World History Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key topics from World History lecture notes.

What is an absolute monarchy?

A form of government where a monarch holds supreme authority and is not restricted by laws or a constitution.

What is the divine right of kings?

The belief that monarchs are appointed by and answerable only to God.

According to Thomas Hobbes, what is human nature?

Humans are naturally selfish and need a strong central authority to maintain order.

According to Locke, what are natural rights?

Life, liberty, and property.

What is meant by the separation of powers?

Dividing government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

What was the Enlightenment?

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and skepticism of traditional authority.

What is the social contract theory?

People give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection of their remaining rights.

What were the primary causes of the American Revolution?

Taxation without representation, British abuses, and Enlightenment ideas.

List the key battles of the American Revolution.

Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and Yorktown.

What were the main causes of the French Revolution?

Economic crisis, social inequality, Enlightenment ideas, and weak leadership.

Who made up the Three Estates in pre-revolutionary France?

Clergy, nobility, and commoners.

What did the Declaration of Rights of Man accomplish?

Outlined individual rights and equality before the law.

What was the significance of the Storming of the Bastille?

Symbolized the end of the king's absolute power and the beginning of the French Revolution

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

Ended WWI, harsh terms for Germany

Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?

Military leader who became emperor of France.

What led to Napoleon's downfall?

Failed invasion of Russia and defeat at Waterloo.

What were the causes of the Haitian Revolution?

Slave oppression, Enlightenment ideas, and the French Revolution.

What were the key outcomes of the Haitian Revolution?

First successful slave revolt, Haiti gained independence.

What were the main causes of the Latin American Revolutions?

Colonial rule, Enlightenment ideas, and Napoleons wars.

Who was Simon Bolivar?

Led independence movements in South America.

What were the main causes of the Industrial Revolution?

Resources, inventions, and economic growth.

What were the leading industries during the Industrial Revolution?

Textiles, iron, and coal.

What is the factory system?

Mass production using machines in large buildings.

What is urbanization?

Movement of people to cities.

What was the environmental impact of the Industrial Revolution?

Pollution and deforestation increased.

What is capitalism?

Economic system with private ownership.

What is laissez-faire economics?

Minimal government interference in business.

What is socialism?

Government owns and controls key industries.

What is communism?

Classless society with shared ownership.

What are labor unions?

Organizations that fought for workers’ rights.

What is nationalism?

Intense pride in one's nation or culture.

What is realpolitik?

Politics based on practical objectives, not ideology.

Who was the first emperor of unified Germany?

Kaiser Wilhelm I

What is imperialism?

Domination of one country by another.

What were the economic motives for imperialism?

Access to resources and new markets.

What were the political motives for imperialism?

National pride, military bases, competition.

What is Social Darwinism?

Belief that stronger nations should dominate weaker ones.

What was the Berlin Conference?

European powers divided Africa without African input.

What was the impact of imperialism on Africa?

Loss of independence, exploitation, and cultural disruption.

What was the cause of the Sepoy Rebellion?

Violation of religious beliefs by British policies.

What is a sphere of influence?

Area where a foreign nation controls trade/investment.

What were the Opium Wars?

Conflicts between Britain and China over opium trade.

What was the Meiji Restoration?

Period of rapid modernization in Japan.

What were the MAIN causes of WWI?

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.

What was the immediate cause of WWI?

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Who were the members of the Triple Alliance?

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

Who were the members of the Triple Entente?

France, Russia, and Britain.

What was trench warfare?

Static, deadly warfare with trenches.

What is meant by total war?

Nation mobilizes all resources for war.

What was the Zimmerman Telegram?

German proposal to Mexico to join war against US.

Who was Tsar Nicholas II?

Last emperor of Russia, overthrown in 1917.

What did Lenin promise the Russian people?

Peace, land, and bread.

What is totalitarianism?

Government controls all aspects of life.

What is fascism?

Nationalist, authoritarian ideology.

What were Stalin's purges?

Campaigns of terror against perceived enemies.

What were the Nuremberg Laws?

Laws that stripped Jews of citizenship.

What is appeasement?

Giving in to Hitler to avoid war.

What is blitzkrieg?

Lightning war using fast, powerful attacks.

What was the Holocaust?

Genocide of 6 million Jews.

What is globalization?

Increased global connectivity and trade.

What is terrorism?

Violence for political goals.

What are human rights?

Basic freedoms everyone should have.

How can the Holocaust be described as genocide?

Systematic extermination based on ethnicity.