5.1 Flashcards
The Enlightenment
Enlightenment
rise of ideals of individualism, reason, and freedom over community ideals, tradition, and concentrated rule. Planted the seeds of revolution
nationalism
feelings of intense loyalty to one’s shared language and culture
Empiricism
knowledge that comes from experiences or sensed data rather than reliance on religion.
John Locke
creator of social contract, enlightenment thinker, believed in “tabula rasa”
social contract
the idea that the government and its people were in a contract in which people gave up some rights in exchange for protections, but people also had the responsibility to rebel against a corrupt government
tabula rasa
means “blank slate,” john locke’s idea that people are born as a blank slate and that their environment and education would determine their intelligence and personality, not their ancestry
philosophes
group of Enlightenment thinkers and writers who explored Enlightenment and scientific topics and popularized them.
Baron Montesquieu
philosophe who praised Britain’s use of checks and balances and separation of powers, would lead to how Americans would use checks and balances
Voltaire
French writer and satirist who advocated for civil liberties and religious freedom while still appreciating the monarchy
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
expanded on the social contract and ideas of child-rearing and education. He believed it was the sovereign’s job to carry out the “General Will” of a population and he inspired many revolutionaries
Adam Smith
Author of The Wealth of Nations, supported laissez-faire, believed the “invisible hand” would guide the economy without government intervention, kind of invented capitalism
The Wealth of Nations
Book written by Adam Smith about where nations got their wealth, called for less mercantilism and free trade.
laissez-faire
system of thought that demanded governments not affect the economy and instead leave it largely alone
capitalism
the economy is guided by an “invisible hand,” this is an economic system in which methods of production are privately owned and operated for profit
Deism
the belief that God set the world in motion but does not interfere in its day-to-day running. Still believe in regular church attendance
Thomas Paine
Deist and advocate for liberty from Britain.
Conservatism
the belief in traditional institutions, that reliance on practical experience is better than ideological political theories.
socialism
the idea that there should be public worker ownership of everything, everything should be shared equally, including work and benefits.
utopian socialists
people who believed society would be best if organized into ideal socialist communities
Henry de Saint-Simon
Thought that scientists and engineers working together with businesses could provide jobs and create amazing things. Advocated for public works that would create employment, like the Suez Canal, which France undertook.
Charles Fourier
Believed work should be made more enjoyable. He though harmonious living in communities was better than the class system.
Robert Owen
established international communities that educated children who worked, and believed in communal ownership and communal rules to govern work, education, and leisure time.
Fabian Society
gradual socialists in England who believed society could be reformed through parliament
classical liberalism
belief in natural rights, constitutional government, laissez-faire economics, and reduced spending on armies and established churches. Persued political change like increased male suffrage in Britain.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Female writer who argued that women deserved the same rights to vote, education, and ability to participate in professional society as men. Instrumental in gaining women the right to vote.
Abolitionism
the movement to end the slave trade and free all enslaved people.
Zionism
The Jewish belief that they needed to re-establish a homeland to be safe from anti-semitism. Led by Theodor Herzl. Wanted land in the Ottoman Empire, this became a religious conflict since the people there were Muslim. Eventually, Israel was founded.
anti-semitism
hostility towards jews
Theodor Herzl
Zionist leader
Dreyfus Affair
A Jewish military officer was accused of treason based on false documents made by anti-semitists. He was pardoned, but it brought support for Zionism and attention to anti-semitism
feminism
movement for women’s rights and equality. Based on enlightenment ideals, it called for suffrage and other rights.
