World Wars, International Relations & Kenyan Governance - Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering major terms from WWI/WWII, international organizations, and Kenyan political/constitutional topics as presented in the lecture notes.

World War I

Global conflict from 1914 to 1918 involving many nations across continents.

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose assassination sparked WWI.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Bosnian nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Gavrilo Princip

Alliances

Formal agreements between countries to support each other in times of war.

Dual Alliance

1879 treaty between Germany and Austria-Hungary; later joined by Italy.

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (Italy joined in 1882).

Triple Entente

Alliance of France, Russia, and Britain (the Allies) against the Central Powers.

Entente Powers

The Allied powers during WWI, including Britain, France, and Russia.

Imperialism

Policy of extending a nation's influence and control over other lands.

Economic rivalry

Competition among nations for markets, resources, and colonies.

Militarism

Policy of building up strong armed forces and readiness for war.

Nationalism

Pride in and loyalty to one’s nation, often fueling competition and conflict.

Moroccan Crisis

Early 20th-century tensions between Germany and France over Morocco.

Algeciras Conference

1906 conference that addressed Moroccan Crisis and aligned powers; Germany unhappy with outcome.

Agadir Crisis

Second Moroccan Crisis (1911) where Germany sought concessions from France.

Bosnian Crisis

1908 Austria-Hungary’s annexation of Bosnia, angering Serbia and Russia.

Schlieffen Plan

German strategy to defeat France quickly by invading through Belgium.

Belgian neutrality

Germany’s invasion of Belgium violated neutrality and drew Britain into the war.

Western Front

Main WWI battlefield in Belgium and France.

Eastern Front

WWI front in Central/Eastern Europe between Russia and Central Powers.

Battle of the Somme

1916 battle on the Western Front, noted for enormous casualties.

Battle of Verdun

1916 long, costly French-German battle, emblem of attrition.

Christmas Truce

1914 temporary ceasefire on parts of the Western Front with gift exchanges.

U-boat

German submarines used to cut off Allied shipping.

Lusitania

British liner sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, influencing US opinion.

Zimmermann Telegram

German proposal to Mexico in 1917 to join the war against the US.

Brest-Litovsk

March 1918 treaty where Bolshevik Russia exited WWI.

Armistice

Cease-fire ending WWI; signed November 1918.

Fourteen Points

Woodrow Wilson’s postwar framework emphasizing self-determination and League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles

1919 peace treaty punishing Germany and reshaping Europe after WWI.

Rhineland demilitarized

Versailles provision forbidding German military presence in the Rhineland.

Alsace-Lorraine

Territory returned to France under the Versailles settlement.

League of Nations

Interwar international organization aimed at preventing future wars; had Council, Assembly and Secretariat.

Locarno Treaties

1925 agreements settling borders between Germany and France to improve peace.

Manchurian Crisis (1931)

Japan’s invasion of Manchuria; League of Nations failed to stop it.

Abyssinia Crisis (1935)

Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia; LoN’s power to stop aggression proved limited.

Second World War

Global conflict from 1939 to 1945 involving most of the world’s nations.

Invasion of Poland

Germany’s 1939 invasion that triggered WWII; Britain and France declared war.

Blitzkrieg

Rapid, coordinated German warfare designed to achieve quick victory.

Battle of Britain

1940 air battle; Britain resisted German air superiority and invasion.

Pearl Harbor

Japan’s 1941 surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet, pulling the US into WWII.

Hiroshima

First atomic bomb dropped by the US on Japan (Aug 6, 1945).

Nagasaki

Second atomic bomb dropped on Japan (Aug 9, 1945).

United Nations

Global organization formed after WWII to promote peace, security, and cooperation.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

Group of developing nations not aligned with US or USSR blocs; seeks independent foreign policy.

Commonwealth

Voluntary association of 54 sovereign states, mostly former British empire.

African Union (AU)

Union of African states formed in 2002, successor to the OAU; aims for unity and development.

Organization of African Unity (OAU)

Pan-African organization (1963–2002) promoting African unity and decolonization.

ECOWAS

Economic Community of West African States; regional integration and cooperation.

COMESA

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa; regional economic integration.

East African Community (EAC)

Regional bloc revived in 2001 including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania; aims for economic integration.

Pan-Africanism

Movement to unite Africans and people of African origin worldwide.

Harambee

Kenyan development motto meaning 'pulling together' for national progress.

Nyayoism

Kenyan development policy of unity, peace, and mutual social responsibility.

African socialism (Kenya)

Kenyan model (Sessional Paper No. 10, 1965) emphasizing collective responsibility.

Swynnerton Plan

1954 Kenyan land reform plan: land adjudication, consolidation and registration.

National Land Commission (Kenya)

Body that manages public land and advises on land policies in Kenya.

Devolution (Kenya, 2010)

Transfer of political power to 47 counties, with a County Government system.

County government (Kenya)

Local government level with Governor, Deputy Governor, and County Assembly.

Equalization Fund

National fund to provide basic services in marginalized areas in Kenya.

Contingencies Fund

Kenyan fund for urgent, unforeseen government expenditures.

Controller of Budget

Officer role in approving withdrawals and monitoring budget implementation in Kenya.

Auditor General

Official responsible for auditing government accounts in Kenya.

Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA)

Body determining equitable sharing of national revenue between levels of government.

Central Bank (Kenya)

Institutes monetary stability, issues currency, and serves as lender of last resort.

Public finance (Kenya)

System of revenue collection, budgeting, and expenditure by state and county.

Parliamentary system (Britain)

Government with Monarchy, Parliament (House of Commons, House of Lords), and Prime Minister.

House of Commons

Lower house of UK Parliament, elected representatives, main law-making body.

House of Lords

Upper house of UK Parliament; appointed and hereditary members; acts as revising chamber.

Monarchy (UK)

Ceremonial head of state; monarch’s assent required for legislation; symbol of continuity.

Prime Minister (UK)

Head of government; leads the party with majority in the House of Commons.

Cabinet (UK)

Senior ministers who制定 policy and coordinate government departments.

Electoral College (USA)

Indirect method to elect the US president; states award electors based on votes.

Congress (USA)

Bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Federal government (USA)

National government sharing sovereignty with states; three branches.

Lok Sabha (India)

Lower house of India’s Parliament; members elected; five-year terms.

Rajya Sabha (India)

Upper house of India’s Parliament; members include elected and nominated members.

President (India)

Head of state and a key figure in governance; appoints Prime Minister and council.

Prime Minister (India)

Head of the federal government; chairs the Council of Ministers.