Revolutions and Industrialization: 1750-1900 Overview

Scientific Revolution

A period in the late 1500s to 1600s characterized by a shift from religious authority to rational thinking and empirical methods.

Heliocentrism

The astronomical model proposing that the Sun is at the center of the universe, as pioneered by Nicolaus Copernicus.

Empiricism

A theory that states knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience, associated with Francis Bacon.

Social Contract

The philosophical idea, especially associated with John Locke, that individuals consent to form a government to protect their rights.

Separation of Powers

A political doctrine, advocated by Montesquieu, that divides government power into separate branches to prevent abuse.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution characterized by radical political repression and mass executions.

Abolition of Slavery

The movement to end slavery, which saw significant milestones in countries like France (1794) and the USA (1865).

Capitalism

An economic system marked by private ownership of production and the creation of goods for profit.

Laissez-faire

An economic policy of minimal government interference in the economy, advocated by Adam Smith.

Industrial Revolution

A period of major industrialization from the late 18th to the early 19th century transformed economies from agrarian to industrial.

Communism

A political ideology advocating for class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned.

Anarchism

A political philosophy that argues for the abolition of the state and all forms of hierarchical authority.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, significantly impacting revolutions.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, as discussed by Rousseau.

Trade Unions

Organizations formed by workers to protect their rights and interests, especially in terms of wages and working conditions.

Public Education

A system of schooling provided by the government for free to ensure education is accessible to all.

Haitian Revolution

The 1791-1804 revolution that led to the establishment of Haiti as the first independent black republic.

Steam Engine

A key invention by James Watt that significantly contributed to the Industrial Revolution by powering machinery.

Socialism

An economic system in which the means of production are owned and regulated by the community as a whole.

Middle Class

A social class made up of people between the upper and working classes, often characterized by professional jobs.

Meiji Restoration

The period starting in 1868 when Japan rapidly industrialized and modernized under Emperor Meiji.