AP European History Chapter 24 Reading Guide

1. Developments in the Sciences: The Emergence of a New Physics

• Einstein's Work

  • Revolutionized physics with special and general relativity.

  • Challenged traditional concepts of space, time, and gravity.

  • Suggested a universe where space and time are flexible and interconnected.

2. Toward a New Understanding of the Irrational

• Nietzsche

  • Criticized traditional morality and Christianity.

  • Advocated for the "will to power" and the concept of the "Übermensch" (superman).

• Bergson

  • Emphasized intuition over reason, and the importance of creative evolution.

• Sorel

  • Focused on the power of myths (e.g., the general strike) to inspire revolution.

  • Advocated for direct action and violence to achieve socialist change.

3. Sigmund Freud and Psychoanalysis

• Role of the Unconscious

  • Introduced the idea that much of human behavior is driven by unconscious desires and repressed memories.

  • The id, ego, and superego are key components of the psyche.

4. The Impact of Darwin

• Social Darwinism

  • Applied Darwin’s theory of natural selection to social and racial hierarchies.

  • Justified imperialism, inequality, and the dominance of certain races.

• Racism

  • Social Darwinism fostered racist ideologies, viewing certain races as superior and others as inferior.

5. The Attack on Christianity

• Response of the Churches

  • Churches faced challenges from modern scientific thought.

  • Some adapted to new ideas, while others resisted the changes.

6. The Culture of Modernity: Literature

• Naturalism

  • Focused on depicting the harsh realities of life, often influenced by scientific thought.

• Symbolism

  • A movement that sought to express the emotional and psychological experience through symbols, rather than direct representation.

7. Modernism in the Arts

• Impressionism

  • Focused on capturing fleeting moments, light, and color, often in everyday scenes.

• Post-Impressionism

  • Expanded on impressionism, emphasizing structure, form, and emotional expression.

• Expressionism

  • Sought to portray emotional experiences rather than physical reality, emphasizing individual perspective.

8. Modernism in Music

• Grieg

  • Known for incorporating folk music into his compositions, reflecting nationalistic themes.

• Debussy

  • Pioneered impressionistic music, focusing on mood, atmosphere, and innovative use of scales.

9. The Movement for Women’s Rights

• New Professions

  • Women began entering new fields such as teaching, medicine, and the arts.

• The Right to Vote

  • Women’s suffrage movements gained momentum across Europe and the United States.

• Efforts for Peace

  • Women played a significant role in peace movements, especially during times of war.

• The New Woman

  • Represented a shift toward more independence and participation in public life for women.

10. Jews in the European Nation-State

• Anti-Semitism in Austria and Germany

  • Rising anti-Semitic sentiments and policies against Jews.

• Persecution of Jews in Eastern Europe

  • Pogroms and discriminatory laws were widespread.

• The Zionist Movement

  • Led by Theodor Herzl, advocating for a Jewish homeland in Palestine as a solution to European anti-Semitism.

11. The Transformation of Liberalism: Great Britain and Italy

• Great Britain

  • Expanded social reforms and granted suffrage to more citizens, including women.

• Italy

  • Faced political instability and a struggle for unification, leading to tensions between liberal and conservative factions.

12. France: Travails of the Third Republic

• Political instability marked by frequent changes in government and rising tensions over issues like the Dreyfus Affair.

13. Growing Tensions in Germany

• Germany faced growing social, political, and ethnic tensions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

14. Austria-Hungary: The Problem of the Nationalities

• Ethnic and nationalist movements within the empire created challenges to its stability.

15. Industrialization and Revolution in Imperial Russia

• The Revolution of 1905

  • Sparked by dissatisfaction with autocracy, leading to limited reforms.

• Failure of the Revolution

  • Despite the 1905 revolution, Russia remained under autocratic rule until the 1917 Revolution.

16. The Rise of the United States

• The U.S. emerged as a major industrial power, gaining influence on the global stage.

17. The Growth of Canada

• Canada developed as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire, gradually gaining independence.

18. The New Imperialism

• Causes of the New Imperialism

  • Social Darwinism and racism justified imperial expansion.

  • Economic motives (markets and resources) and religious motivations also drove imperialism.

• The Scramble for Africa

  • European powers divided Africa, with major conflicts like the Boer War and struggles over territory (e.g., Belgium in Congo).

• Imperialism in Asia

  • European powers (Britain, Russia, etc.) expanded their empires in China, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

• American Imperialism

  • The U.S. began to exert influence, notably in Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawaii.

• Responses to Imperialism

  • Colonized regions like Africa, India, China, and Japan responded with resistance movements.

19. Results of the New Imperialism

• Lasting political, social, and economic consequences for the colonized regions and the imperial powers.

20. International Rivalry and the Coming of War

• The Bismarckian System

  • Bismarck sought to isolate France through alliances, maintaining stability in Europe.

• The Balkans: Decline of Ottoman Power

  • Nationalist movements in the Balkans, alongside the decline of the Ottoman Empire, created tensions.

• New Alliances

  • Shifting alliances, especially after Bismarck’s departure, contributed to increasing tensions leading to WWI.

• Crises in the Balkans (1908-1913)

  • Conflicts like the Bosnian Crisis and Second Balkan War set the stage for WWI.