First Major Exam Flashcards
What group was the Industrial Bourgeoisie made of?
Factory owners
What were two characteristics of the Industrial Bourgeoisie?
- They made significant investments and risks.
2. They had the potential to make big money.
Why did the Industrial Bourgeoisie take such significant risks?
To make money
What group was the Proletariat made of?
Factory workers
What two things did the Proletariat want?
- Safer working conditions
2. Higher wages
What was the Belle Epoch?
Period of time extending from the late 19th century to WWI, that witnessed great peace, prosperity, and scientific/artistic progress.
What did conservatives of the 19th century believe? (2 things)
- They did not believe in revolutionary slogans (democracy, inalienable rights, etc.)
- They believed peace could be found through following tradition and order.
What group was the conservative class made of?
Nobility (who wouldn’t want things to change)
What 4 things did Liberals of the 19th century believe in?
- The Enlightenment
- Democracy
- Free-market economics
- Meritocracy
What 3 things did Socialists of the 19th century believe in?
- They opposed capitalism
- Common ownership of means of production
- They assume all people are willing to work for the greater good
Why did Socialists oppose capitalism? (2 reasons)
- They believe it is chaotic.
2. They opposed private ownership of means of production.
In socialism, income is based on what?
Income is based on need
Who was Karl Marx?
A 19th century German Jew who attended the University of Berlin. Known as the “Father of Communism.”
What were 3 influences on Karl Marx?
- British economic thought
- French revolutionary thought
- George Hegel
What is the theory of surplus value?
The belief that the working man is being robbed because he receives only a small portion of the wealth his labor produces.
Who was Friedrich Engels?
One of the founders of Marxist Theory (along with Karl Marx).
What was the Hegelian Dialectic and who said it?
George Hegel: “All things are in movement and continually evolving. Useful change comes from clash and reconciliation of the antagonistic elements.”
What does Dialectic Materialism say? Who said it?
Karl Marx: “Change through history in every area (political, economics, etc.) comes from the clash and reconciliation of antagonistic economic elements which continually change as material conditions change.”
What two books did Karl Marx write?
“Communist Manifesto” and “Das Kapital”
What important line in the “Communist Manifesto” did we cover in class?
“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.”
What is Marxism?
Political, social, and economic doctrines of Marx which describe class struggle as the force which will lead to a classless society.
What is communism?
Political system that would be characterized by an absence of social classes and a common ownership of the means of production, based on the teachings of Marx.
Why did Marx think that Europe was at a critical point? (Long answer, though easy to understand)
“In a capitalist system, the industrial bourgeoisie tend to devour one another.”
Wealth and power was becoming more concentrated, so the Industrial Bourgeoisie was shrinking in size. The proletariat mass was growing and would take over the Industrial Bourgeoisie, and thus a social revolution will have been accomplished.
What was the “Dictatorship of the Proletariat?”
The intermediate system between capitalism and communism, when the government is in the process of changing the means of ownership from privatism to collective ownership.
When did the power shift from the Oriental world to the Occidental world occur?
Around 1500-1900 C.E.
Why did the power shift from the Oriental to Occidental world occur? (8 reasons)
- Development of nation-states and eventually “modern” nation-states
- Expansion and control of trade routes
- Ever increasing technological advancements
- Disciplined, well-trained armies
- Population explosion
- Empire building and colonization
- Immense quantities of New World riches
- Exploitation of slave labor
When did the First Era of Imperialism occur?
Around 1500-1700 C.E.
What is an empire?
When one state takes over another state.
What is a “modern” nation state?
One that has undergone an Industrial Revolution.
Why did the East slow down in the area of technological development?
“Tradition” held them back
Describe “Colonies of Trade” in Africa.
Around 1500-1850, Europe established colonies of trade in Africa for the purposes of trade and slave labor (which is different from having an empire there).
Describe “Colonies of Administration” in Africa.
Around 1850-1950, European nations established empires in Africa as they were finally able to conquer it.
What were the 4 motives behind Europe’s conquest of Africa?
- Missionary and humanitarianism
- “White Man’s Burden”
- Economic motives
- Social Darwinism
What was Absolutism and when did it occur?
In the 17th century, it was a period when kings tried to acquire absolute authority over everything (which no king has every truly done).
Why did Absolutism initially arise?
It arose as a knee-jerk reaction to feudalism.
What group was the strongest supporter of the King?
The Merchant Class (AKA Middle Class Bourgeoisie).
Why did the Merchant class support the King?
Because they liked stability in business (the king could do things in their favor).
What 2 reasons were given to justify Absolutism?
- Kings had divine right to power
2. People were unruly and needed to be protected from themselves
Who argued for the divine right to kingship?
Bishop Jacques Bossuet, who argued for such in “Politics Drawn from Holy Scripture” in 1709.
Who argued that people needed a king to protect them from themselves?
Thomas Hobbes, who argued for such in “Leviathan” in 1651.
What French King epitomized an Absolutist King?
Louis XIV (14th) of the Bourbon Dynasty.
Who was the French Minister of Finance?
Jean Baptiste Colbert.
What is mercantilism?
Economic system in which the government regulates and subsidizes industries with the intention of furthering the state.
What is bullionism?
Increasing precious metals in a country.
What is colonialism?
A set of unequal relationships between colony (indigenous people) and the colonial power.
What was the Enlightenment?
It was “the age of human reasoning.” It represented a shift from tradition and faith to evidence and reason.
What were tenets of the Enlightenment?
- It was an optimistic age.
- The leaders of the Enlightenment looked forward to the discovery if all the natural laws of the universe.
- They believed in reason and education.
What were leaders of the Enlightenment called?
Philosophes. The founding fathers were among them.
What is deism?
It is the belief in god, but not religion. Deists saw god as a clockmaker - he made the universe, set it in motion, and let it move on its own from there.
Who were physiocrats?
They were people trying to uncover the natural laws of economics.
What does “Laissez-faire” refer to?
If refers to a free market economic policy. It essentially means a hands off approach for the government
Who was Adam Smith and what is he famous for?
He was famous for writing “The Wealth of Nations” which talked about the ‘invisible hand’ of the free market. He argued that people should pursue their self-interests when it comes to economics and that an economy works best when people do just that.
Who, and in what writing, implicitly described a social contract?
Thomas Hobbes in his book “Leviathan.”
Who explicitly describes a social contract, and what is it?
John Locke. Individuals in an ordered society must give up some freedom to a government and in return, the government will keep them safe.
