history 4.2-4.6

4.2 The Age of Reason

Enlightenment: movement of thinkers striving to rid the world of dark ideas such as ignorance, irrationality, intolerance and inequality

Rational optimism: the belief that a rational way of thinking and ideas could bring about progress, making life better for mankind Basic human rights: a right that every person has and which has to be respected, even by kings Trias Politica: the idea that the power of the state should be divided into three different parts Free market economy: economic system with little or no government interference allowing competition between sellers, while the amount of buyers dictates the size of the market Salon: meetings where members of the upper class would meet and have scientists and philosophers speak about their work and ideas Encyclopédie (encyclopedia): a collection of knowledge on as many subjects as possible

4.3 Absolutism and the Enlightenment

The estates system: social system divided into three estates: clergy, nobility and the rest Social mobility: the ability to move up or down in society, from one estate to another Enlightened absolutism: form of absolutism where the king or queen tried to act in the best interest of the people instead of him- or herself Enlightened rulers: absolute rulers who tried to implement the ideas of the Enlightenment

4.4 Revolution in America

American Revolution: the struggle for independence by British colonists in America

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Thirteen colonies: British colonies along the east coast of North America

Militias: civilian armies established to defend against Native Americans and other colonists

Patriots: colonists who used methods of direct action to oppose the taxation acts

The Boston Tea Party: ships carrying tea were attacked and the tea was dumped into the harbour as an act of protest against the taxation acts

Continental Congress: a convention of delegates from all the Thirteen Colonies

Declaration of Independence: a document declaring the Thirteen Colonies independent

United States of America: a country consisting of the former American British colonies

Federation: a country that consists of states, each with their own government, which are ruled on a national level by a federal government The Constitution: the supreme law describing the relationship between the citizens and the government and the way the government works The Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the constitution which describe individual rights of citizens and limit the power of the government

4.5 Slavery

Slavery: a system wherein people can own, buy and sell other people as property

African slave trade: slave trade within the African continent

Plantation farming: growing of crops which require a lot of manual labour on large plantations using slaves

Dehumanising: treating people as less than humans, like animals or goods

Transatlantic slave trade: European traders bought slaves in West-Africa and sold them to plantation owners in America

Triangular trade: form of trade between three places where ships never travel empty

Abolitionism: a movement of people questioning slavery and attempting to end it

4.6 Imperial Russia and Russian

Enlightenment

Russian Enlightenment: period of reforms in Russia based on ideas of the Enlightenment Tsar: title of the emperor of Russia Tsardom of Russia: collection of Russian states ruled by the tsar