APWH period 3

Social contract

Philosophical concept that refers to an implicit agreement among individuals to form a society and government that will protect their rights and freedoms. Thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau each developed different versions of this idea, influencing modern democratic thought.

Declaration of the rights of man and citizen

Adopted in 1789 during the French Revolution, this foundational document states the basic rights and freedoms of individuals and the principles of national sovereignty. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas, it declared liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression as fundamental rights.

Zionisim

Nationalist and political movement that emerged in the late 19th century with the goal of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. It arose in response to widespread antisemitism and sought to create a safe and sovereign state for Jewish people, eventually leading to the founding of Israel in 1948.

American revolution

Causes:

• British taxes and control without colonial representation (“No taxation without representation”)

• Enlightenment ideas about liberty and government

• Desire for independence and economic freedom

Impacts:

• U.S. became an independent nation

• Inspired other revolutions (especially French and Latin American)

• Spread Enlightenment ideas of democracy and rights

French Revolution

Causes:

• Social inequality (nobles/clergy vs. common people)

• Economic crisis (debt, famine, high taxes)

• Enlightenment ideas and inspiration from the American Revolution

Impacts:

• End of monarchy; rise of republic

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

• Spread of revolutionary ideas across Europe

• Rise of Napoleon

Haitian revolution

Causes:

• Harsh slavery and racial inequality

• Inspired by French Revolution and Enlightenment ideals

• Desire for freedom by enslaved Africans

Impacts:

• Haiti became the first free Black republic and abolished slavery

• Weakened European colonial control

• Inspired future slave rebellions and independence movements

Latin american revolutions

Causes:

• Spanish and Portuguese control and exploitation

• Social inequality between Europeans and Creoles

• Influence from Enlightenment, American and French Revolutions

• Napoleon’s invasion of Spain weakened colonial authority

Impacts:

• Many countries in Latin America gained independence

• Decline of European empires in the Americas

• New nations formed, though often unstable politically

Industrial revolution spread

• Started in great Britain

• spread to western Europe then to japan and US

Some countries embraced industrialization

1. Great Britain:

   • Why: Access to coal and iron, colonial markets, strong banking system, and political stability.

   • How: Through innovations like the steam engine, textile machinery, and improved transportation (railroads, canals).

   • Effect: Became the global industrial leader, with urbanization and a powerful working class.

2. Germany:

   • Why: Rich in coal and iron, and unified in 1871 under strong leadership (Bismarck).

   • How: State investment in infrastructure and education; promoted science and technology.

   • Effect: Rapid industrial growth, military buildup, and eventual rivalry with Britain.

3. United States:

   • Why: Vast natural resources, large labor force (including immigrants), and investment capital.

   • How: Emphasized railroads, steel, and mass production (e.g., assembly line).

   • Effect: Emerged as a major industrial and global power by the late 19th century.

Countries that did not embrace industrialization

1. Ottoman Empire:

   • Why: Internal corruption, resistance from elites, lack of infrastructure, and reliance on outdated systems.

   • Consequence: Became known as the "sick man of Europe"; fell behind economically and militarily.

2. China (Qing Dynasty):

   • Why: Ethnocentrism, belief in self-sufficiency, resistance to Western ideas, and internal instability (e.g., Taiping Rebellion).

   • Consequence: Suffered defeats in the Opium Wars; forced into unequal treaties and spheres of influence.

3. India:

   • Why: Colonized by Britain; its industries (especially textiles) were deliberately suppressed to serve British economic interests.

   • Consequence: Became a supplier of raw materials and a market for British goods.

Internal tensions that link to industrialization

1. Urbanization and Labor Issues:

   • Overcrowded cities, poor sanitation, and harsh factory conditions led to social unrest (e.g., strikes, formation of labor unions).

   • In Britain, laws like the Factory Acts emerged in response to child labor and worker exploitation.

2. Class Conflict:

   • Rise of the working class (proletariat) led to tensions with the bourgeoisie (middle/upper classes).

   • Marxist ideas gained traction as people sought alternatives to capitalist exploitation.

3. Nationalism and Reform:

   • In industrializing empires like Russia, attempts at reform (e.g., emancipation of serfs in 1861) led to demands for more political change.

   • In Germany and Italy, industrialization fueled unification movements and strengthened nationalism.

Economic imperialism

Great Britain in India, forcing it to supply raw goods (cotton) and buy British goods

Tanzimant reforms

• Definition: A series of modernization and centralization reforms in the Ottoman Empire aimed at strengthening the state in response to internal decline and European pressure.

• Key Features: Legal equality for all male citizens, new schools, updated military, and infrastructure improvements.

• Goal: To prevent the empire from collapsing and to compete with industrialized Europe.

Capitalisim

An economic system based on private ownership, profit motive, free markets, and minimal government interference.

Jamaica letter (Simon bolivar)

A letter written by Simón Bolívar in 1815, expressing his thoughts on the necessity of independence for Latin America and his vision for a united continent, highlighting the struggles against colonialism and the importance of democracy.

Anti-imperial resistance

• Movements or actions taken by colonized people to resist foreign domination and control.

• Examples:

  • Sepoy Rebellion (India, 1857)

  • Zulu resistance (Southern Africa)

  • Boxer Rebellion (China, 1899–1901)

Sphere of influence

• A region where a foreign power has significant control or influence over trade, investment, and sometimes political decisions—without formal colonization.

• Example: After the Opium Wars, parts of China (like Shanghai and Hong Kong) were divided into spheres of influence controlled by Britain, France, Germany, and others.

Hegemony

• Definition: Dominance of one state or group over others, either through direct control or indirect influence (economic, cultural, or political).

• Example: Britain’s global naval and economic power in the 19th century gave it hegemony over international trade and colonial policies.

Abolition

end slavery and slave trade, needed money to purchase goods

Social Darwinism

A distorted application of Darwin’s ideas of “survival of the fittest” to justify racism, imperialism, and inequality.

Womens suffrage

womens right to vote

Proletariart

The working class, especially those who work in industrial jobs and do not own the means of production.

Emancipation

• Definition: The act of being freed from legal, social, or political restrictions.

• Example: The Emancipation of the serfs in Russia (1861); Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S. (1863) freed enslaved people in Confederate states.

Bourgeois

• Definition: The middle and upper classes who own property, businesses, and factories.

• Marxist Theory: They are the capitalist class that profits from the labor of the proletariat.

Suez canal

A man-made waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, allowing ships to travel between Europe and Asia without going around Africa.

Manchus

Northeast Asian peoples who defeated the Ming Dynasty and founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644, which was the last of China's imperial dynasties.

Mughal empire

Muslim state (1526-1857) exercising dominion over most of India in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; often had difficulties managing such a large, diverse empire

Ottoman empire

Islamic state of Turkic speaking peoples lasting from 1453-1922; conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1453; based at Istanbul (formerly Constantinople)

Safavids

A Shi'ite Muslim dynasty that ruled in Persia (Iran and parts of Iraq) from the 16th-18th centuries

Songhai

an Islamic West African empire that conquered Mali and controlled trade from the into the 16th century;

Zamindars

Mughal empire's taxation system where decentralized lords collected tribute/taxes for the emperor

Taj mahal

beautiful mausoleum (tomb) at Agra (India) built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (completed in 1649) in memory of his favorite wife; illustrates syncretic blend between Indian and Arabic architectural styles

Protestant reformation

religious movement begun by German monk Martin Luther who began to question the practices of the Catholic Church beginning in 1519; split the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the 'protesters' forming several new Christian denominations: Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican Churches (among many others)

Indulgence

a pardon given by the Roman Catholic Church in return for repentance for sins and payment; "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins"

Inquisition

Roman Catholic tribunal for investigating and prosecuting charges of heresy, a reaction to the Protestant Reformation

Thirty years war

The war stemmed from religious tensions after the Protestant Reformation, with the Holy Roman Empire (a collection of German states) divided between Catholic and Protestant ruler

John calvin

1509-1564 thought that believers were predestined to salvation

sikhisim

monotheistic religion, 1 god

Jizya

tax paid by Christians and Jews (and sometimes other faiths) who lived in Muslim communities to allow them to continue to practice their own religion;

Millet system

with each millet (nation) enjoying autonomous self-government under its religious leaders; a unique way to manage a diverse empire