AP World History Unit 5: Enlightenment and Revolutions

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and concepts from Unit 5 of AP World History, focusing on the Enlightenment, revolutions, and industrialization.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason over tradition and individualism over community values.

John Locke

Philosopher who argued for natural rights to life, liberty, and property, justifying rebellion against unjust governments.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher who believed life was harsh and people surrendered rights to a strong government for law and order.

Checks and Balances

Montesquieu's idea that government powers should be separated among different branches.

Laissez-faire

Economic principle advocated by Adam Smith where governments leave the economy alone.

Feminism

Movement advocating for women's rights and equality.

Capitalism

An economic system where means of production are privately owned and operated for profit.

Nationalism

A strong loyalty to others who share a common language or culture, often seeking independent nationhood.

American Revolution

A conflict (1775-1783) where American colonists, supported by France, gained independence from Britain.

Haitian Revolution

A successful uprising of enslaved people against French colonial rule, leading to Haiti's independence.

French Revolution

A period of radical social and political change in France (1789-1799) marked by the establishment of a republic.

Industrial Revolution

A transition to new manufacturing processes, characterized by the rise of machine-made goods.

Socialism

An economic and political system where the means of production are owned by the public or workers.

Realpolitik

Pragmatic politics focused on practical results, often used by leaders like Cavour and Bismarck.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that supports government regulation of the economy for augmenting state power.

Utilitarianism

A philosophical theory by John Stuart Mill advocating for actions that promote the greatest happiness.

Deism

A belief in a divine being who set natural laws into motion; emphasizes reason and observation.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of technological improvement and increased crop productivity that set the stage for the Industrial Revolution.

Bessemer Process

An industrial process for the mass production of steel from molten pig iron.

Transnational Companies

Firms that operate across national boundaries, gaining economic advantages from local resources.