World History Semester 1 Final Study Guide

Scientific Revolution

A period of significant advancements in scientific thought and experimentation that transformed views of society and nature.

Divine right theory

The doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.

the Edict of Nantes

A 1598 decree that granted religious freedom to the Huguenots in France.

French Revolution

A period of radical social and political change in France from 1789 to 1799.

French - Indian War

A conflict between Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763, part of the global Seven Years' War.

Governor / General. Gage

The British military officer who served as the Governor of Massachusetts during the early stages of the American Revolution.

Absolutism

A political system in which a single ruler holds absolute power over the government and its people.

Louis XIV (14th)

The King of France from 1643 to 1715, known for his absolute monarchy and the phrase 'L'état, c'est moi' (I am the state).

Levee

A ceremonial rising of the king in France, often involving elaborate rituals.

Estates General

The legislative assembly in France that represented the three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

Versailles

The royal palace of Louis XIV, symbolizing the absolute monarchy and the centralization of power in France.

Enlightenment

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

balance of power

A political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to dominate the others.

Enlightened Absolutism

A form of absolute monarchy in which rulers were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment.

social contract

A theory that individuals consent to form a government to protect their rights and maintain social order.

natural rights

Rights that individuals are born with, including life, liberty, and property.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party.

7 Years War

A global conflict fought between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time.

Sugar Act

A British law passed in 1764 that imposed a tax on sugar and molasses imported into the colonies.

Stamp Act

A 1765 British law that required colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper.

Boston Massacre

A deadly confrontation in 1770 between British soldiers and a crowd of colonists, resulting in the death of five colonists.

Lexington / Concord

The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War in April 1775.

Samuel Adams / John Hancock

Prominent leaders in the American Revolution, known for their roles in organizing resistance against British rule.

Declaration of Independence

The document adopted on July 4, 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies independent from British rule.

Haitian Fear

The anxiety among slaveholding societies about the potential for slave revolts, particularly following the Haitian Revolution.

seed drill

An agricultural invention that allowed for the efficient planting of seeds in rows at the proper depth.

enclosure

The process of consolidating small landholdings into larger farms, leading to increased agricultural efficiency.

crop rotation

The practice of alternating the crops grown on a particular piece of land to improve soil fertility.

Methodism

A movement within Christianity emphasizing personal faith, social justice, and community service.

new class structure

The emerging social hierarchy resulting from the Industrial Revolution, characterized by distinct social classes.

urbanization

The process of population movement from rural areas to cities, often associated with industrial growth.

middle class

A social class between the upper and working classes, typically characterized by professional and business occupations.

tenements

Overcrowded and often substandard housing units typically occupied by low-income families in urban areas.

labor unions

Organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, working conditions, and rights.

Charles Darwin

The naturalist known for his theory of evolution and the concept of natural selection.

women factory workers

Women employed in factories, often facing long hours and poor working conditions during the Industrial Revolution.

child labor

The employment of children in various industries, often in harsh and exploitative conditions.

Factory Act

Legislation aimed at improving conditions for workers in factories, particularly children.

social mobility

The ability of individuals or families to move up or down the social hierarchy.

sea coal

A type of coal mined near the sea, used as a primary source of fuel during the Industrial Revolution.

piecework

A system of wage payment where workers are paid a fixed rate for each unit produced.

Doss House

A type of lodging house providing cheap accommodation for the working class.

working class

The social class consisting of individuals engaged in manual labor or low-wage jobs.

imperialism

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization or military force.

women's suffrage

The movement advocating for women's right to vote.

cult of domesticity

A prevailing value system in the 19th century that emphasized women's roles as homemakers and caregivers.

temperance movement

A social movement aimed at reducing or prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

social Darwinism

The application of Darwin's theories of evolution to social, political, and economic issues, often used to justify inequality.