Vocabulary

Alliance

An agreement between nations to support one another.

Militarism

The belief in building up a strong military to prepare for war.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power through colonization or conquest.

Nationalism

Pride in one’s nation, sometimes to the detriment of others.

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, often before a peace treaty.

Totalitarianism

A form of government where the state holds total authority.

Genocide

The deliberate extermination of a national, racial, or cultural group.

Disarmament

The act of reducing or eliminating military weapons and forces, often to promote peace or avoid conflict.

Appeasement

Giving in to the demands of an aggressive country or leader in order to avoid conflict.

Isolationism

A policy of staying out of foreign affairs or conflicts.

Interventionism

A policy of becoming involved in the affairs of other nations.

Containment

U.S. policy during the Cold War to stop the spread of communism.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one nation falls to communism, others will follow.

Preemptive Strike

A military attack launched to prevent an imminent threat.

Nation Building

Efforts by a foreign power to help reconstruct government and society.

Peacekeeping

Efforts by international forces to maintain peace in conflict areas.

Propaganda

Information used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Censorship

The suppression of information that is considered harmful or inconvenient.

Misinformation

False or inaccurate information spread unintentionally.

Disinformation

Deliberately misleading or biased information.

Media Bias

When news sources favor one side or perspective.

Psychological Warfare

Using fear, propaganda, or threats to demoralize the enemy.

Cold War

A period of political and military tension between the U.S. and USSR.

Terrorism

The use of violence to achieve political goals.

Patriotism

Love for and loyalty to one’s country.