Edexcel GCSE History key terms

An Indigenous religious movement whose followers believed that performing its dance would help restore their people and lands.

A Lakota/Dakota ceremony in which a family distributed possessions to others to mark an honour or important occasion, expressing generosity and strengthening community relationships.

Gorbachev’s policy of greater openness, allowing more public discussion and criticism of government policies and past abuses.

The Soviet censorship organisation, known as the Main Administration for Literary and Publishing Affairs, which controlled publication and access to information.

The Soviet State Committee for Planning, which converted national economic objectives into detailed production targets.

An official responsible for governing a territory on behalf of a ruler.

The title accepted by Robert Dudley in January 1586, giving him a governing role in the rebel-controlled Netherlands.

The compulsory seizure of grain from peasants by the state.

A school principally educating boys in Latin grammar, classical literature and religious texts.

The wartime partnership between Britain, the USA and the Soviet Union, formed to defeat Nazi Germany.

A wave of Protestant religious revivals across the British Atlantic in the eighteenth century, stressing personal faith and powerful emotional religious experiences.

The belief that God had arranged creation in a fixed order, giving people their place within society.

Mao’s second Five-Year Plan, dated 1958–62, intended to accelerate China’s economic transformation through mass mobilisation and collective production.

The most intense phase of Stalin’s mass repression, usually dated to 1936–38.

The Indigenous name for the Bahamian island where Columbus first landed on 12 October 1492; he renamed it San Salvador.

Fighting through surprise attacks and raids, followed by withdrawal, rather than relying on a large open battle.

An association of craftsmen or traders that controlled the right to practise a trade locally and collected members’ fees.

The Soviet system of forced-labour camps in which prisoners included people accused of political opposition.

A measure passed by the US Congress on 7 August 1964 giving President Johnson broad authority to use armed force in Southeast Asia.

An explosive mixture used to propel projectiles from weapons such as cannon.

The Chinese Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek during the Chinese Civil War; also called the Kuomintang or KMT.

The ruling dynasty to which Charles V belonged. His possessions included Spain as well as territories associated with the Holy Roman Empire.

The main Jewish defence organisation in British Mandate Palestine, which became the basis of Israel’s national armed forces.

Construction workers, named after their protective helmets, who demonstrated support for the government and the Vietnam War.

A campaign of deliberate destruction carried out by an army to punish opposition and deprive people of the resources needed to resist.

An offence motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

The section of the Metropolitan Police responsible for policing Whitechapel.