Short Answers Flashcards
Cotton textiles
Cotton became more widely used because it was more breathable, durable, lightweight, how cheap and it could come in a variety of colors. It was much cheaper because India’s agriculture was more productive and efficient than Britain. India was a huge supplier of cotton textile to the world, especially to England in the 1700s. Britain, however, reversed this in the 18th century by raising tariffs on imports to Britain of India textiles and having colonies in America.
Eli Whitney invented a machine in 1793 that lead to a greater production of cotton.
Later invented machines that could run on steam power and could produce cotton textile cheaper and more efficiently. Eventually Britain was able to cheaply sell cotton to the world and took over this trade.
Hysteria
19th century. Was a condition that woman were diagnosed with when they were acting weird and strange. Doctors did not know what was going on so they told people that they had hysteria. Symptoms of this include: faintness, nervousness, sexual desire, insomnia, fluid retention, heaviness in abdomen, muscle spasm, shortness of breath, irritability, loss of appetite for food or sex, and “a tendency to cause trouble”. It used to be frequently used, but is no longer a legitimate medical condition.
The Rocket
- Created by Robert Stephenson. A train that was like a hay ride; people would jump on the back for a ride. Was the first of its kind and could travel up to 27 mph (which was considered to be extremely fast at the time). Coal-powered and the engine used boilers. On the opening day of the Rocket, William Huskisson, a member of Parliament, encountered an accident involving the Rocket. He was knocked down and his leg was severely injured from the Rocket. He was transported onto one of the locomotives, but the train wasn’t fast enough to get him to the hospital in time, leading to his death
The Nemesis
- Was the first all-iron gunboat designed for fighting in the rivers of Asia. Commissioned by British East India Company. Developed this because they were interested in colonial holdings in Asian and India. Was built in 3 months and destroyed several Chinese ships since it can maneuver against the currents. Used to defeat China in the first Opium War and it symbolized the immense changes that had occurred in Britain in the 40 years since Macartney left. Represents the application of tools of the industrial revolution like steam and iron and the tools of war in general.
Wahhabism
dominant form of Islam in modern Saudi Arabia. Founded by Muhammad ibn Abd’ al-Wahhab (1703-1792), who found offense by those who venerated saints. He wanted people to realize the uniqueness of God and to return to simplicity based on the Quran and the Sunnah. He created an alliance with the local leader, Muhammad ibn’ Sa’ud and together, they spread the religion across the Arabian Peninsula. Al- Wahhab’s grandson, ‘Abd- Allah succeeded him and partook in the Saudi seizure of Mecca in 1803. These people believed that they were protected in this holy war by God and were thus able to overtake Mecca. The people of Mecca recognized that Wahhabism was best. ‘Alb-Allah took his people to tear down Mecca churches, burn immoral places, and engage in prayer.
They believe that Muhammed is the most exalted prophet by God and that good and evil come from God. Drinking coffee, reciting poetry, worshipping saints, playing music, and praising kings is prohibited. Playing games are allowed.
Liberalism (19th century/1800s)-
Business men who wanted some power. Middle parts of society and they wanted a change in society and government for the middle class. They wanted a constitution to restrain the elite class and these written rules would enforce the police as well. They wanted more say in their government but did not want universal male suffrage because the lower class should not be able if not educated. Woman cannot vote either because they are not rational enough to know what they want.
Rubber
became very important by the 1900’s and continued to increase. Needed especially for tires. The majority of natural rubber was grown in the tropics, but industrial power plants were located in temperate areas, which led to global problems. The conditions for producing rubber was hot and exhausting; many natives who worked in the tropics were threatened with extreme violence if they did not reach a maximum output of rubber. The prices of rubber reached its peak in 1910 and its low in 1932. The Ford Company bought 2.5 million acres in the Amazon Jungle, but it was a disaster because other vegetation grew there and rubber trees had to be spread out, making work less productive. If Ford had bought land in Southeast Asia and Africa at the time, they would have had much better productivity and less problems. Today, the most productive outputs for rubber are in Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
El Niño
1800-1900. (Global climate pattern.) A harvest failure that affected a vast majority of the world. Brought extensive rainfall to the wheat belt of North America and brought drought to Asia, northern and western Africa, and northeast Brazil, and flooding Argentina. Three times this drought affected the third world. 30-50 million people died of famine across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This disaster worked with the European Dominated world economy. Most of these third world countries governments were unwilling or unable to help and some colonies were more focused on ensuring smooth working of free market and revenues than preventing famine
Maxim Gun
1880s. Was the first self powered machine gun and was used in the British Imperial conquest. Was invented by an American but he went over to England in order to get his invention noticed and supported since it was the center of the world power. Is a symbol of imperialism because it was used to fight against the natives in countries that were being taken over. England used it in Africa and it allowed for the British to beat them in only 5 hours with only 20 lives lost and 10,000 Sudanese killed.
MAD
“Mutually Assured Destruction” The only thing that stopped the Soviets and the United States from launching nuclear bombs at each other during the Cold War. They both knew that if the other launched a nuclear weapon that the other country would do the same and so both countries would lose. This made this war have no victor or loser or armistice but rather came to the fact that both countries would be destroyed if anyone launched weapons.
Cigarette
the 20th century saw the invention of cigarettes because they were fast and in ready to use packages. People no longer had time to pack tobacco. Cigarettes were more feminine and women were seen smoking them often but it was still not seen as very feminine to do. Many upper class homes had rooms where you could smoke and the lower classes would smoke on their breaks.
Social Darwinism
- Individuals groups and people are subject to the Darwinian laws of natural selection. Survival of the fittest will survive and this can be seen through the rise of the West since they had all the right technology and equipment to allow them to become in power. Was used in society to explain why some people were poor and others were rich and why some societies were advanced and others were not. This idea really came about because people thought it gave them a scientific answer to the fact that Europe was controlling the world when other parts were starving due to El Nino and others were easily taken over by these powers. The poor (Africans, Asians, Native Americans) deserved their fate since it was “natural”. People also came to believe that genetic manipulation had given valuable assets to North European and eliminated bad traits associated with the poor. So many countries tried to encourage light skin people to come to their countries to help them get better lives. This lead to racist thoughts and would be the cause to some of the genocides that we see in history
Schlieffen Plan
Germany’s plan for victory in case they had to fight France and Russia. Early 20th century. The plan was to quickly defeat the French so they would not have to worry about the west attacking them. Did not work because the French had a counter attack in Paris and the Russians were fast to aid the French and protect their borders.
