Modern World History Semester 1 Exam Review 2024-2025

Adam Smith

Believed the government should not interfere with the economy (laissez-faire)

John Locke

English philosopher who stated that people are rational and can govern themselves; believed natural rights should be protected by the government

Divine Right of Kings

According to this theory, monarchs are given their authority by God

Natural Rights

Life, Liberty, and property; should be protected by the government

Geocentric Model

View that the Earth was the center of the universe

Heliocentric Model

Assumption that the Earth moved around the Sun, devised by Copernicus… disputing the Church’s teachings about the universe

Montesquieu

Called for separation of powers (branches) and checks and balances within the government

Scientific Revolution

Greatly influenced the Enlightenment, with its emphasis on logic, human reason, observation and experimentation

Thomas Hobbes

He believed in a social contract where people surrendered their rights to a ruler; he did not trust the people to govern themselves

American Revolution

Enlightenment ideas helped cause this event

Natural Laws

Scientists and Enlightened thinkers both examined ___ that govern the universe

The Enlightenment

Philosophers of this period promoted the use of reason for rational and logical thinking

Constitutional Monarchy

Form of government in which the ruler, often hereditary, has their power limited by a constitution

Absolute Monarchy

Form of government in which one ruler, often hereditary, has supreme authority and no restrictions on his/her power

Enlightened Absolutism

Form of government in which a monarch follows Enlightened principles while maintaining their royal power

Monroe Doctrine

Signed in 1823; stated that European interference in Latin America is a threat to the United States

Haiti

This was the first independent state in Latin America

Simon Bolivar

Venezuelan creole who hoped to create the republic of Gran Colombia in South America

Montesquieu

The US Constitution, namely the three branches, is based on the ideas of this philosophe

Republic

After abolishing the monarchy, the first step of the French National Convention was to establish France as this in 1792

Third Estate

Social class which included the bourgeoisie as well as professionals, artisans, and peasants

Bastille

A Paris prison that housed weapons used in the revolution; the attack on the prison marked the beginning of the revolution

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by members of France’s National Assembly in 1789 in which they vow to meet until they had drawn up a new constitution

Estates-General

An assembly of representatives from all three social classes

National Assembly

A French congress established by representatives of the Third Estate

Napoleon Bonaparte

Military leader who overthrew the Directory and crowned himself leader of France

Declaration of Rights of Man

Charter of basic liberties that was based on the US Constitution; supported/protected rights of the people

Guillotine

Used by the revolutionaries to execute opponents; believed to be a humane form of execution

Committee of Public Safety

This group was given broad powers to defend France from threats (internal and external) during the Reign of Terror

De-Christianization

In its attempts to create a new order that reflected its belief in reason, the National Convention pursued this policy (which included a new calendar, changing street names, etc.)

Enlightenment

Belief in these kind of ideas, such as the influence of nature and human progress, was partly a cause of the French Revolution

Financial crisis (national debt)

The French monarchy’s greatest problem, prior to the onset of the French Revolution

Bread

High prices for this commodity produced many riots throughout the winter and spring of 1789

First Estate

Social class made up of the clergy

Second Estate

Social class made up of the nobility

Civil Code, or Napoleonic Code

The most important of the seven legal codes established by Napoleon was the:

The Continental System

Napoleon’s plan to weaken the British economy:

Winter

The geographic condition that most contributed to the defeat of Napoleon’s troops during the invasion of Russia:

Nationalism

Identity of people based on a common language, religion, and traditions

Napoleon’s Grand Empire

Consisted of the French Empire, the dependent states, and the allied states:

Napoleon’s siblings/ relatives

They presided over conquered parts of Napoleon’s empire:

Codification of Law

Napoleon’s achievement that most influences governments today:

British resistance and nationalism

These are two main causes of Napoleon’s downfall:

Ability

Promotion within Napoleon’s new bureaucracy was based upon ____, not rank or birth

Capitalism

Free-market economy ruled by supply and demand and a laissez faire philosophy

Laissez-faire

A policy that let owners of industry set working conditions without government interference

Labor Unions

Created to combat poor wages, hours, and working conditions

Industrial Revolution

Mass production of machine-made goods that began in Great Britain during the 18th century

Union

Voluntary association of workers seeking labor reforms (ex. better hours, wages, conditions), often used strikes to get demands from owners

Great Britain

Where the Industrial Revolution began in the 1780s

Enclosure Movement

Wealthy landowners buy up and fence off huge pieces of land

Factory Act of 1833

Due to findings from the Sadler committee, this was passed to protect children and limit child labor

Natural Resources

An abundance of ___, such as rivers, coal, and iron, were essential to the manufacturing process in Great Britain

Factories

Required laborers to work in shifts for long hours, completing repetitive tasks, in a strict and unsafe environment

Textile Production

First area to undergo major industrialization

Effects of industrialization

In the 19th century, both Europe and the US experienced massive growth in population, which led to an increase in rural to urban migration

Women and children

The working conditions during the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the US, was especially difficult for these two groups of workers becasue they earned the lowest wages and worked in unsafe factories

Factors that motivated Europeans to become imperialistic in Africa and Asia

1. economic gain (raw materials and new markets), 2. national prestige (heated rivalries), 3. Social darwinisn (racism), 4. religion (white man’s burden)

Imperialism

One nation overtakes a weaker country economically, politically or militarily

Industrial Revolution

Created demand for raw materials and new markets

Philippines

US possession after the Spanish-American War; left to a 3 year bloody guerrilla war, but would not get independence from US until 1946

Indirect Rule

Allowed local rulers to keep their authority and status in colonial setting; cheaper due to less officials, but in reality the mother country made all major decisions

Direct rule

Replace local elites with Western officials from the mother country

Suez Canal

Great Britain’s “Lifeline to India“, Great Britain overtook North Africa (Egypt and Sudan) to have access to a faster shipping route (Connected Mediterranean and Red Sea)

Italy

Attempted to overtake Ethiopia, but failed… only European state defeated by Africans (settled for Libya)

Congo Free State

King Leopold the second of Belgium overtook this region to extract rubber and ivory… resulted in millions of African deaths

Liberia and Ethiopia

Only free African state by 1914

Sepoys

Indian soldiers hired by British

Salt March

Tax triggered violence and later inspired a civil disobedience movement in India vs. the British

Sepoy Mutiny

In 1857, revolt between British and Indians; immediate cause was over greased rifle cartridges; British ultimately crushed the rebellion despite being outnumbered; Indians unorganized due to Hindu-Muslim rivalry; Indians refer to it as their “First War of Independence“; After, Great Britain took direct control

“Jewel in the Crown“

How Great Britain, under Queen Victoria, felt about India after taking direct control in 1876; India was Great Britain’s most valuable colony

Viceroy

Governor who ruled as a representative of the monarch

Mohandas Gandhi

Young Hindu from South Africa, because first to practice nonviolent resistance/civil disobedience to help India gain independence (1947)

“White Man’s Burden“

Idea that Europeans had a moral responsibility to civilize native peoples

Paternalism

European policy that reflected the belief that Africa should be watched over and take care of; “father-like“

“Spheres of Influence“

Partition (division) of areas in China where European countries tried to take control economically or politically

Boxer Rebellion

Attempt by the Chinese to get rid of foreigners, “white devils,“ in their country

Assimilation

European policy of forcing colonies to adopt European languages and culture