Chapter 17: Nations and Empires, 1850-1914 CE Vocab Flashcards
imperialism
Acquisition of new territories by a state and the incorporation of these territories into a political system as subordinate colonies.
Manifest Destiny
Belief that it was God’s will for the American people to expand their territory and political processes across the North American continent.
limited-liability joint-stock company
Company that mobilized capital from a large number of investors, called shareholders, who were not to be held personally liable for financial losses incurred by the company.
Steel
An alloy more malleable and stronger than iron that became essential for industries like shipbuilding and railways.
Charles Darwin
(1809–1882) British scientist who became convinced that the species of organic life had evolved under the uniform pressure of natural laws, not by means of a special, one-time creation as described in the Bible.
natural selection
Charles Darwin’s theory that populations grew faster than the food supply, creating a “struggle for existence” among species. In later work he showed how the passing on of individual traits was also determined by what he called sexual selection - according to which the “best mates are chosen for their strength, beauty, or talents. The outcome: the “fittest” survived to reproduce, while the less adaptable did not.
Raj
British crown’s administration of India following the end of the East India Company’s rule after the Rebellion of 1857.
Meiji Restoration
(1868–1912) Reign of the Meiji Emperor, which was characterized by a new nationalist identity, economic advances, and political transformation.
Self-Strengthening movement
A movement of reformist Chinese bureaucrats in the latter half of the nineteenth century that attempted to adopt western elements of learning and technological skill while retaining their core Chinese culture.
