Absolutism
Political theory in which all of the power of the government is placed in a single individual, usually a king or queen. This can also refer to the time period in Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth century
Atlantic System
- A network of trade that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Europeans sold slaves from west Africa to work the plantations in the Americas. The Europeans then bought the commodities made off the plantations.
Bourgeois
The middle class in a Marxist society
Bureaucracy
- a system of government in which the most important decisions are made by state officials rather than elected representatives
Civil Disobedience
- a form of protest in which people break unjust laws. (Associated with people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.)
Cold War
-Rivalry after World War II between the United States (democracy/capitalism) and Soviet Union (Communism) and their allies. Each country wanted to spread their political system around the world.
Communism
- An economic ideology, created by Karl Marx, in which all the means of production are owned by the people and divided evenly. There are no social classes.
Constitutionalism
- Belief that a government should be based on a constitution, and that the government should be limited in its powers. This is based on the ideas of John Locke.
Decolonization -
process in which colonies/territories became independent after being ruled by another
Democracy
- a government in which the people directly impact government, either by voting on laws or by voting in representatives.
Despot
- an absolute ruler
Enlightenment
- An intellectual and philosophical movement in the 18th century that stressed reason and logic
Fascism
- a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism (Example - Mussolini in Italy 1922-1943)
Feudalism Feudalism
- a social system in Medieval Europe in which land was given in exchange for protection (For more details and to see the feudal social pyramid go to this link http://www.lordsandladies.org/feudalism-pyramid.htm)
Globalization
- the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments of different nations
Historiography
- The writing of history, how the study of history has changed and evolved (the history of history)
Ideology
- a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Imperialism
- a stronger nation takes over a weaker nation and gains control of it economically, politically, and socially.
Industrialization
- Process in which a society changes from an agrarian (agriculture) one to one based on the manufacturing of goods; the creation of factories
Laissez-faire
- an economic system that operations without the interference of government. The word is French for "leave alone.
Marxism
- An economic and social system based on Karl Marx (and Friedrich Engels). It is based on the theory in which class struggle is the central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies. It is the opposite of Capitalism. (A good explanation can be found here https://www.nyu.edu/projects/ollman/docs/what_is_marxism.php)
Militarism
- the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
Nationalism
- ideology based on the premise that the individual's loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests; pride for you country
Primary Sources
- A source created during the time period under study
Republic
- form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives.
Revolution
- a fundamental change in political power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time when the population rises up in revolt against the current authorities.
Secondary Source
- a source that was created by someone who did not first-hand experience the event, created after the fact through primary sources. (Example - textbook)
Socialism
- a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole for the well-being of all
Total War
- all of the country's resources are devoted to the war effort
Urbanization
- population shift from rural to urban areas; the creation of cities
Westernization
- Using western society and culture as a model for change