Western Industrialization and Diplomatic Tensions

Age of Revolution

Period of political upheaval from American Revolution (1775) through French Revolution (1789) to 1848

Cultural Enlightenment

Challenged regimes without religious freedom or emphasized aristocratic privilege

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Advocated for government based on general will

Voltaire

Critiqued church for repressing human liberty

Freedom of religion

Allowed individuals to practice their faith without persecution

Commercialization

Businesspeople gained new wealth and grew interested in production techniques

Population Growth/Upheaval

Western Europe experienced a significant population increase after 1730

Proto-industrialization

Encouraged new technology to expand production due to the importance of new market relationships and manufacturing volume

Propertyless Class

Class that worked for wages and experienced declining parental authority

The American Revolution

Rebellion of Britain's Atlantic colonies (1775-1783) for independence

Declaration of Independence

Formal statement declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain

French Revolution

Period of radical social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799

Bastille Riot

Storming of a political prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution

Reign of Terror

Period of violence during the French Revolution characterized by mass executions

Maximilien Robespierre

Leader of the radical phase of the French Revolution, known for his role in the Reign of Terror

Napoleon Bonaparte

Victorious leader who converted France from a revolutionary republic to an authoritarian empire

Second Industrial Revolution

Period of rapid industrial development in the late 19th century, characterized by new sources of power and increased worker productivity

Louis Pasteur

Scientist known for discoveries in germ theory and the development of pasteurization

Socialism

Political and economic theory advocating for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

Karl Marx

Founder of Marxism, who believed in the inevitability of a proletarian revolution and the establishment of a classless society

Feminist Movement

Advocacy for legal, economic, and social equality of the sexes

Charles Darwin

Scientist known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, outlined in his work 'On the Origin of Species'

Imperialist Expansion

Period of territorial expansion by Western powers into Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

Triple Alliance

Military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

Triple Entente

Military alliance between Britain, Russia, and France