Unit 7 Study Guide: Nationalism, Realism, and Imperialism (1815–1914)

Concert of Europe

A post-Congress of Vienna alliance aimed at maintaining the balance of power and suppressing revolution.

Conservatism

An ideology aimed at preserving tradition, monarchy, and social hierarchy.

Liberalism

An ideology focused on protecting individual rights, constitutions, and limited government.

Nationalism

The desire for unity based on shared language, culture, and history; emphasizes self-determination.

Socialism

An ideology advocating for economic equality through cooperation and state intervention.

Marxism

A political and economic theory advocating for the abolition of private property through violent revolution.

The Revolutions of 1848

A series of violent uprisings across Europe, often failed, influenced by poor economic conditions.

Realpolitik

Politics based on practical and material factors rather than moral or ideological considerations.

Unification of Italy

The process of consolidating various Italian states into one nation through diplomacy and military efforts.

Mazzini

An early romantic nationalist leader known as 'The Heart' of Italian unification.

Cavour

The Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, known as 'The Brain' for his role in Italian unification through Realpolitik.

Garibaldi

A nationalist leader known as 'The Sword', led military campaigns for the unification of Italy.

Kaiser Wilhelm I

The first Emperor of the German Empire, proclaimed in 1871 after unification.

Blood and Iron

Bismarck's speech emphasizing military strength for achieving national goals.

Danish War

1864 conflict between Prussia/Austria and Denmark; a step toward German unification.

Austro-Prussian War

A 1866 conflict where Prussia defeated Austria, consolidating its dominance over the German states.

Franco-Prussian War

A war instigated by Bismarck, leading to the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871.

Compromise of 1867

An agreement that created the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary after a defeat by Prussia.

Crimean War

A conflict (1853-1856) that signaled the decline of the Concert of Europe; Russia was isolated afterward.

Social Darwinism

A misapplication of Darwin's ideas suggesting that some nations were inherently superior to others.

Berlin Conference

A meeting (1884-1885) where European powers established rules for the colonization of Africa.

Sepoy Mutiny

A failed military rebellion against British rule in India in 1857, spurred by cultural grievances.

Boxer Rebellion

An anti-foreign uprising in China (1899-1901) that was suppressed by international forces.

Dreyfus Affair

A political scandal in France exposing deep-rooted anti-Semitism and societal divisions.

Zionism

A movement advocating for a separate Jewish national homeland in response to anti-Semitic persecution.

Suffragettes

Advocates for women's right to vote, notably the Women's Social and Political Union in Britain.

Romanticism

An artistic and literary movement (c. 1800–1850) emphasizing emotion and nature.

Realism

An artistic and literary movement (c. 1850–1900) focused on depicting life accurately, often the struggles of the working class.

Natural Selection

Darwin's theory proposing that species evolve over time through the survival of the fittest.

Ubermensch

Nietzsche's concept of a superior individual who creates their own values and morality.

Id, Ego, Superego

Freud's model of the psyche; describes different parts of human consciousness and behavior.

New Imperialism

A late 19th-century expansion characterized by the total subjugation of territories, especially in Africa and Asia.

Three Gs of Imperialism

The motivations for imperialism: Gold (economic), Glory (political/nationalistic), God (ideological).

Technological Facilitators of Imperialism

Advancements like the machine gun and steamship that enabled European penetration of Africa.

India as 'The Jewel in the Crown'

Britain's term for India's wealth and strategic importance as a colony after 1857.

Meiji Restoration

Japan's rapid modernization process in the late 19th century that transformed it into an imperial power.

Balkan Instability

Political unrest and competition in the Balkans following the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Triple Alliance

An alliance formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy prior to WWI.

Triple Entente

An alliance formed by France, Russia, and Great Britain before the outbreak of WWI.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

His assassination in 1914 sparked the beginning of World War I.

Compromise of 1867

An agreement that established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary following the Austro-Prussian War.

Feminism

A movement advocating for women’s rights, including legal and political equality.