World History - Mid-Terms

Absolute Monarchy

Absolute monarchy is a system of government where the ultimate authority to run the state is in the hands of a king, dictator, or monarch who rules by their own right, such as by divine right

Divine Right

the idea that a king or queen's right to rule comes directly from God

Marie Antionette, King Louis XVI

Were executed due to anger over wealth disparity

The Three Estates

• The Clergy (the church)

• The Nobility

• The Peasants (including the Bourgeoisie)

Haitian Revolution

Enslaved Africans in the French colony of Saint-Domingue overthrew their masters, abolished slavery, and established the independent nation of Haiti

Enlightenment

A period of discovery and learning that flourished among Europeans and Americans from about 1680–1820

Montesquieu

Enlightenment era philosopher, believed in the separation of powers (Inspired much of the US Constitution)

Rousseau + Social Contracts

Enlightenment era philosopher, believed you should surrender individual rights to the government

Industrial Revolution

A period from 1750 to 1850 where drastic advancements in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times.

Urbanization

The transformation of unoccupied or sparsely occupied land into densely occupied cities

Transportation used in the Industrial Revolution

Mostly trains

Transportation’s impact on the growth of cities

Dramatically fueled city growth by enabling faster, cheaper movement of raw materials (coal, iron) to factories and goods to wider markets, drawing populations seeking work

Factory working conditions in the Industrial Revolution

Low wages, long hours, dangerous environment, child exploitation

Imperialism

Extending power by taking over other territories and/or by extending political and economic control outward over other areas. Often a strategy to display power or gain economic prowess.

Market and Materials

Industrial powers sought colonies for cheap raw materials (cotton, rubber, oil, minerals) and captive markets for their manufactured goods

White Man’s Burden

Inspired by a poem, it was an ideology that justified imperialism by saying it was an obligation to ‘civilize’ the people native to the territories they were taking over

Social Darwinism

Used to rationalize social and economic hierarchies, believing the wealthy and powerful are inherently superior, and helping the ‘inferior’ hinders natural progress.

Chinese Imperialism

The West causing:

Unequal treaties (economic exploitation)

Opium Wars (social instability due to Opium addiction)

Spheres of influence, disrupting local industries, extraterritoriality

Ultimately fueling anti-imperialist nationalism and rebellion

Extraterritoriality

A person visiting a country only has to follow the laws of their native country and not the host country

Opium War

Britain illegally selling Opium to the Chinese, making a big profit, and refusing to stop despite it causing social instability