Europe Vocabulary Definitions
1. Capitalism
economic system that allows private ownership and open competition of businesses
2. Cold War
conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union dating from the late 1940s to the late 1980s,
when the two super powers competed for world influence without declared military action at each other.
3. Communism
elimination of private property.
economic, social, and political system based in the teaching of Karl Marx, which advocated the
4. Constitutional Monarchy
government.
government in which a king or queen is the official head of state, but elected officials run the
5. Democracy
form of government in which citizens choose the nation’s leaders by voting for them.
6. Dictator
all-powerful government leader
7. European Union
trade alliance among many European countries, formerly called the Common Market.
8. Fascism
a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and
criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
9. Free Enterprise System
limited government intervention.
economic system that operates on free competition, in which people start and own businesses with
10. Genocide
mass murder of a people because of their race, religion, ethnicity, politics, or culture.
11. Holocaust
systematic murder by Adolf Hitler and his followers of more than 12 million people, including 6 million
European Jews, during World War II
12. Industrialization
changing an economy to rely more on manufacturing than on farming.
13. Injustice
violation of the rights of others; unjust or unfair action or treatment
14. Oligarchy
government by the few.
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique;
15. Oppression
the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
16. Philosophy
term derived from Greek, meaning “love of wisdom”.
17. Refugee
person who flees to another country to avoid persecution or disaster.
18. Republic
nation with a strong national government headed by elected leaders.
19. Rights of Citizens
benefits and protections that are guaranteed by law
20. Socialism
economic system in which many businesses are owned and run by the government
21. Unlimited Government
government in which leaders rule without any restrictions
22. Limited Government
type of government where, through law, some control is placed on leadership’s powers
23. Urbanization
movement to cities
24. Empire
group of lands under one ruler
25. Alliance
political agreement between countries to support each other in disputes with other countries.