Social Studies 30-1: Unit 3 Exam

Law and Order

The principle of maintaining peace and security in society through the enforcement of laws, often emphasizing the rule of law and respect for legal authority.

Peaceful Protest

A non-violent demonstration or public expression of objection to government policies or actions, considered a fundamental right in democratic societies.

Civil Disobedience

The deliberate and non-violent refusal to obey certain laws or commands as a form of political protest, often to bring about change.

Capital Punishment

The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime; also known as the death penalty.

Collective Security

A system where states agree to act together to prevent aggression by any one state, often through international organizations like the United Nations.

Martial Law

Temporary rule by military authorities, imposed on a civilian population in times of emergency, suspending normal legal protections.

War Measures Act

A Canadian law that allowed the government nationwide emergency powers, including suspension of civil liberties, during times of war or insurrection (replaced by the Emergencies Act in 1988).

• federal cabinet has emergency powers

• envoked three times (WWI, WWII, October Crisis)

• led to internment of “enemy aliens” (ex./ Ukrainians, Japanese Canadians) w/o evidence of threat

Emergencies Act

A Canadian law that allows the government to take special temporary measures in response to national emergencies, with more safeguards for civil liberties than the War Measures Act.

FLQ (Front de libération du Québec)

A militant and radical Quebec separatist group active in the 1960s and 1970s, responsible for bombings and kidnappings, notably during the October Crisis.

October Crisis

A 1970 crisis in Quebec involving the kidnapping of government officials (and murdering one) by the FLQ, leading to the invocation of the War Measures Act.

• due to the WMA, 500 were arrested w/o charge

• justified as necessary for public safety but later criticized for violating civil rights

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to increase opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups in areas such as employment and education.

Consensus Decision Making

A process of group decision-making where all participants work toward agreement, often used in Indigenous and some democratic contexts.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The part of the Canadian Constitution that guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms to all Canadians. Includes collective and individual rights.

Individual Rights

Rights and freedoms that belong to each person as an individual, such as freedom of speech and religion.

War on Terror

A global campaign initiated by the United States after the 9/11 attacks, aiming to combat terrorism and prevent future attacks.

Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act

A law passed in 2001 to expand police powers and criminalize terrorism-related activities in Canada.

The USA PATRIOT Act

A U.S. law passed after 9/11 to enhance law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prevent terrorism.

Aboriginal/Indigenous Rights

The rights held by Indigenous peoples, including land claims, self-government, and cultural preservation, recognized in Canadian law and the Constitution.

Francophone Rights

Rights relating to the use of the French language and the protection of francophone culture in Canada, especially in Quebec.

Censorship

The suppression or prohibition of speech, writing, or other forms of expression considered objectionable or harmful. Key facet of authoritarianism.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental freedoms and protections from arbitrary government action, such as freedom of speech and assembly.

Racial Profiling

The targeting of individuals or groups by law enforcement based on race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than evidence of wrongdoing.

Pandemics

Widespread outbreaks of infectious disease affecting large populations across countries or continents, with significant social and political impacts.

Debt and Poverty

Debt refers to money owed by individuals or governments; poverty is the state of being extremely poor, both of which can limit access to rights and opportunities.

Collective Rights

Rights held by groups, such as Indigenous peoples or linguistic minorities, rather than individuals.

Fundamental Freedoms

Basic rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Charter, including freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

Apartheid

A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa until the 1990s.

Voting Rights

The legal right to participate in elections by casting a vote.

Legal Rights

Rights related to the justice system, such as the right to a fair trial, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, and the right to legal counsel.

Search and Seizure

The legal process where law enforcement can search a person or property and seize evidence, subject to certain legal protections.

Warrant

A legal document issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement to take a specific action, such as searching a property or making an arrest.

Subpoena

A legal order requiring a person to appear in court or produce documents.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable under the law.

Self-Interest

The pursuit of one’s own personal gain or benefit, often considered a motivation in political and economic decisions.

Illiberal

Describes governments or policies that restrict freedoms and rights, often through authoritarian means.

• practices include limiting freedoms, detaining/punishing people without fair trial, acting outside the law, military acting without legal authority

• in times of crisis, govt may prioritize security + stability over liberal principles → illiberal actions

Habeas Corpus

A legal principle requiring that a person under arrest be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person’s release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention

Deregulation

The reduction or elimination of government regulations in a particular industry, often to promote economic growth.

Quebec Sign Laws

Laws in Quebec regulating the use of languages on public signs, primarily to promote the use of French.

Bill 101/178/86

Quebec laws concerning language and education:

• Bill 101: The Charter of the French Language, making French the official language of Quebec.

• Bill 178: Amended Bill 101 to allow bilingual signs inside but not outside businesses.

• Bill 86: Further amendments to language laws, including changes to signage rules.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

• most totalitarian states are tolerated by the majority, require active cooperation/participation from millions

  • many citizens believe their lives are better under the regime

Legislative Supremacy

The doctrine that the legislature (Parliament) is the supreme legal authority and can make or overturn any law.

Ipperwash

Refers to the Ipperwash Crisis (1995), a land dispute between the Canadian government and Indigenous protesters in Ontario, resulting in the death of Dudley George.

Oka Crisis

A 1990 land dispute between Mohawk protestors and the Canadian government in Quebec, highlighting Indigenous land rights and tensions.

Marshall Plan

A U.S. program providing economic aid to Western Europe after WWII to rebuild economies and prevent the spread of communism.

• providing support to other nations to create economic growth + support capitalism/democracy

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader in the 1980s who introduced reforms (perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (competitive elections)) that contributed to the end of the Cold War.

Perestroika

A policy of restructuring the Soviet economy and political system, introduced by Gorbachev.

Glasnost

A policy of openness and transparency in government and media, introduced by Gorbachev.

Brinkmanship

A strategy of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of conflict to force an opponent to back down.

Arms Race

A competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons, especially during the Cold War between Soviet Russia and the US.

• conventional weapons, NBC weapons, Missiles, Space Race

• who can build more and be more innovative

National Liberation Movements

Movements seeking independence or self-determination for a nation or group, often against colonial or foreign rule.

Expansionism

The policy of territorial or economic expansion, often by a state seeking to increase its power or influence. Practiced by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Containment

A U.S. Cold War policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism. Preventing the USSR from expanding its influence further.

• Truman doctrine = provide assistance to democratic countries threatened by communist forces, shift from American isolationism + prevented communist expansion

Détente

A relaxation of tensions between nations, especially during the Cold War.

Social Darwinism

The application of Darwin’s theory of natural selection to human society, often used to justify inequality or imperialism. Like the application of Eugenics during the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.

Human Rights

Fundamental rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, or other status.

Labour Unions

Organizations of workers formed to protect their rights and interests in the workplace.

Fascism

An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.

Nazism

The ideology and practices of the Nazi Party, characterized by totalitarianism, racism, and expansionism.

Socialism

A political and economic theory advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Scapegoating

Blaming an individual or group for problems in society, often as a means of diverting attention from the real causes.

Environmentalism

A social and political movement advocating for the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources.

Extremism

• Advocacy for or support of extreme political or social measures, often outside mainstream views, sometimes involving violence or radical change.

• early 20th century = rise of fascism and communism, rejecting individualism + subordinated the individual to a freater cause

  • response to chaos of WWI

Secret Police

A police force operating in secrecy to suppress dissent and control opposition, often associated with authoritarian regimes (e.g., Gestapo in Nazi Germany).

Force and Terror

The use of violence, intimidation, or fear to control or coerce populations, commonly used by totalitarian governments.

Collectivization

The policy of combining individual farms and labor into collective units, usually state-controlled, as seen in the Soviet Union under Stalin.

• Stalin recognized an “inefficient agriculture system,” established problematic quotas

Kulaks

Prosperous farmers in Russia targeted by the Soviet government during collectivization, accused of hoarding grain and resisting reform.

• kulaks decided to seize grain + resulted in massive famine in Ukraine (Holodomor)

• first large group of labours to be sent to Gulag

Weimar Germany

The democratic government of Germany from 1919 to 1933, known for political instability, economic crisis, and the eventual rise of the Nazis

• contributed to German loss of faith in democracy due to high political, economic, and violent insability

• in combination w/ the rise of extremism, Weimar fell and Hitler took over

Propaganda

The systematic dissemination of information—often biased or misleading—to promote a particular political cause or point of view

National Socialism

The official ideology of the Nazi Party, combining extreme nationalism, racism, and authoritarianism, with a focus on the superiority of the Aryan race and the need for expansion (Lebensraum or “living space”)

Infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures (e.g., roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

Controlled Participation

The orchestration of public involvement in politics or social activities under the strict supervision and manipulation of authorities. Key facet of authoritarianism

Tyranny

Cruel and oppressive government or rule, often by a single leader or small group.

GOSPLAN

The State Planning Committee in the Soviet Union, responsible for centralized economic planning.

Liberalization

The process of making policies, laws, or systems more liberal, often involving increased freedoms or reduced government control.

Nationalization

The transfer of private industry or property to government ownership and control.

Direction of Popular Discontent

The manipulation or redirection of public frustration toward specific targets (e.g., minorities, political opponents) by those in power.

Cult of Personality

Excessive public adulation of a political leader, often promoted by state propaganda to consolidate power.

Dissident

A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state

Eugenics

The practice or advocacy of improving the human population by controlled breeding, often based on pseudoscientific ideas about race and genetics.

Enabling Act

In Nazi Germany (1933), the law that gave Hitler dictatorial powers by allowing him to make laws without parliamentary approval

Night of the Long Knives

A 1934 purge in Nazi Germany in which Hitler ordered the execution of political rivals and critics within his own party

Kristallnacht

The “Night of Broken Glass” (November 9–10, 1938), a state-sponsored pogrom against Jews in Germany and Austria, marking a major escalation in Nazi persecution.

Dictatorship of the Proletariat

A Marxist concept referring to a transitional state in which the working class holds political power, intended to suppress capitalist elements and pave the way for a classless society.

Quota

A fixed share or allotment, often used in economic planning or to limit certain groups’ access to resources or opportunities.

Nuremberg Laws

Anti-Semitic laws enacted in Nazi Germany in 1935, stripping Jews of citizenship and prohibiting marriage or sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews

The Indian Act

• passed after Canadian Confederation in 1876

• defined FNs and rights they were allowed

• separated FN from other Canadians + attempted to control tradition and culture

• regarded FN as a people who were unable to look after their own well-being

The White Paper (1969)

• goal to bring FN Canadians to the mainstream by abolishing separation legislation + allow FN to “catch up”

• threat to Indigenous treaty rights

The Red Paper (1970)

• outlined objections to the White Paper by FN people

• legislative rights and treaties would be maintained

• self-deterrmination + crown does not own reserve land

Totalitarianism

• attempt to control all aspects of citizens lives by the government

• people may feel “free” but there are strict limits enforced by state power

• “Everything within the state, nohing outside the state, nohing against the state” -Benito Mussolini

Traits of Authoritarianism

• visionary leader w/ solution to all problems

• extensive party organization at all levels

• controlled participation and sometimes forced for youth, professional, cultural, and athletic groups

• secret police → terror

• indoctrination through education

• censorship of media

• redirecting popular discontent (scapegoating)

• corruption at all levels

Ideological Struggle

b/w SU + Communism and USA + capitalism

Iron Curtain + Division of Europe

• political, military, and idoelogical barrier that divided Europe into two separate areas after WWII

• Western Europe, alligned w/ US and NATO vs. Eastern Europe under communist control

• Hungarian Revolution

  • broke free of Stalinist government, in two weeks democratic state was forming

  • Soviet forces invaded Hungary w/ massive show of force + Hungary was defeated, reversed back to pro-Soviet govt.

  • Soviet power in Europe was strenghtened, clear message sent

• Czechoslovak, Prague Spring

  • reformist came into power + granted additional rights/freedoms o citizens

  • increased democratic transition = critiue from communist-bloc parties, Soviets talked w Czech govt o reach agreement but failed to do so

  • again invaded, Dubcek’s reforms were reversed

• Yugoslavia

  • rejected Stalin’s ideologies and became founding member of non-allignment

  • able to succeed w/o invasion due to lacking borders w/ SU

Paranoia

• spy games

• MAD

• First-strike policy

• mccarthyism = anti-communist suspicion/fear of communism prevelant in US

collapse of the Soviet Union

• decline in terror

• Nomenklatura = existing class despite claiming to be classless

• economic decline + failure of quotas

• political change to Gorbachev

• environmental decline (mass pollution from destruction + nuclear pollution from chernobyl)