisition. Millions of Ukrainians died as the Soviet government confiscated food supplies, exacerbating starvation. The Holodomor is widely regarded as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.

GULAG

The Soviet Union's system of forced labor camps that operated from the 1930s to the 1950s under Stalin. The term stands for Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei (Main Camp Administration). The camps housed political prisoners, criminals, and other perceived enemies of the state, subjecting them to harsh conditions, forced labor, and high mortality rates. The GULAG became a symbol of Soviet repression.

Treaty of London

A secret agreement between Italy and the Allied Powers (Britain, France, and Russia) during World War I. (1915) Italy agreed to join the Allies against the Central Powers in exchange for territorial gains, including South Tyrol, Trentino, and Dalmatian territories. The treaty's promises were a key factor in Italy's decision to enter the war but led to post-war dissatisfaction due to unfulfilled terms.

Militarism

A political and cultural ideology that emphasizes the importance of a strong military and its dominance in national policy and society. It often involves the glorification of military power, the buildup of armed forces, and readiness to use force to achieve national goals. Militarism was a significant factor leading to tensions and alliances prior to World War I.

Black Shirts

A paramilitary organization associated with Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party in Italy. Officially called the Squadristi, they were founded in 1919 and wore black uniforms inspired by military attire. The Black Shirts used violence, intimidation, and propaganda to suppress political opposition, especially socialists and communists, playing a crucial role in Mussolini's rise to power and the establishment of a fascist regime.

March on Rome

A political and military maneuver in October 1922 by Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party to seize power in Italy. Thousands of Black Shirts marched toward Rome, demanding Mussolini be appointed Prime Minister. Facing limited resistance and fearing civil war, King Victor Emmanuel III capitulated and invited Mussolini to form a government, marking the beginning of fascist rule in Italy.

Cheka

The first Soviet secret police organization, established in December 1917 by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Officially called the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage, the Cheka was tasked with rooting out political opposition, suppressing dissent, and enforcing Bolshevik control during the Russian Civil War. Known for its use of terror, executions, and surveillance, it later evolved into other Soviet security agencies, such as the NKVD and KGB.

Corporatism

An economic and political system where society is organized into corporate groups, such as agricultural, labor, military, or business sectors, which work together under state supervision to achieve national goals. Associated with fascist regimes like Mussolini's Italy, corporatism aimed to replace class conflict with cooperation, often prioritizing state interests over individual or group freedoms.