UNIT 5

This unit is packed with change, especially from Enlightenment ideas, political revolutions, and the Industrial Revolution.

🌍 Unit 5: Revolutions (1750–1900)

Main Theme: Major political, intellectual, and industrial changes transformed societies around the world.

🧠 1. The Enlightenment (5.1)

What it was: A European intellectual movement that questioned traditional authority (like monarchies and religion) and emphasized reason, liberty, and individual rights.

Key Ideas:

  • Natural rights (life, liberty, property) — John Locke

  • Social contract — government gets power from the people

  • Separation of powers — Montesquieu

  • Freedom of speech & religion — Voltaire

Impact: Sparked revolutions, challenged absolute rulers, and encouraged constitutions.

🔥 2. Political Revolutions (5.2–5.3)

People used Enlightenment ideas to challenge kings and colonial rule.

Revolution

Causes

Effects

🇺🇸 American Revolution

Taxes, no representation

U.S. independence & Constitution

🇫🇷 French Revolution

Social inequality, debt

End of monarchy, Reign of Terror, rise of Napoleon

🇭🇹 Haitian Revolution

Slavery, French ideas

1st successful slave revolt, Haiti independent

🇲🇽/🇱🇦 Latin American Revolutions

Creole resentment, Napoleon invaded Spain

Many Latin American countries gained independence

⚙ 3. Industrial Revolution (5.4–5.6)

What it was: A major change in how goods were made — from hand production to machine-based factories.

🌍 Where it started:

  • Britain, due to coal, rivers, capital, and labor

🛠 Key Inventions:

  • Steam engine, spinning jenny, power loom, railroads

💥 Effects:

  • Urbanization (cities grew)

  • Poor working conditions for factory workers

  • Rise of capitalism and later socialism/communism

  • Mass production = cheaper goods

  • Global demand for raw materials (cotton, rubber, oil)

🌎 4. Spread of Industrialization

  • Spread to Europe, U.S., Russia, Japan

  • Countries modernized differently (ex: Meiji Restoration in Japan)

🛠 5. Economic Systems and Reactions (5.7)

  • Capitalism: private businesses, competition, free market (Adam Smith)

  • Socialism: government helps control economy to reduce inequality

  • Communism: radical form of socialism (Karl Marx) — class struggle → workers' revolution

🧳 6. Global Migrations (5.8)

Why people moved:

  • Jobs (factories, plantations, railroads)

  • Famine or poverty

  • End of slavery → need for labor (indentured servitude)

  • Conflict or persecution

Where they went:

  • Chinese to U.S., Southeast Asia

  • Indians to Africa, Caribbean

  • Irish to U.S. (Potato Famine)

🧠 KEY CONCEPTS TO REMEMBER:

Theme

What to Know

Enlightenment

Led to revolutions and new governments

Political Revolutions

Challenged kings/colonies, often used Enlightenment

Industrial Revolution

Changed economies, cities, labor, and global trade

Migrations

Caused by poverty, labor demand, and global capitalism

Reactions

Workers pushed for reforms, unions, and better rights