Unit 7 Key Terms and People

conservatism

a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favoring obedience to political authority and organized religion

nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

liberalism

A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.

utilitarianism

idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people

Individual Rights

Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

socialism

A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.

Bourgeoisie

middle class

Proletariat

working class

Das Kapital

Karl Marx's book that said all social classes should end and everyone should be equal with equal ownership of businesses

July Ordinances

edicts that Charles X issued; demolished the Charter, censored the press, reduced the electorate

Decemberist Revolt

rebellion in Russia; called for Constantine and Constitution Nicolas I Crushed it

Chartism

The principles of a body of 19th century English reformers and mass protests who advocated better social and economic conditions for working people.

People's Charter of 1838

called for suffrage for all men and annual Parliament elections

Great Reform Bill

Reformed British house of Commons and expanded electorate to include wider variety of propertied classes. Laid groundwork for further reforms in British constitution

Corn laws

These laws forbade the importation of foreign grain without the prices in England rising substantially

Revolutions of 1848

Democratic and nationalist revolutions that swept across Europe during a time after the Congress of Vienna when conservative monarchs were trying to maintain their power. The monarchy in France was overthrown. In Germany, Austria, Italy, and Hungary the revolutions failed.

June Days

These were the French workers' revolts in 1848 after the closure of the National Workshops

Concert of Europe

a series of alliances among European nations in the 19th century, devised by Prince Klemens von Metternich to prevent the outbreak of revolutions

Zollverein

The name of the free trade zone that German states created in the early 19th century, decades prior to their unification.

Austro-Prussian War

Also known as the Seven Weeks' War. This war was between Austria and Prussia, with Italy helping Prussia. It was over control of the German Confederation. Prussia won, and created the North German Confederation, of which Austria was not a part, and Italy received Venetia.

Franco-Prussian War

This was a major war between the French and the Germans in 1871 that brought about the unification of Germany. It was caused by Otto Von Bismarck altering a telegram from the Prussian King to provoke the French into attacking Prussia, thus hoping to get the independent German states to unify with Prussia (which they did, thus creating Germany).

Paris Commune

The small government in Paris who wanted to resist the conservative leaders of France and tried to form their own government

Bessemer Process

A way to manufacture steel quickly and cheaply by blasting hot air through melted iron to quickly remove impurities.

Second Industrial Revolution

Steel, chemicals, electricity. This is the name for the new wave of more heavy industrialization starting around the 1860s.

Railroads

Were essential to westward expansion because they made it easier to travel to and live in the west

Thomas Malthus

Eighteenth-century English intellectual who warned that population growth threatened future generations because, in his view, population growth would always outstrip increases in agricultural production.

David Ricardo

(1772-1823)-English economist who formulated the "iron law of wages," according to which wages would always remain at the subsistence level for the workers because of population growth.

John Stuart Mill

Arguably the most famous English philosopher and politician of the 1800s. Champion of liberty over unlimited state control. Also famous for adding falsification as a key component of the scientific method.

Jeremy Bentham

British philosopher and economist who advocated utilitarianism

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Wrote the Communist Manifesto

Karl Marx

1818-1883. 19th century philosopher, political economist, sociologist, humanist, political theorist, and revolutionary. Often recognized as the father of communism. Analysis of history led to his belief that communism would replace capitalism as it replaced feudalism. Believed in a classless society.

Charles X

set out to restore the absolute monarchy with the help of the ultraroyalists. Tried to repay nobles for lands lost during the revolution, but the liberals in teh legislative assemly opposed him. Eventually, he issued the July Ordinances.

Louis Napoleon

nephew of napoleon bonaparte, won the french presidential election in 1848, and named himself emperor Napoleon II in 1852

Carbonari

A secret revolutionary society working to unify Italy in the 1820s.