Key Concepts in Revolutions, Enlightenment, and Political Systems

Revolution

A sudden, significant change in political power or organizational structures, often involving the overthrow of a government.

French Revolution

A period of radical social and political upheaval in France (1789-1799) that ended the monarchy and led to the rise of democracy.

Haitian Revolution

A successful slave revolt (1791-1804) in the French colony of Saint-Domingue that resulted in the establishment of Haiti as the first black republic.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority.

Seneca Falls Convention

The first women's rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, advocating for women's suffrage and equality.

Absolute Rule

A form of government where a monarch has complete control over the government and people without legal limitations.

Baron de Montesquieu

A French Enlightenment thinker known for his theory of separation of powers in government.

Voltaire

A French philosopher famous for his wit and advocacy of freedom of speech and religion.

John Locke

An English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

Jacques Rousseau

A philosopher who believed in the social contract and that government should reflect the general will of the people.

Thomas Hobbes

A philosopher who believed that humans need a strong central authority to avoid chaos and violence.

Napoleon

A French military leader who rose to power during the French Revolution and became emperor of France.

Peter the Great

A Russian czar who modernized Russia by adopting Western European technology and culture.

Free Market Economy

An economic system where prices and production are determined by unrestricted competition between private businesses.

Constitutional Monarchy

A form of government in which a monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or laws.

Absolute Monarchy

A monarchy where the ruler has unlimited power and authority over the government and its people.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people, typically through elected representatives.

Dynasty

A series of rulers from the same family or lineage who maintain power over generations.

Autocracy

A system of government in which one person has absolute power.

Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid industrial growth and technological innovation beginning in the late 18th century.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and the free market to generate profit.

Nationalism

A strong sense of pride and loyalty to one's nation, often leading to the desire for independence or dominance.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring and controlling territories outside a nation's borders for economic or political benefit.

Geocentric Theory

The outdated belief that the Earth is the center of the universe and everything else revolves around it.

Heliocentric Theory

The astronomical model that places the Sun at the center of the solar system, with planets orbiting around it.

Shogun

A military leader in feudal Japan who held actual political power while the emperor was a figurehead.

Samurai

A member of the warrior class in feudal Japan, known for their code of honor and skill in combat.