History of WC Midterm Flashcards
Louis XVI
XVI = 16th
Louis XVI was born in August of 1754. He was the last king of France before the French Revolution started and he ruled from 1774 to 1792. Louis XVI resided primarily in the Palace of Versailles, located near Paris. He was unpopular because he failed to address widespread poverty, food shortages, and burgeoning debt exacerbated by his support for the American Revolution. He was arrested in August of 1792 and executed in January of 1793
The Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference was convened by the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and took place from November 1884, to February 1885. It was a meeting of European powers and the United States to discuss and regulate European colonization and trade in Africa. The conference was held in Berlin, Germany. The conference aimed to prevent conflicts between European powers by establishing rules for colonization, such as the principle of effective occupation and the free navigation of international rivers.
Olympe de Gouges
Olympe de Gouges was the pen name of Marie Gouze, a French playwright, political activist, and women’s rights advocate. She was born on May 1748, in Montauban, France. Olympe de Gouges is best known for her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen (Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne), which she wrote in 1791 as a response to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Her advocacy for women’s rights and her outspoken criticism of the Revolution’s shortcomings ultimately led to her arrest and execution during the Reign of Terror in 1793.
Congo Reform Association
The Congo Reform Association was formed in 1904. The Congo Reform Association was founded by the British in response to reports of atrocities and abuses committed in the Congo Free State under the rule of King Leopold II. Notable figures associated with the association include E.D. Morel, Roger Casement, Mary Kingsley, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Its primary goals were to advocate for international intervention, expose the atrocities through publications and campaigns, and ultimately pressure King Leopold II to relinquish his control over the Congo. While the Congo Reform Association was based in Britain, it had a global reach, with supporters and sympathizers across Europe and the United States.
Henry Hunt
Henry Hunt, commonly known as Orator Hunt, was born on November 1773, in Upavon, Wiltshire, England. He gained fame as a public speaker and organizer of mass meetings, particularly during the period of the “Radical Reform Movement.” He organized and spoke at numerous public meetings and demonstrations, including the famous Peterloo Massacre in Manchester. Henry Hunt was motivated by a desire to see fundamental changes to the British political system, which he viewed as corrupt, unrepresentative, and dominated by the aristocracy
NapoleonBonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 1769. He rose to prominence during the French Revolution, demonstrating his military talents and political acumen. In 1799, he became the First Consul of France, and in 1804, he declared himself Emperor of the French, establishing the First French Empire until his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. His most famous battles include Austerlitz, Marengo, and Jena. After his defeat, he was exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died on May 5, 1821.
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was attended by representatives of major European powers, including Austria, Britain, France, Prussia, and Russia. The leading figures at the congress included Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich, British Foreign Secretary Viscount Castlereagh, and Russian Tsar Alexander I. The Congress of Vienna took place from September 1814 to June 1815, following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The congress lasted for almost a year. The Congress of Vienna aimed to achieve several objectives, including restoring the balance of power in Europe, containing French expansionism, and preventing future conflicts by establishing a system of collective security and diplomatic cooperation among the major European powers.
The Continental system
The Continental System was devised and implemented by Napoleon Bonaparte in response to the British naval blockade and economic warfare against France. The Continental System was a blockade intended to isolate Britain economically by prohibiting European countries under French control or influence from trading with Britain. The Continental System was established in 1806. the Continental System was intended to retaliate against British economic warfare and to force Britain to negotiate peace terms favorable to France. the Continental System ultimately failed to achieve its objectives as it led to economic hardship in continental Europe
Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist born on July 1858, in Manchester, England. mmeline Pankhurst was a key figure in the suffragette movement, which campaigned for the right to vote. She founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903, an organization that used militant tactics to draw attention to the cause of women’s suffrage. Pankhurst and the WSPU organized protests, demonstrations, and acts of civil disobedience, including hunger strikes and vandalism, to pressure the government to grant women the right to vote. She believed that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, including the right to participate in the democratic process through voting. Pankhurst and the suffragettes faced significant opposition and were subjected to arrests, imprisonment, and force-feeding during hunger strikes. However, their efforts eventually contributed to the passage of the Representation of the People Act in 1918, which granted certain women over the age of 30 the right to vote in the UK.
The Three C’s
The idea of the Three C’s was primarily propagated by European colonial powers, including Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and others, during the era of European imperialism. The Three C’s represented the purported aims of European colonialism, which were framed as bringing Christianity, commerce, and civilization to the peoples of colonized territories.
The Third Estate
The Third Estate comprised the commoners of French society, including peasants, artisans, laborers, and the urban bourgeoisie (middle class). It constituted the majority of the population and was distinct from the First Estate (the clergy) and the Second Estate (the nobility). Members of the Third Estate were burdened with heavy taxes, lacked political representation, and were subject to feudal privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy. This discontent, combined with Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, fueled revolutionary sentiments among members of the Third Estate and contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution.
Sans-culottes
The sans-culottes were a diverse group of radical revolutionaries in France during the French Revolution, primarily comprising urban workers, artisans, small shopkeepers, and laborers. They were called “sans-culottes,” meaning “without breeches,” because they typically wore trousers instead of the knee-breeches worn by the aristocracy and upper classes. Played significant roles in events like the storming of the Bastille in 1789
German Southwest Africa
German Southwest Africa was colonized by Germany in the late 19th century, with formal annexation occurring in 1884. German colonial rule in the territory lasted until the end of World War I in 1918, when German forces in Africa were defeated by South African and British troops. Germany sought to acquire colonies in Africa as part of its imperial ambitions and quest for global power and prestige. German Southwest Africa was seen as a valuable territory for its strategic location, natural resources, and potential for economic exploitation.
The Expedition of the Thousand
The Expedition of the Thousand was led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian general and nationalist leader. The Expedition of the Thousand was a military campaign launched by Garibaldi in 1860 with the aim of liberating the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (the southern part of Italy) from Bourbon rule and incorporating it into the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. Garibaldi and his volunteer army of about a thousand men, known as the “Redshirts” for their distinctive uniforms, landed in Sicily and embarked on a march through southern Italy, winning battles and gaining popular support along the way.
Czar Alexander I
Czar Alexander I, born on December 23, 1777, was the Emperor of Russia from 1801 until his death in 1825. Alexander I ruled over Russia during a period of immense change and upheaval, including his role in defeating Napoleon and his participation in the Congress of Vienna, significantly shaped the course of European history and established Russia as a major player on the international stage.
