History Vocab

Dictatorship

A government where one leader has absolute power.

Totalitarianism

A system where the government controls all aspects of life.

Fascism

A political ideology that promotes nationalism, dictatorship, and suppression of opposition.

Appeasement

A policy of giving in to aggressive demands to avoid conflict.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Adolf Hitler outlining his ideology and plans.

Concentration Camp

A place where political prisoners and persecuted groups were imprisoned and killed.

Total War

A war strategy where all of a nation’s resources and people are involved in the war effort.

Nazi Party

A German political party led by Hitler that promoted fascism and racial superiority.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice and discrimination against Jewish people.

Gestapo

The Nazi secret police force that suppressed opposition through terror.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The U.S president who served from 1933 to 1945 and led the country through the Great Depression and most of World War II.

Adolf Hitler

The leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, responsible for leading the country into World War II and the Holocaust.

Benito Mussolini

The dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943, a key figure in the rise of fascism.

Joseph Stalin

The leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until 1953, known for his brutal rule and role in defeating Nazi Germany.

Winston Churchill

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during most of World War II, known for his strong leadership.

Neutrality Act

Laws passed by the U.S. in the 1930s to avoid involvement in foreign wars.

Lend-Lease Act

A 1941 U.S law that allowed military aid to Allied countries during World War II.

Blitzkrieg

A German military strategy during World War II meaning 'lightning war.'

The Four Freedoms

A speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 outlining four basic freedoms everyone should have.

Atlantic Charter

A 1941 agreement between the U.S. and UK outlining shared goals for a post-war world.

Bataan Death March

Forced march of U.S. and Filipino prisoners by Japan in 1942, many died.

Battle of Coral Sea

First naval battle fought by planes, which stopped Japan's advance to Australia.

Doolittle Raid

U.S. bombing of Japan in 1942, boosting American morale.

Japanese Aggression

Japan's takeover of land in Asia and the Pacific before and during WWII.

Aircraft Carriers

Warships that launch planes, crucial in Pacific battles.

War Production Board

U.S. agency that turned factories into war supply producers.

Liberty Clipper Ships

Fast-built U.S. cargo ships for transporting war supplies.

Women’s Army Corps

Women serving in the Army in non-combat roles.

Ford Motorboat Company

Ford's production of military boats, tanks, and planes.

American Beef Production

Increase in meat supply to feed troops.