Unit 6: Reason and Revolutions

The Enlightenment

an intellectual movement in 18th-century Europe advocating reason, science, and individualism over tradition, superstition, and authority

Social Contract

an agreement between people and their rulers; implies the idea of shared responsibility between the ruler and the ruled

Declaration of Independence

a formal statement affirming colonial America's freedom from Great Britain

Estates-General

a meeting of the three Estates under the Old Regime

Radical

a concept or idea that is far away from the societal norm

Napoleonic Code

a uniform set of laws for France, created by Napoleon

Natural Law

a system of universal moral principles and rights that are believed to be inherent in human nature and discoverable through reason, regardless of the laws created by any government.

Moderates (French Revolution)

the political groups who sought a more gradual and less radical transformation, often aiming for a constitutional monarchy

Revolution

a sudden, profound, and often violent change in political, social, or economic structures, leading to a new order or system

Deficit Spending

when a government spends more money than it collects in revenue during a specific period

Continental System

a large-scale blockade by French emperor Napoleon I against the British Empire

Guillotine

a device for decapitation by an angled blade

Taxation without Representation

a political slogan from the American Revolution that means people should not be taxed by a government in which they have no say or voice

Congress of Vienna

a meeting of European powers to restore stability after the Napoleonic Wars

Balance of Power

a political concept referring to a state where no single nation is powerful enough to dominate others, often maintained through alliances and diplomacy to prevent conflict

Autonomy

the right or condition of self-government.

Nationalism

identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

Conservatives (French Revolution)

a diverse group of French nobles, clergy, and external European figures who largely opposed the radical changes, violence, and secularism of the Revolution

Natural Rights

fundamental, inherent rights that are not dependent on laws, customs, or governments and are believed to be universal to all human beings

Censorship

the suppression or removal of writing, artistic work, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security