Progressive Events

The Enlightenment

A movement in the 17th–18th centuries that promoted reason, science, and challenging traditional authority

Enlightenment Key Idea

Humans can use reason and logic to understand and improve society

Scientific Method

A way of gaining knowledge through observation, experimentation, and reasoning

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker who argued for natural rights and that new ideas are often resisted

Immanuel Kant

Philosopher who promoted reason and questioning authority

Rene Descartes

Philosopher known for “I think, therefore I am,” emphasising individual thought

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Argued that people are born free but are restricted by society

Voltaire

Defended freedom of speech: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend your right to say it”

Mary Wollstonecraft

Advocated for women’s rights and equality

Montesquieu

Believed power should rest with the people, not rulers

Lumieres

French term meaning “lights,” describing Enlightenment thinkers who challenged society

Philosophes

French term for Enlightenment writers and thinkers

Enlightenment impact

Challenged traditional authority and inspired political and social change

Progressive Ideas

New ideas that challenged established beliefs and led to change, sometimes violently

American War of Independence

A revolution (1775–1783) where the 13 colonies fought for independence from Britain

Cause of American Revolution

Colonists’ anger over taxes and lack of representation in British Parliament

“No taxation without representation”

Colonial protest against being taxed without political voice

British taxation

Taxes on sugar, documents, and trade to repay war debts

Mercantillism

Economic system where colonies existed to benefit the mother country

Seven Years’ War

War (1757–1763) that left Britain in control of North American colonies but in debt

Declaration of Independence

Document stating rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father influenced by Enlightenment ideas

Thomas Jefferson

Main author of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Paine

Author of “Common Sense,” arguing for independence

Atlantic Revolutions

Wave of revolutions (American, French, Industrial) inspired by Enlightenment ideas

French Revolution

A revolution (1789–1799) caused by inequality, economic crisis, and Enlightenment ideas

Ancien Regime

Old French system where clergy and nobility had privileges and paid no tax

Cause of French Revolution

Economic crisis, inequality, food shortages, and Enlightenment influence

Louis XVI

King of France whose poor leadership contributed to revolution

Estates General

Assembly of the three estates (clergy, nobility, common people)

Third Estates

1st: clergy, 2nd: nobility, 3rd: common people

National Assembly

Formed by the Third Estate to create a constitution

Tennis Court Oath

Promise by the Third Estate to create a new constitution

Storming of the Bastille

Event symbolising rebellion against royal authority

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Document promoting liberty, equality, and rights

Women’s March on Versailles

Protest demanding bread and forcing the king to Paris

Declaration of Pillnitz

Austria and Prussia’s threat to restore the French monarchy

Execution of Louis XVI

King executed during the revolution, ending monarchy

Reign of Terror

Period of mass executions of perceived enemies (~16,000 killed)

Napoleon Bonaparte

Leader who rose after the revolution and became ruler

Impact of Enlightenment on France

Encouraged questioning of inequality and monarchy

Industrial Revolution

Period of rapid industrialisation starting in Britain in the late 1700s

Urbanisation

Movement of people from rural areas to cities

Key inventions

Flying shuttle, Spinning Jenny, steam engine

Steam engine

Machine used to pump water and power factories

Factory system

Large-scale production replacing cottage industries

Cottage industry

Home-based production system replaced by factories

Impact on workers

Long hours, dangerous conditions, low pay

Impact on society

Mass production, urban growth, economic change

Unemployment

Many workers lost jobs due to machines

Chartism

Movement to improve workers’ rights through political reform

Why Britain industrialised first

High wages, access to coal, strong property rights, innovation

Coal

Key resource powering industrial machines and factories

Industrialisation in England vs India

England mechanised due to high wages; India relied on cheap labour

Economic change

Shift to faster, cheaper production and global trade expansion