History key terms

A religious movement led during Malcolm X’s membership by Elijah Muhammad, also known as the Black Muslims. It promoted black separatism, discipline and self-reliance.

Hostility towards immigrants based on the belief that established inhabitants and their culture should take priority.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization: a military alliance established in 1949 by the USA, Canada and Western European countries to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

An explanation of illness based on processes within the body or its physical surroundings rather than supernatural forces.

The process through which a person acquires a country's nationality after birth by meeting its legal requirements.

To grant a person citizenship and the rights associated with it.

The representation of people, animals or plants with close attention to their actual appearance.

The use of ships to prevent goods and vessels entering or leaving an enemy's ports.

Finding a vessel’s position and working out the direction in which it should travel.

Laws regulating shipping and colonial trade to favour English merchants, ships and national power.

A labourer employed on major construction projects, especially canals and railways.

A mass organisation which promoted naval expansion through rallies and propaganda and helped put pressure on the Reichstag to approve funding.

The National Socialist German Workers’ Party, led by Adolf Hitler: an extreme nationalist, racist and antisemitic party opposed to democracy and communism.

The August 1939 agreement in which Nazi Germany and the USSR promised not to attack one another.

The organisation used to bring teachers under Nazi influence through membership and training in Nazi ideas.

A Bible passage, commonly from Psalm 51, used as a reading test to claim benefit of clergy; memorising it could allow a non-clergyman to pass.

A voluntary movement in which local people work together and with the police to prevent crime and improve community safety.

The New Economic Policy, introduced under Lenin, which allowed some private trade and small businesses while the state retained control of major industries.

Private traders and businesspeople who operated for profit under the New Economic Policy.

Giving positions or advantages to relatives because of family connections rather than suitability.

A country’s position of not taking part in a war. Neutral territory should not be used by belligerent states to conduct military operations.

The city established by Hasdrubal the Fair as Qart Hadasht in Iberia, later called Carthago Nova by the Romans; modern Cartagena.

The peace terms presented by Parliament to Charles I in July 1646, demanding major changes to religion and restrictions on royal power.

Roosevelt’s promise of a new approach to tackling the Depression through government action; it subsequently became the name for his recovery and reform programmes.

Lenin's economic policy introduced in 1921, allowing private farming, trade and small businesses while retaining state control of major economic sectors.

France’s colonial possessions in North America, including Canada.

President John F. Kennedy's programme to improve American society through economic growth, greater opportunity and reforms addressing problems including poverty, education and health.

Spanish legislation introduced in 1542 to protect Indigenous people from enslavement and exploitation and restrict the encomienda system.

The belief that government action against poverty, sickness and unemployment could increase people’s real freedom and opportunities.

Supporters of the emotional, evangelical religious revivals associated with the Great Awakening.