Modern World History Honors Final Exam Study Guide

M12: The Enlightenment

Key Figures
- Mary Wollstonecraft: Advocated for equal rights and education for men and women.
- John Locke: Promoted self-government, believed in learning through experience, and introduced the idea of Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, Property).
- Thomas Hobbes: Viewed people as selfish, supported absolute monarchy, and believed government should maintain law and order.
- Diderot: Compiled the Encyclopedia to spread Enlightenment ideas.
- Adam Smith: Proposed free market economy to drive progress.
Concepts
- Checks and Balances: Influenced by Montesquieu to ensure no government branch is too powerful.
- Censorship: Government and church censored ideas undermining authority.
- Federal Republic: Power divided between national and state governments for fair representation.

Estate System
- First Estate: Clergy, 1% of population, 10% land, minimal taxes.
- Second Estate: Nobles, 2% of population, 20% land, opposed Enlightenment.
- Third Estate: Bourgeoisie, workers, and peasants; heavily taxed and lacked privileges.
Causes of Revolution
- Government debt, economic inequality, Enlightenment ideas.
Key Events
- Estates-General: Led to the formation of the National Assembly.
- Tennis Court Oath: Delegates vowed to draft a constitution.
- National Assembly: Limited monarchy power through the Constitution of 1791.
- Reign of Terror: Led by Robespierre, justified use of terror to uphold revolution ideals.
- Robespierre's Execution: Marked end of the Reign of Terror.
- Napoleon: Rose to power, stabilized France, faced defeat at Waterloo, and was exiled.

Social Changes
- People moved from rural areas to urban centers, leading to urbanization.
- Enclosure movement increased agricultural productivity.
Technological Advances
- Steam Power: Revolutionized industry and transportation; James Watt improved the steam engine.
- Agricultural Revolution: Boosted crop yields, facilitated urban migration.
- Textile Industry: First industrial growth, employed many women under harsh conditions.
- Factory Acts: Improved working conditions, especially concerning child labor.
Living Conditions
- Tenement Houses: Overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions.
- Luddites: Protested against mechanization.

Colonial Structures
- Colony: Controlled directly by another country.
- Protectorate: Indirect control.
- Sphere of Influence: Exclusive trade rights.
Significant Events
- Boer War: Sparked by resource discoveries, led to war with Britain.
- Ethiopia: Resisted colonization under Menelik II.
- Berlin Conference: Divided Africa among European nations without African input.
Concepts
- Geopolitics: Land interest due to strategic value.
- Cash Crops: Led to famines by prioritizing market crops over sustenance.
- Colonial Rule: Direct (French) vs. Indirect (British) rule.
Technological Advantages
- Enabled Europeans to colonize effectively through advanced weapons, steam power, and medicine.