Unit 6: Reason and Revolution Vocabulary

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions. It was a movement that did not accept the old traditional ideas, instead create new ways, innovations, and reason to reshape society.

Tennis Court Oath

A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789, in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution

Industrial Revolution

A series of improvements in industrial technology that transformed the process of manufacturing goods.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power. This was an idea formulated by Montesquieu.

Social Contract

A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules. people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior

Great Fear

A wave of senseless panic that spread through the French countryside after the storming of the Bastille in 1789

Baroque

An artistic style of the seventeenth century characterized by complex forms, bold ornamentation, and contrasting elements

Urbanization

An increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements. (The growth of a city)

Philsophe

French for philosopher; means enlightened thinker, member of a group of Enlightenment thinkers who tried to apply the methods of science to the improvement of society

Adam Smith

Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneer of political economics. Seen today as the father of Capitalism. Wrote On the Wealth of Nations (1776) One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee the rights of all US citizens. (Rights in relation to government)

Divine Right

the idea that monarchs are God's representatives on earth and are therefore answerable only to God. Essentially states, that the monarch, king, or superior authority has absolute power of the people due to God choosing them as the "chosen one" to rule over the nation.

Rousseau

(1712-1778) Believed that society threatened natural rights and freedoms. Wrote about society's corruption caused by the revival of sciences and art instead of it's improvement. He was sponsored by the wealthy and participated in salons but often felt uncomfortable and denounced them. Wrote "The Social Contract."

Congress of Vienna

(1814-1815 CE) Meeting of representatives of European monarchs called to reestablish the old order after the defeat of Napoleon.

Enlightened

(adj.) free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding

John Locke (1632-1704)

1. English philosopher who wrote "The Second Treatise of Government" 2. Viewed humans as basically rational beings who learn from experience 3. Formulated the theory of natural rights, arguing that people are born with basic rights to "life, liberty, and property" 4. Insisted that governments are formed to protect natural rights 5. Stated that the governed have a right to rebel against rulers who violate natural rights

Simon Bolivar

1783-1830, Venezuelan statesman: leader of revolt of South American colonies against Spanish rule. Tried adapting to democratic ideas and reforms of the nations he had liberated.

Mary Wollstonecraft

English writer and early feminist who denied male supremacy and advocated equal education for women. Was known for her great work in feminism and she wrote the vindication of rights of women.

Estates General

France's traditional national assembly with representatives of the three estates, or classes, in French society: the clergy, nobility, and commoners. The calling of the Estates General in 1789 led to the French Revolution.

National Assembly

French Revolutionary assembly (1789-1791). Called first as the Estates General, the three estates came together and demanded radical change. It passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789.

Montesquieu

French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755) The Spirit of Laws is Montesquieu's best known work in which he reflects on the influence of climate on society, the separation of political powers, and the need for checks on a powerful executive office.

Voltaire

French writer. exemplified "spirit" of Enlightenment. wrote satires on French monarchy. imprisoned. (Freedom of Speech)

Thomas Jefferson

He was a delegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress and wrote the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the third President of the United States.

Factors of Production

Land, labor, and capital; the three groups of resources that are used to make all goods and services

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Leader of the Haitian Revolution. He freed the slaves and gained effective independence for Haiti despite military interventions by the British and French. He was a Haitian general.

Nationalism/Revolution

Loyalty and devotion to a nation. identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. advocacy of or support for the political independence of a particular nation or people. a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system

Neoclassical

Major Western artistic style from 1600s to 1800s. Symmetry, Greek/ Roman influence, patterns, simple in color

Maximilian Robespierre (1758-1794)

One of the leaders of the Jacobin party and part of the Committee of public safety. Was totally for the reign of terror and believed it was the only way to have a successful revolution

Marie Antoinette

Queen of France (as wife of Louis XVI) who was unpopular her extravagance and opposition to reform contributed to the overthrow of the monarchy; she was guillotined along with her husband (1755-1793)

Latin American Revolution

Series of risings in the Spanish colonies of Latin America (1810-1826) that established the independence of new states from Spanish rule but that for the most part retained the privileges of the elites despite efforts at more radical social rebellion by the lower classes.

Old Regime

The Political and Social system that existed in France before the French Revolution

Industrialization

The development of industries for the machine production of goods.

Crop Rotation

The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.

French Revolution

The revolution that began in 1789, overthrew the absolute monarchy of the Bourbons and the system of aristocratic privileges, and ended with Napoleon's overthrow of the Directory and seizure of power in 1799.

Catherine the Great

This was the empress of Russia who continued Peter's goal to Westernizing Russia, created a new law code, and greatly expanded Russia. The longest reining empress of Russia

Reign of Terror

This was the period in France where Robespierre ruled and used revolutionary terror to solidify the home front. He tried rebels and they were all judged severely and most were executed.

Haitian Revolution

Toussaint l'Ouverture led this uprising, which in 1790 resulted in the successful overthrow of French colonial rule on this Caribbean island. This revolution set up the first black government in the Western Hemisphere and the world's second democratic republic (after the US). The US was reluctant to give full support to this republic led by former slaves.

Entrepreneur

a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

Salon

a social gathering of intellectuals and artists, like those held in the homes of wealthy women in Paris and other European cities during the Enlightenment They were places to discuss important topics of the enlightenment, which were often own by women of the age.

Balance of Power

distribution of military and economic power that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong. (Making sure one nation was not too power to another)