Unit 5 AP WORLD History: Heimlers History

The Enlightenment (1750-1900)

  • Intellectual Movement: A period of applying rationalism and empiricism to understand the natural world and human relationships.

  • Ideological Framework: Provided basis for major revolutions such as the American, French, Haitian, and Latin American revolutions.

Key Concepts

  • Rationalism: The belief that reason is the most trustworthy source of knowledge, rather than emotions or external authority.

  • Empiricism: Knowledge must be derived from sensory experience and rigorous experimentation.

Scientific Revolution

  • Transformed beliefs away from religious authority (e.g., Copernicus and Galileo).

  • Led to the study of natural laws, promoting reason for understanding.

Religious Thought

  • Deism: Belief in a creator who does not intervene in the universe.

  • Atheism: The rejection of belief in deities.

Political Ideas

  1. Individualism: Emphasis on the individual as the basic element of society.

  2. Natural Rights: Coined by John Locke, individuals possess inherent rights that cannot be infringed upon (e.g., Life, Liberty, Property).

  3. Social Contract: Agreement by individuals to form governments to protect their rights in exchange for personal liberties.

Effects of Enlightenment Ideas

  • Revolutions: Inspired movements leading to the American, French, Haitian, and Latin American revolutions.

  • Nationalism: Sense of unique identity based on language, culture, and religion, often linked to territory.

Suffrage and Social Changes

  • Suffrage: The right to vote evolved from limited white male voting (1776) to include black males (1870).

  • Abolition of Slavery: Major movements led to the end of slavery in many regions, including Britain (1807).

  • End of Serfdom: Included revolts against serfdom leading to greater rights for peasants.

  • Calls for Women’s Suffrage: Emerging feminist movements, notable figures include Olympe de Gouges and those involved in the Seneca Falls Convention.

Nationalism and Revolution (1750-1900)

Causes of Revolution

  1. Nationalism: Celebrated shared identity and culture, fostering unity (e.g., national holidays).

  2. Political Dissent: Public discontent towards monarchies due to high taxes and lack of representation.

  3. New Ideologies: Growth in ideas of democracy and popular sovereignty.

    • Democracy: Right to vote and influence policies.

    • Liberalism: Emphasis on civil rights, representative government, and property rights.

Examples of Revolutions

  1. American Revolution (1776): Colonists resisted British control and taxation, Thomas Jefferson, “ Declaration of Independence”

  2. French Revolution (1789): Inspired by American ideals, aimed to overthrow monarchy.

  3. Haitian Revolution (1791): Led by Toussaint Louverture against French colonial rule.

  4. Latin American Revolutions: Movement led by Creole classes against the political power of peninsulares.

    • Notable leader: Simon Bolivar, advocated for popular sovereignty.

Industrial Revolution

Concepts

  • Industrial Revolution: Transition from agrarian to industrial economies, affecting political and social structures.

Factors Leading to Industrialization (Why Britain First?)

  1. Accessibility of waterways and coal resources.

  2. Innovative agricultural practices led to food surplus.

  3. Rapid urbanization due to farming mechanization.

  4. Legal protections for property paving the way for entrepreneurs.

The Factory System

  • Shift to mass production through mechanization (e.g., steam engine).

Global Spread of Industrialization

  • Effect of steam power transformed trade and production globally.

  • Examples of differing industrial progress include France and Russia, both adapting at varying speeds to industrial technologies.

Technology of Industrial Age

  • Energy Sources: Transition from coal to oil, enabling factories anywhere.

  • Second Industrial Revolution: Innovations in steel production (Bessemer Process), chemical engineering, and electricity.

Socio-Economic Changes

  1. New Social Classes: Emergence of the working class and the middle class, with industrialists at the top of the hierarchy.

  2. Conditions of Workers: Often poor working environments but wages higher than agriculture.

  3. Gender Roles: Working-class women took jobs in factories while middle-class women typically remained at home.

Responses to the Industrial Revolution

Social and Political Reforms

  1. Labor Unions: Organized workers to advocate for rights and working conditions.

  2. Political Reforms: Rise of political parties representing workers’ interests.

  3. Educational Reforms: Compulsory education for children led to workforce specialization, enabling better job preparation.

Marxism and Class Struggle

  • Karl Marx: Advocated for a revolution to overthrow the bourgeoisie to end class struggles, presenting the idea of communism.

Global Impacts of Industrialization

Case Studies

  1. China: Suffered defeats (e.g., Opium Wars) but began efforts at industrialization.

  2. Ottoman Empire: Faced decline; implemented reforms to modernize.

  3. Japan: Industrialized rapidly during the Meiji Restoration to avoid western domination.

    • Only allowed Dutch Transportation until, American Commodore Mathew Perry forced Japan to open ports

Lasting Legacies of the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution

  • Ideas of individual rights, social contracts, and economic theories shaped modern government and societal structures.

  • Multiple social reform movements emerged in response to industrialization, including feminist movements and labor rights.

Key Thinkers

  • John Locke: Natural rights philosophy, tabula rasa concept.

  • Adam Smith: capitalism, mercantilism, laissez-faire, “ Wealth of Nations”

  • Karl Marx: communism, Marxism

  • Thomas Hobbes: Social contract, view of human nature as self-interested.

  • Baron de Montesquieu: Separation of powers.

  • Voltaire: Advocated for freedom of speech and religion.

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