QCAA Modern History key terms

A political idea holding that a people sharing a common identity, history or culture should govern themselves, often through a sovereign state of their own.

A state whose borders largely coincide with a single national community, so that citizenship and national identity are treated as broadly the same thing.

The principle that a group of people has the right to choose its own political status and form of government rather than be ruled by an outside power.

A nationalist claim that territory held by another state, but inhabited by people considered part of the nation, should be annexed to the homeland.

A movement seeking to unite peoples who share language, ethnicity or culture across existing borders into one larger political community or state.

The process by which separate states or territories are brought together under one central government, often driven by nationalist sentiment.

The supreme legal authority of a state to govern itself and make decisions within its own territory without external interference.

The policy of extending a state's power and influence over other territories, whether through conquest, settlement, economic pressure or political control.

The practice of settling people in and governing another territory, restructuring its economy, society and institutions to serve the colonising power.

The formal taking of territory by one state from another or from an independent people, usually without consent and often by force.

A region where an outside power claims exclusive or dominant economic and political influence, even without formally governing the territory.

A grant by a weaker government allowing a foreign power or company to control land, resources or trade within its territory, often on unequal terms.

The arrangement under which foreign nationals living in a country are subject to their own country's laws rather than to local courts and authorities.

A colonial system of governing through existing local rulers and institutions, who keep limited authority while answering to the imperial administration.

A territory entrusted after the First World War to an outside power to administer on behalf of the League of Nations, with eventual self-government expected.

The process by which colonies gained independence from imperial powers, whether through negotiation, armed struggle or a mixture of both.

An eighteenth-century European intellectual movement emphasising reason, individual rights, scientific enquiry and criticism of inherited authority and tradition.

A political tradition valuing individual freedoms, limited government, rule of law and representative institutions, with property and consent central to its claims.

The idea that legitimate political authority rests on an agreement among people, who give up some freedom in return for protection and order.

The principle that government power should be defined and limited by a written or unwritten set of fundamental rules rather than by rulers' will alone.

The principle that everyone, including governments, is subject to publicly known laws applied equally and fairly by independent courts.

A body of ideas arguing that wealth and production should be owned or controlled collectively, to reduce inequality and meet the needs of the community.

A theory analysing society through class conflict, holding that capitalism exploits workers and will be replaced by a classless, collectively owned economy.

Workers' awareness of their shared interests and of their position in relation to employers, seen by Marxist thinkers as a basis for collective action.

Organised action by workers forming associations to bargain collectively over wages, conditions and rights, often linking economic demands to political reform.

The campaign to extend the right to vote, especially to women, typically pursued through petitions, lobbying, public meetings and legal pressure.

A movement and set of ideas seeking to end the unequal treatment of women and to expand their legal, political, economic and social rights.

The granting of the right to vote to a group previously excluded, such as women, working-class men or minority populations.

The legal guarantees that protect individuals from discrimination and secure equal treatment in areas such as voting, education, employment and public life.

The enforced separation of groups by race, ethnicity or other status in schools, transport, housing and public facilities, often backed by law.

A system of rigid racial separation and white minority rule, most closely associated with South Africa, that classified people and restricted their rights.

Information deliberately shaped and spread to promote a cause or government and to influence how people think, feel and act.

The control or suppression of information, media and expression by authorities, used to limit criticism and shape public opinion.

Warfare in which states mobilise whole economies, populations and civilian resources, so that the distinction between combatants and non-combatants weakens.

Compulsory enlistment of people, usually young men, into military service, often introduced in wartime to expand armed forces rapidly.

The glorification of armed strength and the belief that military values and preparation should shape a state's politics and society.

A network of formal agreements in which states promise mutual support, often drawing wider groups of countries into a single conflict.

The principle that states act together to deter or punish aggression against any member, treating an attack on one as a concern to all.

A policy of making concessions to an aggressive power in the hope of avoiding conflict, often by conceding territory or accepting broken agreements.

A final demand backed by a threat of serious consequences, such as war, if the stated conditions are not met within a set time.

The process of preparing and moving armed forces, equipment and supplies for active military service, often escalating tensions between rival states.

Material produced at or near the time of the events studied, such as letters, speeches, photographs, official records or contemporary newspaper reports.

An account created after the events, typically by historians or analysts who interpret evidence, such as textbooks, monographs or documentary films.

The origin and history of a source, including who made it, when, where and for what purpose, used to judge its value as evidence.

The extent to which a source can be trusted as an accurate account, judged by its origin, purpose, audience and consistency with other evidence.

A slant or partiality in a source arising from the creator's interests, beliefs, position or intended audience, which may distort what is presented.

The study of how history has been written, including changing interpretations, methods and debates among historians over time.

The particular standpoint from which a person or group views events, shaped by factors such as class, gender, nationality and personal experience.