Studied by 11 people
Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)
campaign to build a European French empire; significance: massive disruption of European and American politics as democratic ideals spread, creates a reactionary push for political conservatism afterwards, sparks nationalism and leads to the eventual rise of modern nation-states.
Year of Revolutions (1848)
widespread dissatisfaction with conservative monarchs prompts demands for democratic processes, freedom of the press, and economic and social changes for the industrial working class; significance: unsuccessful but led to a surge in nationalism.
ancien régime
French political and social system from the Late Middle Ages until the French Revolution (1789); significance: extraordinarily conservative.
Balkan region
mountainous region of Greece conquered by the Ottoman Empire; significance: poverty of region leads to origin of devshirme and the rise of nationalism among its diverse ethnic groups.
caudillos
Mexican landowners with political and military strength; significance: creates instability as they fight for political influence, often leading to civil wars and shifting power dynamics.
Congress of Vienna
meeting after Napoleonic Wars to promote and balance the power of conservative governments; significance: suppresses the development of nationalism among multi-national empire.
constitutionalism
legal, personal rights under a government; significance: places limits on power of ruler and ensures the rule of law.
enlightened despot
absolute monarch who uses enlightenment philosophy to consolidate authority; significance: creates illusion of liberalism and reforms while maintaining strict control over the state.
Estates General
parliamentary body of France with advisory power only; significance: unequal representation favors upper Estates led to the French Revolution.
Gran Colombia
a united Venezuela, Columbia, and Ecuador much like the United States; significance: fails due to political and economic inexperience of freed Spanish colonies.
Hispaniola
Caribbean island of French Saint Domingue (modern Haiti) and Spanish Santo Domingo (modern Dominican Republic); significance: origin of Haitian Revolution.
maroon
escaped enslaved person living in secret wilderness community; significance: often formed independent settlements, resisting colonial authorities.
Napoleonic Code
post-Revolutionary civil code of France; significance: meritocratic but also very patriarchal.
nation-state
a sovereign country whose citizens or subjects are relatively homogeneous in factors such as language or common descent; significance: diversity makes rule challenging and can lead to conflict.
realpolitik
political ideology that promotes practical politics without moral ideologies; significance: becomes the basis for modern politics and emphasizes the importance of power and national interest over ethical considerations.
Reign of Terror
period of French Revolution characterized by remorseless repression of all anti-revolutionary thought or protest, punished by guillotine; significance: used as tool to preserve radical change and eliminate perceived enemies of the revolution.
self-determination
self rule; significance: US self-determination through the American Revolution inspires similar desire among other colonies and multi-ethnic empires.
Three Estates
three main classes of France; significance: 3rd estate larger than 1st and 2nd states combined and played a crucial role in the French Revolution by demanding more representation and rights.
