History key terms

A presidential claim that certain confidential communications within the executive branch of government should not be disclosed to Congress or the courts.

Being forced to leave a country, often as a political punishment.

People living outside their home country after leaving or being forced to leave, often for political reasons.

African Americans who moved from the South to Kansas, particularly in 1879, seeking land, greater freedom and escape from racial oppression.

Extending a state’s power into additional territories, for example through exploration, conquest and colonisation.

A religious act intended to make amends for an offence and restore a proper relationship with the gods.

Using land, resources or labour for economic benefit. White American exploitation of the Plains involved developing transport and commercial cattle businesses on land already used by Indigenous peoples.

Specialist work to identify and make safe explosive devices and unexploded munitions.

Goods or services supplied by one country to customers in another country.

An artistic approach that uses distortion and exaggeration to convey feelings rather than simply reproduce appearances.

The forced removal of people from a country or territory.

Relatives beyond parents and their children, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Using threats to demand money or something else from another person.

Additional taxation granted by Parliament to meet exceptional expenses, especially the costs of war.

Political activity outside Parliament, such as petitions, demonstrations and organised campaigns, intended to influence parliamentary decisions.

Political views or movements seeking fundamental change and rejecting the existing political system; in Weimar Germany, the Nazis and Communists opposed parliamentary democracy.

Evidence produced by someone who personally observed the events being described.

An approach associated with Fabius Maximus that avoided a decisive battle with Hannibal and sought to contain him while exploiting Rome’s greater ability to sustain a prolonged war.

A group organised around a powerful individual, competing for influence, offices or rewards.

Organising a separate group within the Communist Party to promote policies against the party leadership. Lenin banned such factions in 1921.

An explanation for why something happened, such as war, religion or government action.

The way two or more influences work together, with one enabling, strengthening or limiting another.

A trading post where merchants stored, bought and sold goods; in this context, it did not mean a modern industrial manufacturing building.

An organisation through which people practise a religion and may also organise education, support and community activities.

Land left without a sown crop for a period so that the soil could rest.

An animal or creature believed to be a spirit assisting a witch.

Nixon’s proposed welfare reform establishing a national minimum payment for families with dependent children and extending support to the working poor; it failed to pass the Senate.

Government measures intended to influence when people have children and how many children they have.

An extreme shortage of food across a population, causing widespread malnutrition, disease and deaths.

An imperial order which could grant rights or privileges, such as permission for a company to trade.