Unit 5 - Heimler History Notes

The Enlightenment

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

Rationalism

The belief that reason is the most reliable source of true knowledge, emphasizing reason over emotion or external authority.

Empiricism

The philosophy that true knowledge is gained primarily through the senses, especially through rigorous experimentation.

Natural Rights

The concept that humans are born with certain rights that cannot be infringed upon by governments or entities.

Social Contract

The theory that societies must have governments chosen by their will to protect their natural rights, with the right to overthrow a tyrannical government.

Deism

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

Nationalism

A sense of commonality among people based on shared language, religion, and social customs, often linked with a desire for territory.

Abolition of slavery

The movement led by Enlightenment thinkers to criticize and ultimately end the practice of slavery.

Women’s Suffrage

The movement advocating for women’s rights to vote and achieve equality in society.

Industrial Revolution

The process where societies transitioned from agrarian to industrial economies, significantly changing the world's political and social structures.

Factory System

A method of manufacturing that concentrates production in one location using mechanization to increase efficiency.

Meiji Restoration

Japan's period of rapid modernization and industrialization in the late 19th century, borrowing heavily from Western technologies.

Stock Markets

Facilities where shares of stock are bought and sold, enabling companies to raise capital by selling portions of ownership.

Limited Liability

A legal structure that protects owners from losing more than their investment in a company, promoting risk-taking and investment.

Marxism

The political and economic theory of Karl Marx, which argues that capitalism leads to class struggle and the eventual rise of a classless society.

Communist Manifesto

A political pamphlet by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that outlines the principles of Marxism and the critique of capitalism.

Opium Wars

Conflicts between Britain and China in the 19th century over trade imbalances, notably the illegal opium trade, leading to significant outcomes for China's sovereignty.

Tanzimat Reforms

A series of reforms in the Ottoman Empire aimed at modernizing and reorganizing the empire, including western-style law codes and education systems.

Labor Union

An organization of workers that collectively seeks to improve working conditions, wages, and other labor-related issues.

American Revolution

The revolutionary war (1775-1783) in which the Thirteen Colonies gained independence from British rule, influenced by Enlightenment ideas.

French Revolution

The period of radical social and political change in France from 1789 that led to the end of monarchy and rise of republics.

Haitian Revolution

The successful revolt of enslaved people in Haiti (1791-1804) against French colonial rule, establishing Haiti as the first black republic.

Simon Bolivar

A leader in Latin America who played a key role in the independence movements across several South American countries.

Liberalism

A political ideology that emphasizes individual freedoms, civil rights, and representative government.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Steam Engine

An invention that converted fossil fuels into mechanical energy, facilitating the rise of industries and transforming transportation.