Regents study guide

Question 1

The Age of Absolutism (1600s-1700s)

Answer 1

A) The Age of Absolutism was the period in European history when nations were governed (ruled) by absolute monarchs.
B) The term “monarch” means “king.” Absolute monarchs were kings who had total control over the nations that they ruled.

Question 2

C) Key characteristics/features of absolute monarchs:

Answer 2

1) Absolute monarchs centralized political control, which means that they did not share power with anyone else.
2) Absolute monarchs believed in Divine Right, which was the idea that kings received their power to rule directly from God.
3) Absolute monarchs believed that their power was unlimited. They made laws without the consent (approval) of the people.

Question 3

D) Some important absolute monarchs include:

Answer 3

1) Peter the Great- He was the absolute monarch of Russia. He also westernized Russia, which means that he imitated the customs and traditions of countries in Western Europe in order to strengthen his nation.
2) Louis XIV- He was the absolute monarch of France.
3) Philip II- He was the absolute monarch of Spain.
4) Henry VIII- He was the absolute monarch of England.
5) Suleiman the Magnificent- He was the absolute monarch of the Ottoman Empire.
6) NOTE: In addition to knowing that these men were absolute monarchs, the Regents also wants you to know that Peter the Great, Louis XIV, and Suleiman the Magnificent helped expand (enlarge) the territory of their nations by taking over neighboring lands.

Question 4

Scientific Revolution (1500s-1600s)

Answer 4

A) The Scientific Revolution was a sudden and dramatic change in how people viewed the world. B) During the Scientific Revolution, science and reason (logic) were used to explain how the world worked. People no longer turned only to the Bible and the Catholic Church for answers.

Question 5

C) Key people of the Scientific Revolution:

Answer 5

1) Copernicus- Astronomer who developed the Heliocentric Theory- The idea that the planets revolve around the sun.
2) Galileo Galilei- Astronomer who proved that Copernicus was correct. He was put on trial by the Catholic Church because his ideas contradicted (went against) its teachings.
3) 3) Sir Isaac Newton- Mathematician and astronomer who developed calculus and the theory of gravity.
4) Johannes Kepler- Astronomer who helped discover how planets move.
5) Descartes- Mathematician, scientist, and philosopher.

Question 6

D) Key effects (results) of the Scientific Revolution:

Answer 6

1) It resulted in the spread of new ideas throughout Europe.
2) It challenged the traditional authority (power) of the Catholic Church since European scientists proved that many Church teachings were incorrect.
3) The new ideas of this period directly led to the Enlightenment (SEE NEXT TOPIC).

Question 7

The Enlightenment (170

Answer 7

A) The Enlightenment was the period in European history when reason (logic) was used to understand and improve society. In fact, the Enlightenment is often called “The Age of Reason.

Question 8

B) Key ideas of the Enlightenment:

Answer 8

1) Enlightenment philosophers believed that society could be improved by using reason (logic) and natural law (universal rules that are always true).
2) Enlightenment philosophers believed that governments receive their authority (power) from the people (NOT from God).
3) Enlightenment philosophers believed in democracy (a gov’t where the people have a say).
4) NOTE: The Regents likes you to know that the Scientific Revolution and the
Enlightenment both encouraged the spread of new ideas and the use of reason

Question 9

C) Key people of the Enlightenment:

Answer 9

1) John Locke- He believed that all people have natural rights (the right to life, liberty, and property). He also said that people have the right to overthrow governments that fail to protect these rights.
2) Baron de Montesquieu- In order to prevent kings from being too strong, he believed that power in government should be divided into three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) so that there is a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.
3) Voltaire- He believed that everyone is entitled to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
4) Rousseau- He believed that society is a social contract (an agreement in which all people agree to work for the common good of society).

Question 10

D) Key effects (results) of the Enlightenment:

Answer 10

1) Since Enlightenment philosophers believed that people can overthrow unfair
governments, the Enlightenment helped cause political revolutions in France, Latin America, and the United States (SEE NEXT TOPIC BELOW).
2) Enlightened Despots- These were European kings and queens who believed in Enlightenment ideas and ruled using Enlightenment principles (ideas)

Question 11

Political Revolutions

Answer 11

A political revolution is an event in which the people of a country overthrow an existing government and create a new government.

Question 12

The English Revolution/Glorious Revolution (1689)

Answer 12

A) The English Revolution (also called the Glorious Revolution) is the event in which the people of England successfully limited the power of their monarchs (kings).
B) The English Revolution took place because people in England believed that the absolute monarchs of England were unfair and had too much power.

Question 13

C) Key effects (results) of the English Revolution/Glorious Revolution

Answer 13

1) England’s government became a limited (or constitutional) monarchy- This is a form of government in which the power of monarchs (kings) is limited (decreased) by written laws.
2) Below is a list of laws that each limited the power of the English king in some way: a) The Magna Carta
b) The Petition of Right
c) The English Bill of Rights
d) Habeas Corpus
e) NOTE: As a result of these laws, English kings had to share power with Parliament (the lawmaking body of the English government that represents the people).

Question 14

French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815)

Answer 14

A) The French Revolution was the event in which the people of France overthrew their king (Louis XVI) and fought for more rights.

Question 15

B) Key causes of (reasons for) the French Revolution:

Answer 15

1) French society was divided into three estates (social classes). The people of the Third Estate were mostly peasants. They were angry that they had very few rights and paid the highest taxes (even though they had the least money).
2) France was ruled by absolute monarchs. The French people believed that these kings abused their power and denied (took away) the rights of the people.
3) The ideas of the Enlightenment inspired the French people to overthrow their unfair kings and to create a new government that protected their rights.
4) France was in an economic crisis- The kings spent too much money and put France in debt.

Question 16

C) Key events of the French Revolution:

Answer 16

1) Declaration of the Rights of Man- This was a document written during the French Revolution that gave equal rights to the men of France and created a fair system of taxation.
2) Reign of Terror- This was an event where the leaders of the French Revolution executed thousands of people that they believed were loyal to the king. The Jacobins were the radical (extreme) group leading this event and Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobins.

Question 17

D) Key effects (results) of the French Revolution:

Answer 17

1) King Louis XVI of France was executed by Robespierre and the Jacobins.
2) The middle class of France gained more power and rights.

Question 18

E) Napoleon Bonaparte

Answer 18

1) Napoleon Bonaparte was the ruler who came to power at the end of the French Revolution.
2) He expanded (enlarged) French territory by conquering neighboring lands in Europe. By doing so, he made French people feel nationalism (pride in their country).
3) NOTE: The Regents wants you to know that Napoleon was finally defeated in 1812 because he made a big error (mistake): He invaded Russia during the winter and the freezing climate (weather) of Russia killed thousands of his soldiers. The same mistake was later made by Hitler during WWII.

Question 19

Latin American Revolutions (1800-1830)

Answer 19

A) The Latin American Revolutions were the events where the colonies of Latin America (Central America, South America, and the Caribbean) fought to gain independence (self-government) from Spain, Portugal, and France.
D) NOTE: After gaining independence, attempts were made to unify (combine) the different areas of Latin America in order to form one country. These attempts failed because Latin America has many natural boundaries (i.e.- Andes Mountains, Amazon Rainforest, etc.) that prevent communication between regions.

Question 20

Key Events of World War II

Answer 20

A) Invasion of Poland- This event started WWII. Poland was quickly defeated by Germany because Poland lacks natural boundaries (i.e.- it has very flat plains that were easy to conquer).
B) Pearl Harbor- Japan launched a surprise attack against the United States. This event brought us into World War II.
C) NOTE: The Regents wants you to know that Hitler failed to conquer Russia (the Soviet Union) at the Battle of Stalingrad because of the harsh climate (severe winter) and large size of the nation. The same was true of Napoleon Bonaparte 130 years earlier. Geography has always been Russia’s best defense.
D) D-Day Invasion- This was the beginning of the final Allied push against Germany. It resulted in the eventual defeat of Germany.
E) Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki- This was the final event of World War II. The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. Japan surrendered soon after.
F) The Holocaust
1) This was the event during World War II in which Hitler and the Nazis tried to kill all Jews in Europe. 6 million Jews and 6 million non-Jews were killed during this event.
2) The Holocaust is an example of genocide- the attempt to exterminate (kill off) an entire group of people. All genocides are considered human rights violations.

Question 21

Effects (Results) of World War II: UN

Answer 21

A) Formation of the United Nations
1) The United Nations is the organization that was created after World War II in order to solve international problems (like poverty and disease) and prevent future wars.
2) 191 nations (almost the entire world) currently belong to the United Nations.
3) The United Nations is made of 6 main bodies. 4 of them are:
a) The Security Council- Keeps peace between nations.
b) International Court of Justice- Settles disputes between countries.
c) General Assembly- Votes on key policies of the United Nations.
d) Secretariat- Responsible for day-to-day administration of the United Nations.
4) Declaration of Human Rights- This was a document created by the United Nations that lists the rights that ALL people should have within their nations. This includes the right to freedom of speech, the right to life, and the right to participate in government.

Question 22

Effects (Results) of World War II: Nuremberg Trials

Answer 22

1) This is the court case where the surviving Nazis who helped Hitler carry out the Holocaust were put on trial.
2) 19 Nazi leaders were executed or sentenced to imprisonment as a result of “crimes against humanity” (i.e.- genocide).
3) NOTE: The Nuremberg Trials are important because they demonstrated that individuals in government could be held accountable (responsible) for their actions

Question 23

The Cold War (1945-1991)

Answer 23

A) The Cold War was a 50 year struggle between the United States (a democratic nation) and the Soviet Union (a communist nation) after World War II. It is called a “cold” war because the United States and the Soviet Union never directly fought each other.

Question 24

B) Key events and characteristics/features of the Cold War:

Answer 24

1) After World War II, the Soviet Union took over the small nations of Eastern Europe and turned them into communist satellites (i.e.- nations dominated by the Soviet Union).
2) “Iron Curtain”- This was a term used by Winston Churchill to describe the imaginary line dividing the democratic countries of Western Europe from the communist countries of Eastern Europe.
3) Containment- This was the policy used by the United States in which it attempted to stop the spread of communism. Two examples of containment were:
a) Truman Doctrine- The United States gave $400 million in economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to help them defeat communist groups within their
countries.
b) Marshall Plan- The United States gave $13 billion to the countries of Western
Europe to help them rebuild after World War II.
4) Crisis in Germany
a) After World War II, Germany was divided into 2 nations. West Germany became a democratic nation. East Germany became a communist nation controlled by
the Soviet Union.
b) Berlin Wall- Concrete wall built by the Communists around the city of West
Berlin to prevent people in East Germany from fleeing to West Germany.
c) Berlin Airlift- Event in which the United States, Britain, and France flew in
supplies to the people of West Berlin after Stalin set up a blockade.
5) Military alliances- Both the United States and Soviet Union formed their own military alliances in order to be prepared for a possible war:
a) NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)- This was a military alliance between the United States, Canada, and the democratic nations of Western Europe. The
nations of this alliance agreed than an attack on one nation in the alliance was
considered to be an attack on all of the nations of the alliance.
b) Warsaw Pact- This was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and the
other Communist nations of Eastern Europe.
6) Hungarian Revolution of 1956- When Hungary (a communist satellite controlled by the Soviet Union) tried to break away from Soviet control, the Soviet Union sent in the army and repressed (ended) the rebellion.
7) Arms Race- The United States and Soviet Union competed to build up the largest supply of nuclear weapons.
8) Cuban Missile Crisis
a) Began when the United States discovered that the Soviet Union was building
missile bases in Cuba (a new Communist nation) and pointing nuclear missiles at
the United States.
b) The crisis ended when the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles.
c) This event is the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war between
countries.
9) NOTE: During the Cold War, Korea and Vietnam (two nations in East Asia) were each divided into 2 separate countries. One side of each country became communist and the other side became democratic. The Korean War and the Vietnam War were the result of this situation. Today, North Korea is still communist and South Korea is still democratic. After the Vietnam War, all of Vietnam became one united communist nation.

Question 25

Economic Cooperation

Answer 25

After World War II, various regions of the world started to create organizations that were designed to increase trade and promote economic prosperity (wealth). Two of these organizations include:
1) European Union (E.U.)- This is an organization that now includes 27 countries in Europe. They have decreased tariffs (taxes) and now use a single form of currency (money) called “The Euro.”
2) North American Free Trade Agreement (N.A.F.T.A.)- This is an organization that includes the United States, Canada, and Mexico. By decreasing tariffs (taxes), this organization has increased trade between the 3 main countries of North America.
3) NOTE: These 2 organizations are examples of economic cooperation and
interdependence (countries working together and relying on each other).

Question 26

Oil Politics

Answer 26

A) Oil (also called petroleum) is among the world’s most important natural resources.
B) NOTE: Most of the world’s oil is located in the Middle East. Oil is the main reason why the Middle East has developed wealth and influence.
C) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (O.P.E.C.)
1) This is an organization that was created by the main oil-producing countries of the world.
2) NOTE: Together, the member countries of O.P.E.C. determine the price of oil as well as production levels (i.e.- the amount of oil available to other countries)

Question 27

Communism in China (1949-Present): Mao Zedong

Answer 27

1) He was the first Communist dictator of China.
2) NOTE: He gained the support of peasants because he promised to provide them with their own land once the Communists were brought to power.
3) Great Leap Forward
a) This was the attempt by Mao to modernize (update) the industrial (factory) and agricultural (farm) production of China.
b) Peasants in China were forced to move onto large government farms.
c) NOTE: This program was very similar to the Five Year Plans and Collectivization that took place in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.
d) NOTE: Both Mao and Stalin had a command (or communist) economy in which the government owned businesses and farms and made all economic decisions.
4) Cultural Revolution- This was a period in China where Mao used violent young Communist soldiers (known as Red Guards) to eliminate all of the opposition (enemies) that he had within China.

Question 28

Communism in China (1949-Present): Deng Xiaoping

Answer 28

1) He was the ruler in China after Mao Zedong.
2) Deng changed the economy of China from a command/communist economy (in which the government owns businesses) to a market/capitalist/free enterprise economy (in which individuals own businesses). This is the system that is largely used in China today.
3) Tiananmen Square Protests/Massacre (1989)
a) This was a series of protests where the Chinese peacefully demanded democratic reforms (changes)- They wanted more rights and a say in government.
b) Deng Xiaoping called in the army to repress (end) the protests. Hundreds of
Chinese protesters were killed or arrested.
c) This proved that China’s government was not willing to make democratic
changes.

Question 29

Communism in China (1949-Present): Current issues in China

Answer 29

1) China controls the Buddhist region of Tibet. The people of Tibet want independence (self-government).
2) China denies its people human rights (such as freedom of speech and the right to vote).
3) In order to prevent overpopulation (China has 1.3 billion people), the government of China only allows each family to have one child

Question 30

Intro to Decolonization

Answer 30

A) Decolonization is the period after World War II in which the nations of Africa and Asia finally gained independence (self-government) from the European (Western) nations that controlled them.

Question 31

Decolonization in India (1948)

Answer 31

A) After World War II, India gained independence (self-government) from Great Britain (England). This was largely due to the efforts of Mohandas Gandhi (DISCUSSED EARLIER IN PACKET).
B) In order to prevent conflict (war) between Hindus and Muslims, the region that was controlled by Great Britain was divided into two separate countries:
1) India- Nation created for the Hindus of the region.
2) Pakistan- Nation created for the Muslims of the region.
3) NOTE: Despite the creation of two separate nations, there is still ethnic tension between Hindus and Muslims in the region. Kashmir is an area near India and Pakistan that both nations claim to control. The situation is dangerous since both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons.

Question 32

Decolonization in India (1948): India after independence

Answer 32

1) India established a democratic government.
2) India followed a policy of nonalignment (or neutrality) during the Cold War, which means that it did not take sides. It remained neutral.
3) Caste System- Although India’s constitution prevents discrimination against the lowest social classes (or castes) in India, there continues to be discrimination in rural (farming) areas since tradition remains strong there. Discrimination against untouchables (the lowest class/caste) is especially severe.

Question 33

Decolonization in Africa (1945-1980)

Answer 33

A) Between 1945 and 1980, the many nations of Africa finally gained independence (self government) from the European (or Western) nations that controlled them.
B) Independence was achieved largely due to the efforts of nationalist leaders who led movements to gain self-government. Two leaders that fought to gain independence from Great Britain (England) include:
1) Jomo Kenyatta- Gained independence for Kenya.
2) Kwame Nkrumah- Gained independence for Ghana.

Question 34

C) South Africa after independence

Answer 34

1) After independence, white Europeans still controlled the government of South Africa. They established the racist system known as apartheid.
2) Apartheid was the system of racial segregation that was used in South Africa from 1948 until 1990. Black South Africans were required to use separate bathrooms, attend separate schools, carry identification passbooks, and even go to separate beaches.
3) Nelson Mandela
a) Black South African nationalist leader who fought against Apartheid.
b) He was imprisoned for 27 years by the white South African government.
c) Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa after apartheid officially came to an end in 1990.

Question 35

D) Rwanda after independence

Answer 35

1) During the 1990s, there was serious ethnic conflict between two groups in the African nation of Rwanda: the Hutus and the Tutsis.
2) 1994- The Hutus slaughtered 800,000 Tutsis in only a few months. This was an example of genocide (the attempt to exterminate a group of people) and it was a major human rights violation.