AP World History Unit 6 Vocab Terms

Social Darwinism

The application of ideas about evolution and "survival of the fittest" to human societies—particularly as a justification for imperialist expansion.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country.

Imperialism

A policy in which a strong nation seeks to dominate other countries politically, socially, and economically.

Spheres of Influence

An area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges.

Corvée Laborers

Unpaid forced laborers, usually from lower classes, who were required to work on public projects by the government.

Settler Colonies

Colonies in which the colonizing people settled in large numbers, often displacing native populations.

Berlin Conference

A meeting from 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed on rules for the colonization of Africa.

Penal Colony

A colony to which convicts are sent as an alternative to prison.

Monroe Doctrine

An American foreign policy opposing interference in the Western Hemisphere from outside powers.

Guano

The excrement of seabirds and bats, used as a high-quality fertilizer due to its high nitrogen and phosphate content.

Sepoy Mutiny/Indian Rebellion of 1857

A major uprising against British rule in India, sparked by Indian soldiers (sepoys) who opposed British policies, including the use of rifle cartridges rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat.

Ghost Dance

A religious movement among Native American tribes in the late 19th century that sought to bring back ancestors and drive out European settlers.

Xhosa Cattle-Killing Movement

A millenarian movement in the 1850s in which the Xhosa people of South Africa killed their own cattle and destroyed crops in the belief that this would drive out European settlers and restore their land.

Economic Imperialism

A situation in which foreign businesses and governments exert economic control over a country, often exploiting its resources and labor.

Treaty of Nanking

The treaty that ended the First Opium War in 1842, forcing China to cede Hong Kong to Britain and open several ports to British trade.

Export Economies

Economies that rely heavily on the export of raw materials or cash crops to sustain their economy, often controlled by foreign powers.

Banana Republics

Small countries, especially in Latin America, that were economically dependent on a single export crop (such as bananas) and heavily influenced by foreign businesses and governments.

Convict Labor

The use of prison labor for public works or private enterprise, often under exploitative conditions.

Ethnic Enclaves

Communities of immigrants who settle in a particular area, maintaining their cultural traditions and often forming distinct neighborhoods.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A U.S. law passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment.