Industrialism

Industrial Revolution

A period of rapid industrial growth & technological advancement (18th-19th centuries) that transformed economies from agrarian to industrial.

Enclosure Movement

The privatization of common lands in Britain, leading to increased agricultural efficiency but displacing rural farmers.

Mass Production

The manufacturing of goods in large quantities using standardized processes & machinery.

Division of Labor

The separation of tasks in a production process, allowing workers to specialize in specific roles to increase efficiency.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership, free markets, & competition.

Adam Smith

An 18th-century economist & philosopher known as the "Father of Capitalism."

"The Wealth of Nations" (1776)

Adam Smith's book advocating free markets, competition, & minimal government intervention in the economy.

"Invisible Hand" Principle

The idea that individual self-interest in a free market benefits society as a whole.

"Laissez-Faire"

An economic policy of minimal government interference in economic affairs.

Robber Barons

Wealthy industrialists of the 19th century accused of exploiting workers & using unethical business practices.

Captains of Industry

Industrial leaders who contributed positively to the economy by expanding markets, creating jobs, & charity.

Socialism

An economic & political system advocating for collective or government ownership of industry & resources.

Socialist Utopias

Idealized communities based on socialist principles of shared wealth & cooperative living.

Henri de Saint Simon, Charles Fourier, & Robert Owen

Early socialist thinkers who proposed utopian societies based on cooperation & equality.

Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels

Philosophers & economists who developed Marxist socialism & co-authored "The Communist Manifesto."

Marxist Socialism/Communism

A radical form of socialism advocating for class struggle & the abolition of private property to create a classless society.

"The Communist Manifesto" (1848)

A political pamphlet by Marx & Engels calling for workers to overthrow capitalism.

Proletariat

The working-class people who, according to Marxist theory, would rise against the bourgeoisie.

Assembly Line

A manufacturing process where a product is assembled in sequential steps to increase efficiency.

Corporations

Large businesses owned by shareholders who invest in the company for stocks.

Cartels

Groups of businesses that work together to control prices & limit competition.

Monopolies

The complete control of an industry by a single company, eliminating competition.

Labor Unions

Organizations formed by workers to advocate for better wages, hours, & working conditions.

The Pullman Strike (1894) & Haymarket Affair (1886)

Major labor conflicts in the U.S. that highlighted tensions between workers & industry.

Methodism

A Christian denomination emphasizing personal faith, social justice, & moral living.

"Social Gospel" Movement

A Christian movement that applied religious ethics to social issues like poverty & inequality.

Germ Theory

The discovery that microorganisms cause disease, leading to major advancements in medicine.

Louis Pasteur, Florence Nightingale, & Joseph Lister

Scientists & medical pioneers who contributed to germ theory, sanitation, & antiseptic practices.

Urbanization

The growth & expansion of cities due to industrialization.

Urban Renewal

The redevelopment of urban areas to improve infrastructure & housing.

Suburbia

Residential areas outside of cities that grew due to urban expansion.

Cult of Domesticity

The 19th-century belief that women's role was to maintain the home & uphold moral values.

Suffrage Movement

The fight for women's right to vote during the 19th & 20th centuries.

Susan B. Anthony & Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Leaders of the women's suffrage movement in the U.S.

Seneca Falls Convention (1848)

The first women's rights convention in the U.S., advocating for suffrage & gender equality.

The International Feminist Congress (1916)

A global gathering of feminists advocating for women's rights & equality.

Atomic Theory

The scientific theory that all matter is composed of atoms.

Natural Selection

Charles Darwin's principle that species evolve over time through survival of the fittest.

Charles Darwin

A naturalist known for his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Evolution

The gradual change of species over time due to genetic variation & adaptation.

"On the Origin of Species" (1859)

Darwin's book outlining his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Social Darwinism

The application of Darwin's ideas to society, justifying competition, inequality, & imperialism.

Romanticism

A 19th-century artistic & literary movement emphasizing emotion, nature, & individualism.

Realism

A movement in art & literature focused on depicting everyday life accurately & without idealization.

Impressionism

A 19th-century artistic movement characterized by light, color, & capturing fleeting moments.