AP World History Modern - Unit 5

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher who believed that an absolute monarchy was the best form of government.

Leviathan

Book written by Thomas Hobbes to support his theories on government.

John Locke

English philosopher who believed in natural rights of life, liberty, and property.

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property; beliefs held by John Locke about the rights everyone is born with.

Philosophes

French thinkers who believed in applying reason to all aspects of life.

Salons

Upper class gatherings for discussing enlightened ideas.

Voltaire

Writer known for using satire and defending freedom of speech.

Candide

Voltaire's most celebrated satire.

Baron de Montesquieu

Philosopher known for the idea of separation of powers and checks and balances.

Denis Diderot

Philosopher who compiled the Encyclopedia.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Author of 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman' advocating for women's education.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher who believed civilization corrupts natural goodness and wrote 'The Social Contract'.

Mercantilism

Economic policy that emphasizes government regulation of the economy.

Cash Crops

Crops grown for commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

Rigid Class Structure

A social system where movement between classes is difficult.

Colonial Rule

Control of a territory and its people by a foreign power.

Haitian Revolution

The first Latin American colony to win its independence, starting from a slave rebellion.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution who negotiated for the end of slavery.

Miguel Hidalgo

Creole priest who initiated Mexico's independence with 'El Grito de Dolores'.

Jose Morelos

Mestizo priest who continued the fight for Mexico's independence after Hidalgo.

Agustin Iturbide

Creole who declared independence for Mexico and became its emperor.

Simon Bolivar

Military general known as the 'Liberator' who sought to unify Latin America.

Jose de San Martin

Creole officer who liberated Argentina and aided in South America's independence.

Dom Pedro

Leader of Brazil’s bloodless revolution who declared its independence.

French Revolution

Revolution from 1789 to 1815 advocating liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Estates General

Legislative assembly in pre-revolutionary France consisting of the three estates.

Third Estate

The common people of France, making up 98% of the population.

Storming of the Bastille

A pivotal event on July 14, 1789, symbolizing the start of the French Revolution.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

A foundational document of the French Revolution declaring human rights.

National Assembly

Assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate representing the people of France.

Radical Phase

Period of the French Revolution where the monarchy was abolished and a republic was formed.

Reign of Terror

Period during the French Revolution marked by extreme violence and political purging.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French military general who rose to prominence during the French Revolution.

Continental System

Napoleon's strategy to weaken Great Britain through economic blockade.

Battle of Waterloo

Final battle of Napoleon where he was defeated and exiled to St. Helena.

Congress of Vienna

1814-1815 conference to restore Europe post-Napoleon and maintain balance of power.

Nationalism

A strong devotion to one's country and a desire for self-rule.

Unification of Italy

The process leading to the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Giuseppe Mazzini

Italian nationalist who founded the movement 'Young Italy'.

Count Cavour

Italian prime minister who orchestrated the unification of Italy through diplomacy and war.

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Military leader known for his role in the unification of Italy and his 'Red Shirts'.

Unification of Germany

The process of consolidating German states into a singular nation under Prussian leadership.

Otto von Bismarck

Chancellor of Prussia who led the German unification efforts through 'blood and iron'.

Zollverein

Customs union established among German states to promote economic unity.

Marxism

Economic and political theories of Karl Marx advocating for a classless society.

The Communist Manifesto

Pamphlet by Marx and Engels calling for the working class to unite and revolt.

Socialism

Economic theory advocating for collective ownership of the means of production.

Capitalism

Economic system characterized by private ownership and free markets.

Industrial Revolution

Period of major industrialization that transformed economies from agrarian to industrial.

Seed Drill

Agricultural invention that helped plant seeds in organized rows for efficient farming.

Power Loom

Machine that mechanized the process of weaving cloth, greatly increasing productivity.

Steam Engine

Invention that revolutionized transportation and industry by using steam power.

Enclosure Movement

Process of consolidating land into large farms, dramatically changing rural England.

Luddites

Workers who protested against industrialization by destroying machinery.

Factory Acts 1833

Laws that aimed to improve working conditions, especially for children.

Theodor Herzl

Journalist and founder of the modern Zionist movement advocating for a Jewish state.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice and discrimination against Jews that intensified in the late 1800s.

Dreyfus Affair

Political scandal in France that involved a wrongful conviction of a Jewish officer.

Agricultural Revolution

Period of technological improvement and increased crop productivity that preceded the Industrial Revolution.

Iron and Blood

Phrase describing Bismarck’s belief in the necessity of war for German unification.

Proletariat

Working class in Marxist theory, viewed as the true productive class.

Bourgeoisie

The capitalist class in Marxist theory who own the means of production.

Communism

Final stage of socialism where an individual finds true fulfillment and the state withers away.

Scorched-Earth Policy

Military strategy of destroying anything that could be useful to the enemy.

Bloodless Revolution

A revolution that occurs without armed conflict, exemplified by Brazil's independence.

Checks and Balances

System that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

American Revolution

Conflict during which the thirteen American colonies gained independence from Britain.

French Revolution Causes

Factors such as social inequality, financial crisis, and the influence of Enlightenment ideas led to the revolution.

Salons

Informal social gatherings where intellectuals discussed ideas of the Enlightenment.

Laissez-Faire

Economic philosophy advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy.

Child Labor

The employment of children in industries and factories, often in harsh conditions.

Romanticism

Cultural movement that arose in response to the Industrial Revolution emphasizing emotion and individualism.

Victorian Era

Period during Queen Victoria's reign, marked by industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military progress.

Coup d'état

The sudden overthrow of a government, often through illegitimate means.

Restoration

The return of a monarchy to power after a period of tumult.

National Assembly

French Revolution assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate.

Guillotine

Device used for carrying out executions by beheading during the French Revolution.

Thermidorian Reaction

Period following the fall of Robespierre during which more conservative forces gained power.

Etats Généraux

The Estates-General, the French parliamentary assembly representing the three estates.

Censorship

Limiting access to ideas and information, often used by governments to control citizens.

Emigrés

French nobles who fled the country during the revolution.