Unit 3 Ap World Study Guide

Imperialism

A policy or practice by which a country maintains or extends its power over other countries or territories.

Opium Wars

Conflicts between Britain and China (1839-1842, 1856-1860) resulting in China's decline and the Treaty of Nanjing.

Treaty of Nanjing

The treaty that ended the First Opium War; it ceded Hong Kong to Britain and opened five Chinese ports to British trade.

Social Darwinism

A misapplication of Darwinian ideas to justify imperialism and racism, advocating the idea of 'survival of the fittest' in human societies.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests of a particular nation, often in opposition to foreign influence or control.

Self-Strengthening Movement

A late 19th-century campaign in China aimed at modernizing the military and economy by adopting Western technology while maintaining Confucian traditions.

Industrial Revolution

A period of major industrialization that took place during the late 1700s and early 1800s, characterized by the use of steam power and the factory system.

Invisible hand

A term introduced by Adam Smith to describe the self-regulating nature of the marketplace.

Classless society

A social system in which there are no divisions based on social class, as advocated by Karl Marx.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution (1793-1794) characterized by extreme political repression and mass executions.

Coffee houses

Public venues in 18th-century France where revolutionaries gathered to discuss ideas, share information, and plan actions.

Stamp Act

A British law passed in 1765 that imposed a tax on all printed materials in the American colonies, contributing to colonial unrest.

Little Italy

An ethnic neighborhood typically inhabited by Italian immigrants, known for maintaining cultural traditions and practices.

Meiji Restoration

The political revolution in Japan that restored imperial rule and led to the modernization of Japan in the late 19th century.

Matthew Perry

The U.S. naval officer who forced Japan to open its ports to trade with the United States in 1853, ending its period of isolation.

Authoritarianism

A governing system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.