Midterm Study Guide Flashcards
What type of government was used before the Enlightenment?
Monarchy
What institution was even more powerful than the royalty during the Dark Ages?
Catholic church
How was science treated at the time?
Because they went against official church teachings, any science that the church didn’t agree with was criticized, tortured, or killed.
What is the Enlightenment?
The enlightenment is a time period of immense change. It contained an explosion of ideas that focused on individual happiness and rights through logic and reason.
What are the three largest effects of the Enlightenment?
Less religious outlook
Belief in Progress
Importance on the Individuals
What undermined the power and influence of the Catholic Church?
Scientific advances
During the Dark Ages, whose happiness was the most important? Afterwards?
Kings and Queens, The common people
What is the social contract?
An agreement between the citizens and the government to follow rules in return for safety
What are the three Natural Rights?
Life
Liberty
Property
According to John Locke, what is a government’s main concern?
To protect the natural rights of its citizens
How was the French and Indian War important in bringing about the American Revolution?
The war left the English in debt, which made them try to erase by taxing the colonists. The Colonists were upset about paying taxes AND not have representation.
What is Mercantilism?
The policy of linking national security to national wealth. This made the English view the colonies as nothing more than money makers
Why did the British occupy Boston, and pass the rest of the Intolerable Acts?
This was done in response to the Boston Tea Party, and were meant as a punishment for the colonists
What were the Intolerable Acts?
Occupying Boston and shutting down its harbor
Disbanding the colonial government and installing a dictator
Forcing colonists to house and feed the English troops
Allowing loyalists to be tried for crimes in England
Explain how the Enlightenment ideas inspired the American Revolution.
John Locke thought that a government was only supposed to be around to protect natural rights, and if it didn’t it should be overthrown. England was only trying to make itself richer, and wasn’t protecting our rights (the Navigation Acts, the Stamp Act, not allowed us to govern ourselves, forcing us to house their troops, etc.)
In what ways can you still see the impact of the Enlightenment on the United States government?
We have a government that focuses on protecting its citizens’ happiness. Voting rights, freedoms of speech religion, press, etc. 3 branches of government, trial by jury, no illegal search and seizure, capitalism
What things did the first and second estates (France) have in common?
All had political power, paid no taxes, were wealthy, and there were very few of them
What is the only quality that all 3rd estate members shared?
All lacked political power, and paid taxes
How large was the 3rd estate, and what kind of people did it encompass?
97% of the population. Included everyone from rich business owners, merchants and artisans to peasants and poor unskilled city workers and the homeless
Describe the living conditions for the peasants. Give specific examples.
Were small farmers who grew just enough food to survive on, gave half to the king. Lived in a one room house, with no windows or heat, ate anything they could find. Were very close to starvation all the time. Had no rights, were used only to make the king richer and more powerful
What are four economic problems that France had before the Revolution?
Raising taxes on the citizens caused an economic collapse
Droughts killed crops and made food too expensive to buy
France spent too much money help the colonists in the American Revolution
General overspending by the king and queen on themselves
In what two ways did the American Revolution help to bring about the French Revolution?
France spent so much money helping us, that they ruined their own economy
The successes of our revolution, and the government that followed were an inspiration to France
How did Enlightenment ideas helped bring about the French Revolution?
John Locke thought that a government was only supposed to be around to protect natural rights, and if it didn’t it should be overthrown. French peasants were only used to make the king richer, and the government was taking away the rights of the peasants. (Taking their food, no freedoms of speech or religion, executing peasants without a trial for small crimes.)
Which Estate took power in the French Revolution?
3rd
How did the Declaration of the Rights of Man change the government of France?
Got rid of estates, making all men equals
Made a parliament with the king still having power in the government
Government would focus on protecting the rights of its citizens
Why was all of Europe scared of the French Revolution?
They were afraid that the French peasant uprising would inspire peasants in other countries, and revolt against their kings
What is the Great Fear?
Peasants were scared of the Austrian invasion, thinking they were going to punish the lower classes for overthrowing the king. Peasants formed into roving militias that killed, burned, and stole from anyone they could. There was no government to stop the bands of thieves for weeks.
How would the new Jacobin-led government be different from the past?
They used the fear and lack of control in the countryside to convince people to give them power to stop the problems
What was Maximilien Robespierre able to do because he was the head of the Commission of Public Safety?
Execute anyone who opposed the revolution, or eventually who was his own enemy
How does the French Revolution provide an example of the dangers of democracy?
Democracy is not an easy government to type to run. This one let fear and ignorance overrule reason and education. Another thing it teaches is the danger of not protecting minority groups and people who have opposing views as the government.
What was life like before the Industrial Revolution?
Most people lived on small family farms, grew enough food to eat, most work was done by hand
How does industrialization change daily life?
Most of the work begins to be done by machine power
Work begins to be done outside the home in factories
What are two ways that the Agricultural Revolution helped to produce the Industrial Revolution?
Increased food production
Increased urban population
Where did Industrialization first start?
England
What are eight reasons that helped England industrialize?
Plenty of fuel for machines Stable Economy Natural Resources Stable Government Rivers for transport Trade routes already established Large harbors Large urban workforce without options or skills
Which industry was the first to industrialize?
Textiles
What are 3 improvements in Transportation, how does each one contribute to helping society?
Railroads - Allowed goods to be shipped faster and cheaper, created jobs, moved people to the cities
Steamboats - Goods could be shipped upstream, goods could be shipped faster and cheaper
Better drained roads - Allowed goods to be transported quickly
How do telegraphs and telephones change life during industrialization?
They sped up communications to minutes/secs vs. months
Why wouldn’t England let certain people out of their country?
The English wanted to keep the secret of industrialization to themselves
Where did industrialization appear first in the United States?
Lowell, Massachusetts
In what two ways was the factory work a positive for the workers in Lowell’s factories?
Gave fair wages
Gave women a small amount of freedom
What places in the world are in the process of becoming industrialized?
China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, etc.
Where has industrialization not started yet on a large scale?
Africa
What are 8 specific things that were wrong with the tenement housing or working conditions? (Not in the notes)
Low pay and long hours No police protection Very dangerous conditions Rooms too crowded Frequent disease outbreaks No running water No education Literally anything else that we’ve talked about
How did industrialization contribute to global inequality?
Countries that industrialized first were able to make a lot more money and weapons, which allowed them to take over non industrialized countries, and take their stuff.
How did the government help to cause the poor state of the working class?
They did not pass any laws that would hurt businesses, so companies took advantage of their workers
What are 7 short term changes that happened during the industrial revolution?
Lack of government rules No education for lower classes Poor working and living conditions Disease Factory owners grew richer Child Labor Poor became even more poor
What are five long term effects of Industrialization?
More individual wealth Better health and life expectancy Growth of a middle class Better education Building codes and business regulations enacted and enforced
