AP Euro P2 - The Enlightenment + French Revolution Important Terms

Enlightenment

Advocating for the application of the scientific method to understand all life.

Skepticism

Educated people questioning religious truths and values.

Relation to Cultural Relativism.

Pierre Bayle

Argued religion as a personal matter, determining actions based on personal conscience, and for complete religious toleration.

Bernard De Fontanelle (Plurality of Worlds)

Placed science into literature to create more accessible understanding among literate elites.

Travel Literature

Illuminated the existence of other developed civilizations with different customs/cultures than Europe.

Led to Cultural Relativism.

Cultural Relativism

European intellectuals began evaluating civilizations with relevant cultural context.

Stimulated skepticism.

Charles Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws)

Study of effective levels of governments, stating that separation of power (constitutional monarchy) provides the most freedom and security in larger states.

Inspired founding fathers.

Voltaire

Praised English ways (e.g. freedom of press, religious toleration).

Criticized traditional religion.

Known for satirical works.

Denis Diderot

Encyclopedia / Classified Dictionary of Sciences, Arts, and Trades - a compilation of scientific truths about the world.

Against Christianity.

Material view of the world (mass of molecules).

Rosseau

The Social Contract - the idea of governing by the “general will” and power in the hands of the people.

Sexist.

Jacobins

More violent, radical revolutionary club; believed in a sovereign republic.

The Peace of Utrecht (1713)

Ended the War of the Spanish Succession, established a European balance of power, and prevented a unified French-Spanish monarchy.

Solidified Britain’s maritime supremacy, Asiento (slave trade monopoly), and ceded French territory in North America to Britain.

Mary Wollenstonecraft

Vindication of the Rights of Women - compared roles of women-men with roles of slave-master and arguing innate reason in all people including women; female equality.

Rationalism

Scientific laws could be applied to social and political situations.

Salons

Usually women-run social spaces for elightened discussions and sharing of ideas.

Adam Smith

Encouraged and argued for free trade.

Physiocrats

Laissez-faire economic ideas.

Deism

Belief of a clockmaker/hands-off god.

Pragmatic Sanction

Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI ensuring the Habsburg hereditary lands remained undivided and could be inherited by a daughter.

Commercial Revolution

Banking, capital accumulation, cheap labor.

Enclosure Movement

?

Triangular Trade

Plantations, slave labor, raw materials

Consumer Economy

?

Economic Liberalism

Individual economic freedom (primarily for wealthy people).

Cottage Industry

Concentrates capital money and leads to formation of organized labor / factories.

Peace of Westphalia

?

Nationalism

Focus on a nation as a community of shared culture, language, institutions, etc.

Meritocracy

Idea of social / hierarchical value based on usefulness and proficiency.

Political Consciousness

?

Napoleon

Seven Years War (1754-63)

War of Austrian Succession (1740-48)