AP World History: Modern — Unit 5: Revolutions (c. 1750–1900)

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

Empiricism

The idea that knowledge comes from sensed experience, observation, and experiments, rather than from tradition or religion.

Natural Laws

Principles governing human society that can be understood in the same way as natural sciences.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher known for his work Leviathan, arguing for a strong absolute government to maintain order.

John Locke

Philosopher who advocated for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the social contract theory.

Social Contract

The idea that people agree to form governments to protect their rights, with the right to revolt if the government fails.

Montesquieu

Philosopher known for the concept of separation of powers in government to prevent tyranny.

Voltaire

Philosopher who advocated for freedom of speech and religious tolerance, promoting separation of church and state.

Rousseau

Philosopher who introduced the idea of the General Will, advocating that governments should reflect the will of the people.

Adam Smith

Economist who wrote Wealth of Nations, advocating for laissez-faire capitalism and the invisible hand in the economy.

Suffrage

The right to vote, which expanded from aristocracy to all men over time.

Abolitionism

The movement to end slavery, influenced by Enlightenment ideas of equality.

Serfdom

The condition of serfs who were bound to the land they worked; its abolition occurred in various European countries.

Feminism

A movement for women's rights and equality, gaining traction during the Enlightenment.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, advocating for women's education and equality.

Olympe de Gouges

French playwright and activist who wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in the US in 1848, advocating for women's suffrage.

Nationalism

An intense loyalty to others who share one's language and culture, acting as a unifying force or a break from empires.

American Revolution

The 1775–1783 revolt against British rule, influenced by Enlightenment ideals, leading to the establishment of a federal republic.

Declaration of Independence

Key document authored by Thomas Jefferson, proclaiming the American colonies' freedom from British rule.

French Revolution

The period of social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1815, characterized by demands for equality and rights.

National Assembly

The assembly formed by the Third Estate during the French Revolution, significant for signing the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution when radical Jacobins executed opponents and imposed strict rules.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French general who rose to power post-French Revolution and established the Napoleonic Code.

Congress of Vienna

A meeting in 1815 among European powers to restore order and a balance of power post-Napoleon.

Haitian Revolution

The only successful slave revolt in history, resulting in the establishment of the first black-led country in the Western Hemisphere.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution, who organized enslaved people to overthrow their oppressors.

Creoles

People of European descent born in the Americas, seeking more power during Latin American revolutions.

Simón Bolívar

Key leader in the liberation of several South American countries from Spanish rule.

José de San Martín

Argentine general who played a key role in the independence of Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Count Cavour

Northern Italian statesman who played a key role in the unification of Italy.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Southern Italian military leader known for unifying Italy through his 'Red Shirts' army.

Otto von Bismarck

Prussian chancellor who engineered the unification of Germany through realpolitik and military action.

Industrial Revolution

The period of major industrialization from the late 18th to the early 20th century marked by technological advancements.

Cottage Industry

A system of production where goods are produced at home rather than in a factory, replaced by the factory system.

Spinning Jenny

A key invention during the Industrial Revolution that mechanized the process of cotton spinning.

Steam Engine

An invention that revolutionized transportation and manufacturing by providing a reliable power source.

Second Industrial Revolution

The phase of industrialization focused on steel, electricity, and chemical advancements during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Zaibatsu

Powerful family business conglomerates established in Japan during the Meiji Restoration.

State-Sponsored Industrialization

Government-led efforts to stimulate industry and economic growth, as seen in Japan and Russia.

Adam Smith's Laissez-faire

Economic philosophy advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy.

Utilitarianism

The ethical theory proposing actions are right if they benefit the majority, highlighted by John Stuart Mill.

Marxism

Economic and political theory developed by Karl Marx, focusing on class struggle and revolution to create a classless society.

Urbanization

The rapid growth of cities due to increased population and industrialization.

Labor Unions

Organizations of workers who unite to negotiate better working conditions and wages.

Factory Acts

Laws passed in Great Britain to regulate child labor and safety in factories.

Tanzimat Reforms

Ottoman reforms aimed at modernizing education, military, and legal systems.

Self-Strengthening Movement

Chinese efforts to adopt Western technology while maintaining Confucian values in response to foreign pressure.