Glossary
Afrikaner National Party
The political party that governed South Africa from 1948 to 1994 and was responsible for implementing and enforcing the system of apartheid.
Example:
The Afrikaner National Party's policies systematically disenfranchised and oppressed the majority Black population of South Africa.
Apartheid
A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s.
Example:
Under Apartheid, non-white South Africans were denied basic rights, forced to live in segregated areas, and faced severe restrictions on their freedoms.
Chinese Civil War
A conflict fought between the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) and the Communist Party of China from 1927 to 1949, resulting in the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
Example:
The Chinese Civil War concluded with the Nationalists retreating to Taiwan, leaving the Communists in control of mainland China.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Example:
The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally dismantled many of the discriminatory practices that had been enforced by Jim Crow Laws.
Civil Rights Movement (US)
A struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, aiming to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
Example:
The Montgomery Bus Boycott, sparked by Rosa Parks, was a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement (US), demonstrating the power of nonviolent protest.
Global Age
A period, primarily the 20th century to the present, characterized by increased worldwide interconnectedness due to advancements in technology and media.
Example:
The rapid spread of news about the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 across continents via television and radio exemplified the interconnectedness of the Global Age.
Great Leap Forward
An economic and social campaign by the Chinese Communist Party from 1958 to 1962, aiming to rapidly transform China into an industrial communist society, which instead led to widespread famine.
Example:
The ambitious targets and flawed policies of the Great Leap Forward resulted in one of the deadliest famines in human history.
Jim Crow Laws
State and local laws enacted in the Southern and some border states of the United States from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries, enforcing racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
Example:
Under Jim Crow Laws, separate public facilities like schools and restrooms were legally mandated for Black and white citizens, perpetuating inequality.
Land Redistribution
A policy, often implemented by communist governments, where land is taken from large landowners and reallocated to peasants or collective farms.
Example:
During the early years of the People's Republic of China, violent Land Redistribution campaigns aimed to dismantle the traditional landlord class.
Mao Zedong
The founding father of the People's Republic of China, who led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in the Chinese Civil War and ruled China from 1949 until his death in 1976.
Example:
Under Mao Zedong's leadership, China underwent radical social and economic transformations, including the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
Nelson Mandela
A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
Example:
After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela's release and subsequent election symbolized the triumph over apartheid and a new era for South Africa.
People's Republic of China
The communist state established in mainland China in 1949 after the Chinese Communist Party's victory in the Civil War.
Example:
The establishment of the People's Republic of China marked a significant shift in global power dynamics during the Cold War.
Racial Discrimination Act of 1975
A federal law in Australia that made discrimination based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin unlawful.
Example:
The Racial Discrimination Act of 1975 was a crucial step towards addressing historical injustices and promoting equality for indigenous Australians.
Re-education Camps
Labor camps used by the Chinese Communist Party to punish and ideologically indoctrinate those deemed enemies of the state or who opposed government policies.
Example:
Many intellectuals and perceived dissidents were sent to Re-education Camps during Mao's rule, where they faced harsh conditions and forced labor.
Suffrage
The right to vote in political elections.
Example:
The women's suffrage movement fought for decades to secure voting rights for women in countries around the world.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
A foundational document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, outlining 30 articles of fundamental human rights and freedoms for all people.
Example:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) served as inspiration for many post-colonial nations drafting their own constitutions and human rights laws.
Western Australia Aborigines Act
A discriminatory law passed in 1905 in Western Australia that placed severe restrictions on Aboriginal people, including the forced removal of children from their families.
Example:
The Western Australia Aborigines Act contributed to the 'Stolen Generations,' a dark chapter in Australia's history where indigenous children were forcibly assimilated.