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.