wars/treaties/revs/other stuff

Vocabulary flashcards from lecture notes on European and World History.

Hundred Years' War

A conflict between England and France from 1337 to 1453, ending with the expulsion of the English from French territories (except Calais).

Joan of Arc

Led the French to victory during the Hundred Years' War, inspiring French nationalism and centralization.

War of the Roses

An English civil war that ended when Henry Tudor became king.

French Civil Wars (Wars of Religion)

A series of nine wars from 1562-1594 involving the Huguenot Bourbons, Catholic Guise faction, and the Valois family, triggered by the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.

Thirty Years' War

The last of the religious wars, fought mainly in the Holy Roman Empire between Protestants and Catholics due to religious and political rivalries.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Marked the end of universal Christendom, decentralized the German states, and recognized Calvinism, shifting power dynamics in Europe.

English Civil Wars

Conflicts in England (1642-1649) between supporters of the king (Cavaliers) and Parliament (Roundheads), resulting in Charles I's execution.

Oliver Cromwell

Ruled Britain as a commonwealth; supported by the military, suppressed rebellions, and became 'Lord Protector' in 1653.

Charles II

Gave Parliament powers over taxation but faced disputes over religious laws, leading to the Declaration of Indulgence and the Test Act.

James II

An openly Catholic king whose policies led to the Glorious Revolution.

Glorious Revolution

William of Orange and Mary take the throne, recognizing Parliament's power and accepting the Bill of Rights, creating a constitutional monarchy.

War of the League of Augsburg

A conflict (1689-1697) formed to ensure balance of power as Louis XIV expanded. Ended with status-quo.

War of the Spanish Succession

A conflict to preserve balance of power as the Spanish Habsburg king dies and leaves territories to Louis XIV’s grandson.

Treaty of Utrecht

Ended the War of Spanish Succession; Philip can take the throne but the French and Spanish throne had to be separate. Spain lost Netherlands to Austria, Britain gained slave trade from Spain.

War of Austrian Succession

War caused because Prussia violated the Pragmatic Sanction by taking Silesia (under Frederick II).

Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

Ended War of Austrian Succession; Europe returned to regular borders, but Prussia didn’t return Silesia signified Prussia’s status as a rival German power

Seven Years' War

Extension of War of the Austrian Succession; Austria fought Prussia over supremacy in HRE while Britain and France fought over dominance in the New World

Treaty of Paris

Ended the Seven Years' War; Prussia kept Silesia and remained powerful and Britain got French territories in NA.

French Revolution

Period of social and political upheaval in late 1700's France, ultimately overthrowing the monarchy.

Estates-General

A general assembly representing the French estates of the realm: the clergy (First Estate), nobles (Second Estate), and common people (Third Estate).

Tennis Court Oath

Pledge taken by members of the Third Estate in France to not dissolve until they had drafted a constitution for France

Storming of the Bastille

Occurred on July 14, 1789 when Parisians attacked and siezed the Bastille

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Document drawn up by National Assembly/ Constituent Assembly which was based on ideals of Enlightenment and American Constitution. Granted men civil rights, but excluded them from politics.

Reign of Terror

A period of violence during the French Revolution incited by conflict between rival political factions.

Thermidorian Reaction

A revolt in the French Revolution against the excesses of the Reign of Terror. It was triggered by the execution of Maximilien Robespierre

Napoleonic Wars

A series of major conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies against a fluctuating array of European powers formed into various coalitions.

July Revolution

French revolt in response to Charles X issuing the July Ordinances, resulting in Louis-Philippe becoming king.

Revolutions of 1848

A series of political upheavals throughout Europe. They began in France and spread to other parts of Europe.

The Crimean War

Conflict in which the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain, and Sardinia defeated Russia

German Unification Wars

Series of wars led by Prussia under Bismarck to unify the German states (1866-1871).

WWI

A global war fought between 1914 and 1918.

Triple Entente

Alliance between Britain, France, and Russia.

The Russian Revolution

Series of revolutions in Russia which dismantled the tsarist autocracy and resulted in the rise of the Soviet Union.

WWII

Global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945.

Axis and Allies

Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan, while the Allies were the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union.

Pearl Harbor

Surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.

Cold War

A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.

Marshall Plan

American initiative passed to provide foreign aid to Western Europe