apwh unit 5

1. The Age of Revolutions (1750–1900)

• Enlightenment Ideas: Philosophical movements like the Enlightenment influenced revolutionary movements. Thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire promoted ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy.

• American Revolution (1776): The Thirteen Colonies' revolt against British rule, inspired by Enlightenment principles, led to the establishment of the United States.

• French Revolution (1789): Inspired by the American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas, the French Revolution sought to dismantle the absolute monarchy, eventually leading to the rise of radical ideologies and political shifts.

• Haitian Revolution (1791–1804): A slave revolt in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which became the first successful slave-led revolution and established Haiti as the first independent black republic.

• Latin American Revolutions (early 19th century): Following the French and American Revolutions, various Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Latin America (such as Mexico, Gran Colombia, Brazil) gained independence under leaders like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.

2. Industrial Revolution (c. 1750–1900)

• Origins: The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the mid-18th century, spreading to other parts of Europe, the U.S., and beyond.

• Key Innovations: The development of new technologies, including the steam engine (James Watt), spinning jenny, power loom, and the cotton gin, revolutionized manufacturing and transportation.

• Urbanization: The rise of factories led to mass migration from rural areas to cities. This shift created new social and economic challenges, such as overcrowding and the exploitation of workers, particularly women and children.

• Social Changes: The rise of the middle class, the working class, and the factory system reshaped social structures. There was a growing demand for reform movements addressing workers' rights, education, and living conditions.

• Global Impact: The Industrial Revolution led to global changes in trade and production. It spurred the demand for raw materials (such as cotton from colonies) and new markets for manufactured goods.

3. Imperialism and Nation-State Building (1800–1900)

• New Imperialism: European powers, the U.S., and Japan expanded their empires in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. This period of imperialism was driven by economic interests (need for raw materials and markets), nationalism, and the desire to spread European culture and religion.

• Colonialism: European nations partitioned Africa at the Berlin Conference (1884-1885), dividing the continent among them, leading to exploitation and the imposition of colonial rule.

• Indian Rebellion (1857): A major uprising against British East India Company rule in India, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, which resulted in the British crown taking direct control of India.

• Spheres of Influence and Unequal Treaties: In China, European powers, Japan, and the U.S. established spheres of influence, imposing unequal treaties like the Treaty of Nanjing (1842) after the Opium Wars.

• Meiji Restoration (1868): Japan transformed itself into a modern industrial state after the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate. Japan adopted Western technologies and institutions to become an imperial power in its own right.

• Economic Imperialism: Beyond territorial control, imperialism also involved economic dominance, with companies and governments using influence to control trade and investment (e.g., in Latin America, where the United States established economic dominance).

4. Ideologies and Movements

• Liberalism: Advocated for political and economic freedoms, including representative democracy, individual rights, and free markets. Influenced many of the revolutions and reform movements.

• Conservatism: Advocated for the preservation of traditional institutions, including monarchy and the church, often in opposition to revolutionary movements.

• Socialism: Advocated for the collective ownership of resources and industries to reduce inequality. The ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels inspired various socialist and communist movements.

• Nationalism: The desire for self-rule and the unification of people with shared culture and language. Examples include the unification of Italy and Germany in the 19th century.

• Feminism: The struggle for women's rights, including the right to vote, access to education, and improved working conditions. Prominent figures included Mary Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

5. Economic and Social Transformations

• Capitalism and Free Markets: The Industrial Revolution contributed to the rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system, with Adam Smith's ideas on free markets influencing economic policies.

• Labor Movements: Workers organized in response to harsh conditions in factories, leading to the formation of labor unions and calls for workers' rights, including better wages, working hours, and conditions.

• Social Darwinism and Racism: The rise of imperialism and industrial capitalism was often justified through ideologies like Social Darwinism, which applied ideas of evolution and survival of the fittest to human societies, often to justify racism and the domination of non-Western peoples.

6. Environmental Impact

• Industrialization and Urbanization: The growth of factories and cities led to significant environmental changes, including pollution, deforestation, and changes to the landscape.

• Global Trade Networks: Industrialization increased global trade and the movement of goods, but it also contributed to the exploitation of natural resources in colonies.

Key Concept Areas in Unit 5

1. Revolutions and Independence Movements: Various revolutions across the globe inspired and were influenced by Enlightenment ideals, challenging older political and social systems.

2. Industrialization: Technological advances that led to the rise of factory-based economies, social changes, and a transformation in the global economy.

3. Imperialism and Global Expansion: European and non-European powers expanded their control over territories, creating a new global system of colonization and economic exploitation.

4. Ideological Responses: The development of political ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, conservatism, and nationalism as responses to industrialization and imperialism.

Key Figures:

• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: Founders of Marxism, which critiqued capitalism and advocated for socialism and communism.

• Simón Bolívar: Leader of South American independence movements.

• Otto von Bismarck: Architect of the unification of Germany.

• Queen Victoria: Symbol of the British Empire during the height of imperialism.