APWH Unit 5

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement that applied rationalism and empiricist approaches to understanding the natural world and human relationships.

Rationalism

The belief that reason is the most reliable source of true knowledge.

Empiricism

The theory that knowledge comes from sensory experience, primarily through rigorous experimentation.

Social Contract

The theory that individuals in a society must construct their own government to protect their natural rights.

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights that every individual is born with, including life, liberty, and property.

Deism

The belief in a God who created the universe but does not intervene in its functioning.

Atheism

The complete rejection of religious belief and notion of divine beings.

Individualism

The concept that the most basic element of society is the individual, rather than collective groups.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Nationalism

A sense of commonality among a people based on shared language, religion, and social customs.

Abolition of Slavery

The movement to end the practice of slavery, heavily influenced by Enlightenment principles.

Peasant Revolts

Revolts instigated by the working class against oppressive systems, leading to the abolition of serfdom.

Feminist Movement

The movement advocating for women's rights in various aspects of life, including voting.

Mass Production

The process of producing goods in large quantities using machinery.

Factory System

A system of mass production where goods are manufactured in large quantities in a centralized location.

Industrial Revolution

The transition from agrarian economies to industrial economies characterized by the use of machinery.

Steam Engine

A machine that converts fossil fuels into mechanical energy, crucial for the Industrial Revolution.

Telegraph

An early communication technology that used electrical signals to transmit messages over wires.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes state control of trade and commerce, now being replaced by free market principles.

Trans-National Corporations

Companies that operate in multiple countries, established and controlled in one nation.