Midterm Flashcards
Aristocracy
A system of government where a few elite citizens rule the country
Democracy
System of government where all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives
Dictatorship
A system of government where one party or ruler has total control over all aspects of citizens lives
Monarchy
A system of government where a king or queen rules through heredity rights
Republic
A system of government where citizens elect officials to represent them
Theocracy
A system of government where religious leaders run the government
Command economy
An economic system where government officials answer the core economic questions
Barter economy
An economic system where goods are traded for other goods
Socialism
An economic theory based on equal distribution of wealth; no private ownership or competition
Capitalism
An economic system where producers and consumers answer the core economic questions without government interference
Mixed economy
An economic system where government runs some industries and others are privately owned
Buddhism
Polytheistic religion based on the teachings of buddha. Enlightenment is obtained through the right way of life and giving up worldly desires.
Judaism
Monotheistic religion developed by the Hebrews
Christianity
Monotheistic religion that is based in the teachings of Jesus Christ and his followers
Hinduism
Polythestic religion that is based in the caste system and originated in India
Islam
Monotheistic religion that follows the five pillars and allah is the god
Conservatism
Political philosophy based on 19th century belief in tradition and stability, highlighted during the congress of Vienna
Imperialism
The extension of a nations power over other lands for political or economic gain; spreading ideas and culture to other nations; “civilize the uncivilized”
Liberalism
Political philosophy based on 19th century belief that people should have rights protected by the government
Nationalism
Unique cultural identity of the people based on common language, religions and national symbols
Absolutism
A system of government in which a ruler holds total power by divine right
Secularism
More worldly viewpoint; focus on science rather than faith
Ethnocentrism
View that ones culture and group are superior to another’s
Culture
The set of shared attitudes values and goals of a group
Society
A group of people who live within a specific geographic area and share a common culture or feeling of unity
Indigenous
Native people
Cultural diffusion
The way in which ideas goods and services are exchanged from one culture to another and how they are used.
Emigration
Migrating or leaving one place to settle in another
Immigration
Coming to live permanently in a foreign country
Heliocentric
Sun is at the center of the universe
Geocentric
Earth is at the center of the universe
Galileo
Beloved in the heliocentric model and challenged the church with this view
Isaac Newton
Identification of universal laws. New way of thinking about the world around us. Work influenced the views brought forth in the enlightenment
Printing press
Developed by Gutenberg during the renaissance. It allowed for the mass production of literature, mostly the Bible. It made information accessible to many more people and increased literacy and communication
Enlightenment
The application of the scientific method to the discovery of human nature to improve government and society
General will
Rousseau. What is good for people as a whole
Separation of powers
Montesquieu. Form of government in which branches limit and control each other through checks and balances.
Natural rights
Locke. God given rights received at birth to all humans, life liberty and property.
Social contract
Rousseau. Society’s agreement to be governed by a common purpose.
John lock
- natural rights
- everyone is born w/ a clean slate and society shapes what you become
- arguments were used to support various constitutional governments across the world
- if government fails to protect you then overthrow it
- book: Two Treatises of Government
Baron de Montesquieu
• separation of powers and checks and balances to ensure individual liberties
Voltaire
- government must protect freedom of religion
* “I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- social contract bound people to work for the good of society (general will)
- believed that man is born with natural rights but it is the government and wrongs of society that hold them back
Adam smith
- father of modern economics
- believed in laissez fair system where government did not regul8 what happened in the economy and let people work freely (capitalism)
- wealth of nations
French Revolution time period
1789-1799
How was the French Revolution similar to the American revolution
They were both fighting for a government that represents the people
