Chapter 17: The Emergence of Industrial Society in the West, 1750-1900 - Review Terms

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that focused on using reason, individual rights, and questioning traditional authority. Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Locke criticized absolute monarchies and religious power, and they supported ideas like democracy and personal freedoms.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A philosopher who thought that the "general will," or the will of the people, should be represented by a government. His beliefs on social contracts and democracy had an enormous influence on future revolutions.

Voltaire

A writer from France who fought against social injustice, the monarchy, and the church. As a key figure of the Enlightenment, he pushed for individual rights, religious tolerance, and freedom of speech.

Aristocratic Privilege

The special rights and advantages that the nobility had, like control over important political offices and resources. As new classes gained power, these privileges were challenged and eventually led to calls for political reform.

Revolutionary Upheaval

It describes times when people tried to take down and transform established power structures because they were motivated by new ideas and growing societal concerns. Major political and social transformations were usually a result of these reforms. Modern, equitable systems were to take the place of old ones.

The American Revolution (1775-1783)

The American colonies fought for their independence from Britain during this conflict. Influenced by the concepts of the Enlightenment, it led to the creation of an entirely new government centered on democratic principles and freedom in the United States.

The French Revolution (1789-1799)

France saw significant transformation at this time, with the fall of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. It was brought on by social injustice, economic hardship, and discontent with the king's rule.

Nationalism

The concept that people who have a shared language, culture, or history should be part of one nation is known as nationalism. The ultimate goal of nationalists is for their nation to be powerful, unified, and free of foreign domination.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

American politicians wrote this document to declare their independence from British domination. According to Enlightenment principles, it stated that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and happiness.

Bastille

The Parisian jail was known as the Bastille. Attacks against it on July 14, 1789, marked the official start of the French Revolution. It began to symbolize the struggle against the king's unjust authority.

Reign of Terror

During the French Revolution in 1793–1794, a large number of people were executed because they were believed to be the revolution's enemies. Thousands were put to death, many of them by guillotine.

Maximilien Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre was a French Revolutionary leader. Despite his belief in democracy and equality, he employed violence to achieve his objectives. He led the Reign of Terror before being apprehended and put to death.

Guillotine

The French Revolution used this equipment to decapitate its adversaries. During the Reign of Terror in particular, it was used as an embodiment of the brutality of the revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader who took control of the country after the revolution. He became emperor and created a large empire in Europe, but he was later defeated and sent into exile.

Conservatism

Conservatism is the belief in keeping traditional ways of life, like monarchy, religion, and social order. Conservatives did not support the changes made by revolutions in France and other countries.

Liberalism

Individual freedoms such as the freedom of expression, of religion, and of the right to vote are all supported by liberalism. Fair rules, democracy, and less government control are what liberals desire.

Radicalism

Radicals want big, fast changes in society. During the French Revolution, radicals wanted to completely change the system and make everyone more equal.

Socialism

Socialism is the belief that the people or the government should have property, including factories. It aspires to make sure that everyone is treated equally and to eliminate the wealth gap.

Congress of Vienna (1815)

European leaders gathered in Vienna to restore peace and order following Napoleon's defeat. They attempted to avert more uprisings and reinstated former monarchies, but in some regions, their actions fueled petitions for independence.

Louis XVI

The King of France when the revolution started. His failure to solve France’s financial problems and his resistance to change led to his execution in 1793.

Greek Revolution (1821-1829)

The struggle for Greek freedom from the Ottoman Empire was known as the Greek Revolution. Motivated by concepts of liberty and patriotism, the Greek citizens came up and, with assistance from other European countries, established an independent Greek state.

Steam Engine

Originally designed to pump water from coal mines, the steam engine has become a vital tool for powering machinery. James Watt enhanced it by increasing its efficiency in the 1770s. His modifications facilitated the use of steam engines in factories, transforming sectors such as textiles.

Power Loom

The power loom, invented by Edmund Cartwright in 1785, automated the weaving process and was powered by steam engines. It helped increase the speed of textile production and made factory-based manufacturing more common.

Child Labor

Many children worked in factories during the Industrial Revolution because they could perform some duties more easily and were paid less than adults. Because it was unjust and dangerous, child labor had grown to be a significant social issue by the middle of the 1800s.

Steam Locomotive

The steam locomotive, invented by George Stephenson in the 1820s, changed transportation by making it faster and cheaper to move goods and people. Trains powered by steam helped industries grow because they could transport raw materials and finished goods more quickly over long distances.

Second Industrial Revolution

After 1850, there was a new wave of industry that brought forth major developments in steel, electricity, chemicals, and machinery that accelerated work and strengthened economies.

Bessemer Process

A method that blew air into molten iron to eliminate impurities, speeding up and lowering the cost of steel manufacture. It made it possible to make more durable steel, which helped in the construction of buildings, bridges, and railroads.

Mass Production

Mass production is the process of making large amounts of goods quickly using machines and specialized labor. It helped lower the cost of goods, so more people could afford things like clothes, tools, and household items. It also changed the way workers did their jobs, making tasks more repetitive but faster.

Assembly Line System

This system divided work into small steps, with each worker doing just one part of the job as the product moved down a line. It increased speed and efficiency in factories, especially in industries like car manufacturing. The system became famous later with Henry Ford's automobile factories.

White Collar Workers

These were people who worked in offices rather than factories, such as clerks, managers, and secretaries. Their jobs usually involved paperwork or customer service, and they became more common as businesses and cities grew. Many came from the middle class and were seen as more "respectable" than factory laborers.

Trade Unions

Groups of workers who joined together to demand better treatment from employers. They organized strikes and negotiated for fair pay, safer work, and more rights. Trade unions became stronger and more common in this period.

Corporations

During the Second Industrial Revolution, corporations became more important in business. These were large companies whose stock was bought by a large number of investors. In the event that the company lost money, investors would only lose the price they paid for the shares. Large sums of money were easier to raise thanks to businesses, which helped industries grow quickly.

Revisionism

Revisionism was a belief among some socialists. Instead of using violence or revolution to create change, they believed people could improve society through peaceful methods like voting, making new laws, and working within the system.

Feminism

The idea that women deserve to have the same rights as men is known as feminism. Feminists fought for the ability to vote, education, and employment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They advocated for equal opportunities for women in society.

Otto von Bismarck

Prussia's prime minister who united Germany by means of war, diplomacy, and nationalism. This clever and strong leader used both conservative and liberal ideas to achieve his goals. In 1871, the German Empire was established under his leadership.

Social Insurance

Social insurance programs were introduced in Germany in the 1880s. Workers who were ill, were hurt in an accident, or grew too elderly to work were assisted by these initiatives. Similar initiatives were eventually adopted by other nations to aid in the protection of their citizens.

Mass Leisure Culture

Mass leisure culture developed in the late 1800s when more people had free time due to shorter workdays and better wages. People started enjoying activities like theater, sports, reading newspapers, and going on vacations. These activities became a regular part of everyday life and showed a major change in how people spent their free time.

Bicycle fad

An early major consumer fad in modern history was the 1880s bicycle craze. Bicycles became a symbol of fun and freedom, especially for ladies, and people came to purchase them. It also had an impact on how young couples dated and how individuals dressed.

Team Sports

Team sports like soccer, baseball, and American football became popular in both schools and communities. These sports taught discipline, teamwork, and were often seen as preparation for working life or even the military. They were also fun to watch, helping to bring people together as fans.

Germ Theory

Germ theory is the idea that tiny living organisms, or germs, cause many diseases. This idea changed how people thought about illness and led to better hygiene and medical care. Even though treatments were still limited, it was a big step forward in science and public health.

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was a British scientist who changed how people understood nature. He said that species, including humans, evolved over time through natural selection. His ideas challenged traditional religious views and started major debates about science and faith.

Social Darwinism

Social Darwinism took Darwin’s ideas and used them in the wrong way to justify unfair treatment of people. It claimed that stronger races or nations were naturally better and deserved to dominate others. This idea was used to support racism, imperialism, and social inequality.

Settler Societies

Large numbers of Europeans often forced out native inhabitants when they relocated to new areas, creating settlers' societies. These cultures established new settlements that adopted European laws, traditions, and lifestyles. The governments and cultures of these regions gradually resembled those of Europe.

Repeating Rifle & Machine Gun

The repeating rifle and machine gun were new weapons that gave Western armies a huge advantage in battles. These weapons could fire many rounds without reloading, making them far more powerful than older guns. This allowed European forces to defeat larger groups of non-Western armies during colonial wars.

Aborigines

Australia's indigenous population, known as the Aborigines, had been residing on the continent for numerous years prior to European colonization. The entrance of Europeans had a significant impact on their land and civilizations. The colonizing process resulted in the displacement or death of many Aborigines.

Maori People

Strong communities and a rich heritage are characteristics of the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. Despite their opposition to British domination during the 19th century, they were eventually included into the colonial administration. New Zealand's identity was greatly influenced by the Maori.

Triple Alliance

The Triple Alliance was a military pact that included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The alliance was intended to assist in defending these countries from France and other enemies.

Triple Entente

In response to the Triple Alliance, Britain, France, and Russia created the Triple Entente in 1907. The Entente was not a formal alliance at first, but it united these countries against the growing threat of Germany. Over time, it became the main coalition of countries fighting against Germany in World War I.