Unit 5 of AP World History, covering 1800-1914, is a crucial period marked by significant global transformations. Mastering its vocabulary is key to success. This guide provides definitions and context for key terms, helping you not only understand the concepts but also effectively utilize them in essays and discussions. We'll explore the vocabulary thematically, making it easier to grasp the interconnectedness of these historical events.
Industrialization and its Impacts
- Industrial Revolution: The period of major technological advancements, particularly in Britain, starting in the late 18th century, that fundamentally changed manufacturing, transportation, and society. This involved shifts from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, and the increasing use of steam power.
- Factory System: A system of manufacturing in which workers, often using specialized machinery, carry out tasks in a centralized location. This led to increased production but also significant social and economic changes, including urbanization and the rise of a working class.
- Mass Production: The production of large quantities of standardized goods, often using assembly lines and specialized labor. This dramatically lowered the cost of goods and made them more widely accessible.
- Capitalism: An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, free markets, and competition. The Industrial Revolution saw the rise of capitalism as the dominant economic system in many parts of the world.
- Proletariat: The working class, typically employed by capitalists in factories or other industrial settings during the Industrial Revolution. Marxist theory identified this class as the revolutionary force that would overthrow capitalism.
- Bourgeoisie: The middle class, typically associated with business owners and professionals. In Marxist theory, they are the class that owns the means of production under capitalism.
- Urbanization: The increasing concentration of populations in cities. Industrialization drove massive urbanization as people migrated from rural areas seeking work in factories.
- Tenements: Crowded and unsanitary multifamily dwellings, typically occupied by the working class in industrial cities. These often lacked basic amenities and contributed to public health problems.
- Socialism: A political and economic ideology advocating for public or collective ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, aiming for greater social and economic equality. Different forms of socialism existed, ranging from utopian socialism to revolutionary Marxism.
- Communism: A socioeconomic ideology advocating for a classless society with communal ownership of property and the absence of private property or social classes. Communism, as envisioned by Marx, was intended to be the final stage of historical development.
Imperialism and its Consequences
- Imperialism: A policy of extending a nation's authority and influence through diplomacy or military force. The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a new wave of imperialism, driven by industrial needs and a sense of national competition.
- Colonialism: The establishment and maintenance of control over a territory and its people by a foreign power, often involving settlement and the exploitation of resources. Colonialism was a key feature of the period's imperialism.
- Sphere of Influence: A region within which a particular nation exercises significant economic or political influence, often without formal colonial control. This approach was prevalent in China during the late 19th century.
- Scramble for Africa: The intense competition among European powers in the late 19th century to colonize the African continent. This led to the rapid partition of Africa among various European nations.
- Paternalism: A policy or practice in which a dominant group exercises control over a subordinate group, ostensibly for the subordinate group's benefit. This was often justified by imperial powers as a civilizing mission.
- Indirect Rule: A system of colonial administration in which local rulers were retained as intermediaries between the colonial power and the population. This approach was sometimes used to maintain stability and minimize the costs of administration.
- Direct Rule: A system of colonial administration in which the colonial power directly governs the territory, often replacing local rulers with its own officials. This was more common in areas where the colonial power encountered resistance or sought greater control.
Nationalism and its Expressions
- Nationalism: A strong sense of loyalty and devotion to one's nation, often characterized by a shared culture, language, and history. The 19th century witnessed the rise of nationalism as a powerful force shaping political events.
- National Identity: The shared characteristics and beliefs that unite a group of people as a nation. This can be based on various factors, including ethnicity, language, culture, or shared history.
- Zionism: A nationalist movement advocating for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. This movement gained momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Pan-Slavism: A nationalist movement advocating for the unity of all Slavic peoples. This movement played a significant role in the events leading up to World War I.
This vocabulary list provides a solid foundation for understanding Unit 5. Remember to connect these terms to specific historical events and analyze their interconnectedness to achieve a deeper understanding of this transformative period in world history. Further research into individual terms and their historical context will solidify your knowledge and prepare you for success on the AP World History exam.
