APWH Unit 5 & 6

Enlightenment

Intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, liberty, and progress; challenged traditional authority.

Social Contract

The idea that governments derive power from the consent of the governed; popularized by Rousseau and Locke.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride and loyalty to one’s nation or culture; often led to independence movements.

American Revolution

Colonial revolt against British rule (1775–1783); inspired by Enlightenment ideals and resulted in U.S. independence.

French Revolution

A radical social and political upheaval in France (1789–1799) challenging monarchy and aristocracy; led to rise of Napoleon.

Haitian Revolution

The only successful slave revolt in history; led to the independence of Haiti from France in 1804.

Latin American Revolutions

Series of uprisings in the early 19th century against Spanish and Portuguese colonial rule, influenced by Enlightenment ideas.

Industrial Revolution

A period of major industrialization (c. 1750–1900) that began in Britain and spread globally, transforming economies and societies.

Capitalism

Economic system based on private ownership and free markets; supported by Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations.

Communism

Radical political and economic ideology by Karl Marx advocating for classless society and abolition of private property.

Feminism

Movement advocating for women’s rights and gender equality, emerging alongside other Enlightenment-inspired reforms.

Abolitionism

Movement to end the transatlantic slave trade and slavery; achieved in most countries by the late 1800s.

Factory System

Method of manufacturing using machinery and division of labor; central to the Industrial Revolution.

Imperialism

The domination of one country by another through political, economic, or military means, especially by industrial powers.

Social Darwinism

A racist ideology applying “survival of the fittest” to human societies; used to justify imperialism and inequality.

White Man’s Burden

A justification for imperialism claiming it was Europeans’ duty to civilize non-Western peoples.

Scramble for Africa

Rapid European colonization of Africa during the late 19th century, formalized at the Berlin Conference (1884–85).

Berlin Conference

A meeting of European powers to divide Africa peacefully among themselves, with no African representation.

Sepoy Rebellion

Indian uprising against British rule in 1857, sparked by cultural/religious tensions; led to direct British control of India.

Opium Wars

Conflicts between Britain and China over the opium trade; resulted in unequal treaties favoring Western powers.

Meiji Restoration

The modernization and industrialization of Japan starting in 1868, ending feudalism and adopting Western practices.

Cash Crop Economy

Economic system based on growing crops for export rather than local food needs; common in colonies.

Settler Colonies

Colonies where European settlers permanently lived and dominated indigenous populations (e.g., South Africa, Australia).

Economic Imperialism

When industrialized nations used economic power to dominate less-developed countries (e.g., Britain in India).

Indentured Labor

System where people worked for a set time (usually 5–7 years) in exchange for passage; replaced slavery in many areas.