HASS Exam Flashcards
Semester One (30 cards)
WW2 - Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 and imposed severe military, territorial, and economic penalties on Germany. It aimed to prevent future wars but instead caused deep resentment and economic instability, contributing to the rise of Nazism and WW2. The treaty was created primarily by Britain, France, and the USA.
WW2 - Causes
World War II was caused by multiple factors: the Treaty of Versailles, the global economic crisis of the Great Depression, the rise of totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, the expansion of Japan, and the policy of appeasement by Britain and France that allowed aggressors to gain power unchecked.
WW2 - Key Terms
Conscription refers to the compulsory enlistment of people in the military. Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view, often used during wartime to unify national support.
WW2 - Spark
The invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939, is considered the immediate spark that triggered World War II, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany.
WW2 - Appeasement
Appeasement was a diplomatic policy where Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex territories like the Sudetenland in hopes of avoiding another war. This emboldened Hitler to continue his aggressive expansion.
WW2 - Major Battles
Major battles included the Battle of Britain (aerial conflict defending the UK), Operation Barbarossa (German invasion of USSR), Battle of Stalingrad (turning point in Eastern Front), and Dunkirk (Allied evacuation from France).
WW2 - Tactics
Blitzkrieg was a German military strategy involving fast, coordinated attacks using tanks, planes, and infantry to overwhelm enemies before they could respond.
WW2 - Events
Japan attacked Pearl Harbour in 1941, leading to the US entering the war. Japan also bombed Darwin in 1942. The US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (Little Boy) and Nagasaki (Fat Man) in 1945, forcing Japan’s surrender.
WW2 - Surrender
Germany officially surrendered on May 7, 1945, with May 8 celebrated as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, marking the end of WW2 in Europe.
WW2 - Holocaust
The Holocaust was the Nazi regime’s systematic extermination of six million Jews and millions of others. The Final Solution was their plan to annihilate all Jews through mass shootings, ghettos, and extermination camps.
WW2 - Leaders
Adolf Hitler, born in Austria, became the fascist leader of Nazi Germany. John Curtin served as Australia’s Prime Minister during most of WW2, leading the country through the Pacific War.
Rights - White Australia Policy
A series of laws and policies implemented to restrict non-European immigration to Australia. It institutionalized racial exclusion and was progressively dismantled after WW2.
Rights - Stolen Generations
From 1910 to the 1970s, thousands of Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families by the government under assimilation policies. They were placed in missions or white foster homes, causing generational trauma.
Rights - Assimilation
Cultural assimilation involved policies that aimed to absorb Indigenous people into white society by erasing their languages, traditions, and identities, often by removing children and controlling family life.
Rights - Freedom Rides
In 1965, students led by Charles Perkins travelled through NSW towns to expose and protest racial discrimination against Aboriginal Australians, drawing national attention to civil rights abuses.
Rights - Wave Hill Strike
In 1966, Gurindji workers, led by Vincent Lingiari, walked off Wave Hill station in protest over poor wages and conditions, later becoming a powerful campaign for Aboriginal land rights.
Rights - Eddie Mabo
Eddie Mabo was a Torres Strait Islander whose legal challenge led to the 1992 High Court Mabo Decision. It overturned the concept of ‘Terra Nullius’ and legally recognized Native Title in Australia.
Rights - Apology Speech
On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologized to the Stolen Generations for their suffering, acknowledging past government wrongs and committing to reconciliation.
Geography - Human Wellbeing
Human wellbeing refers to people’s quality of life, measured through income, education, health, safety, and equality. It captures how well individuals can live fulfilling and secure lives.
Geography - HDI
The Human Development Index is a composite measure of development that combines life expectancy, education level, and per capita income to assess and compare human wellbeing globally.
Geography - LEDCs vs MEDCs
LEDCs (e.g., Chad, Nepal, Ethiopia) have high population growth, low literacy and GDP. MEDCs (e.g., Germany, Japan, Australia) have better healthcare, higher education, and industrialized economies.
Geography - Spatial Distribution
Spatial distribution describes how resources or characteristics (like GDP or population) are spread across geographic space, often visualized through maps and graphs.
Geography - Population Pyramids
Population pyramids illustrate the age and sex structure of a population. They help interpret past trends, current challenges (e.g. ageing), and future needs (e.g. schools or aged care).
Geography - World Population
The world population grew from 2.5 billion in 1950 to over 8 billion in 2020. Growth has been fastest in developing regions due to higher fertility and improving healthcare.
