AP Euro Unit 4 | CH 8 Overseas Expansion & Trade

West Indies

Chain of Caribbean islands where highly profitable sugar plantations reliant on slave labor were established

Spanish Colonial Rule

Administered through a centralized bureaucracy of viceroys and bodies like the Council of the Indies (laws) and Casa de Contratacion (trade).

robert walpole

• Britain's first official Prime Minister (1721-1742)

• Favored peaceful foreign policy and growing trade (salutary neglect), stabilizing England.

maria theresa

During WOAS she kept loyalty by increasing nobility power & Hungarian autonomy, weakening central gov’t

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Agreement recognizing the United States as a free and independent country

1764 Sugar Act

• British import duties on sugar & other items

• Helped pay for the war but met w/ colonial resistance

1765 Stamp Act

Tax on legal docs/printed items, but met w/ colonial resistance

boston tea party

Protest against British taxes in which disguised Boston colonists dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor

Yorkshire association movement

Extralegal movement in Britain demanding & leading to moderate parliamentary reform (e.g., reducing the power of the Crown/ministers) following the American War

War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739)

• Conflict between Britain and Spain over commercial rights (smuggling/searching ships)

• Considered the opening war in a series of global conflicts (WOAS)

Monopoly

Exclusive control over a commodity or industry, a core tool of mercantilist states (e.g., British East India Co.)

Triangular Trade

• Europe (manufactured goods) → Africa (slaves via Middle Passage) → Americas (raw materials/cash crops, e.g., sugar) → Europe

• Economic system that boosted European economy & laid the groundwork for slavery in the Americas.

War of Austrian Succession (1740-48)

• Began when Frederick II (Prussia) seized Silesia from Maria Theresa (Austria)

• Ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)

• Truce ending the WOAS

• Returned lands but left Prussia in control of Silesia and failed to resolve core rivalries (Britain vs. France; Austria vs. Prussia)

“Diplomatic Revolution of 1756”

The major reversal of traditional alliances leading up to the Seven Years' War: Britain allied with Prussia; France allied with Austria.

Seven Years’ War (1756-63)

• The first truly global conflict (fought in NA = colonies, Europe = Silesia, India = company dominance)

• Led to Britain's victory over France/Spain & dominance (Canada, India, most of NA)

Frederick II the Great

• Prussian king who aggressive in foreign affairs

• He made Prussia a major military power through these wars/mil power (e.g. WOAS)

William Pitt

Britain’s minister during the SYW who focused resources on conquering North America and establishing dominance in India.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

• Ended the SYW

• France removed from North America

• Britain became the dominant colonial power globally

• Spain ceded Florida to Britain.

Intolerable Acts (1774)

• Laws passed by Parliament to punish Massachusetts after the Boston Tea Party (e.g., closing Boston port, reorganizing gov’t) & to strengthen their auth

• Directly led to the Revolution.

George III

English king whose stubborn belief in royal privileges (controlling Parl, choosing ministers) & opp to colonial grievances contributed to the American Revolution

Rivalry between Britain and France

Fought for dominance in North America (territory), the West Indies (sugar/slave trade), and India (trade/political control).

Spanish Bourbon Reforms (Charles III)

Policies introducing more efficient, direct Spanish control (via intendants) and allowing for freer trade among more ports.

Impact of Slavery on Europe:

• Provided cheap labor for cash-crop plantations

• Wealth generated (insurance, banking) fueled capitalism and contributed to early industrial growth.

Effects of Forced Slavery on Africans:

Depopulation, increased vulnerability to colonization, economic/political instability, harsh conditions (overcrowded ships)

Impact of American Revolution on Britain:

• Validated ENLA principles (popular soverignty, liberty) via Constitution

• Fueled parliamentary reform movements at home

• Shifted imperial focus to India and remaining territories

Magyars

• Ethnic Hungarians

• Their revolts distracted the Habsburg military; founded modern Hungary.

Siege of Vienna (1683)

• Failed Ottoman attack on Austrian capital; repelled by Leopold I

• Ended Ottoman expansion in Europe.

Hohenzollerns

• Prussian ruling family

• Unified scattered lands; centralized power via a strong army and bureaucracy.

Junkers

• Prussian noble landlords

• Gave military service/obedience to the state in exchange for control over serfs.

Boyars

• Old Russian nobility

• Peter the Great crushed their traditional power and forced them into state service.

Romanov Dynasty

• Russian rulers (17th–20th c.); restored stability

• Peter the Great modernized and Westernized the state.

Old Believers

Russians who rejected church reforms; preserved traditional Orthodoxy despite persecution.

St. Petersburg

• Peter the Great’s "Window on the West"

• Nobles were forced to live in this new capital to centralize power.

Winter Palace

• Romanov residence in St. Petersburg

• Physical symbol of Russian absolutism and imperial power.

Dutch Decline (18th Century)

• Causes: Lack of strong leadership (no Stadtholder), costly wars, and loss of naval supremacy to Britain.

• Economics: England/France bypassed Dutch traders; key industries (fishing/shipbuilding) collapsed.

French Parlements vs. English Parliament

• French: Weak law courts run by nobles; could not effectively check the King.

• English: Sovereign legislative body; controlled taxes and laws (especially after Glorious Revolution).

Economy: Western vs. Eastern Europe

• West: Serfdom disappeared; agricultural improvements; colonial wealth; early industry.

• East: Serfdom strengthened; backward agriculture; absolutist rule; no colonies.

Decline of Ottoman, Sweden, & Poland

• Ottomans: Tech stagnation; lost territory to Austria/Russia after failed Siege of Vienna.

• Sweden: Exhausted resources in Great Northern War; lost Baltic dominance to Russia.

• Poland: Liberum veto paralyzed government; weak central authority led to foreign partition.

Hohenzollerns (Prussia) vs. Habsburgs (Austria)

• Prussia: Successfully centralized power; created a unified military state.

• Austria: Failed to fully centralize due to vast ethnic/geographic diversity.

• Both: Had to compromise with local nobility to rule.