Decline of Feudalism and Enlightenment Ideas

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Questions and Answers

What event marked the end of feudalism in Britain?

The establishment of courts and juries by King Henry II

What principle was introduced by Magna Carta in 1215?

Habeas corpus

What ancient Greek thinker did the Renaissance draw inspiration from?

Aristotle

Who advocated for individual interpretation of The Bible in The Protestant Reformation?

Martin Luther Signup and view all the answers

What philosopher challenged the church's notion of innate knowledge?

John Locke Signup and view all the answers

What are the key ideas emphasized by John Locke?

Individual rights and the social contract Signup and view all the answers

Which key figure criticized the excesses of the clergy and nobility?

Voltaire Signup and view all the answers

Who authored The Leviathan, which presents a pessimistic view of human nature?

Thomas Hobbes Signup and view all the answers

What does Thomas Hobbes argue about the role of government?

A strong government is necessary to maintain order Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the English Revolution begin?

1688 Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of the American Revolution?

Creating a democratic republic with a presidential system Signup and view all the answers

What was the key outcome of the French Revolution?

The establishment of a republican government Signup and view all the answers

What landmark event happened in the Haitian Revolution?

The establishment of the first independent black nation in the world Signup and view all the answers

What are the defining features of Classical Liberalism?

Individual rights, limited government intervention, and the free market Signup and view all the answers

Who opposed the introduction of new machinery and technology, fearing it would lead to unemployment and social unrest?

Luddites Signup and view all the answers

What group advocated for universal suffrage, equal electoral districts, and payment for members of parliament?

Chartists Signup and view all the answers

What group argued that capitalism creates economic inequality and advocated for greater government intervention and regulation of the economy?

Socialists Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of Capitalism?

An economic system based on private ownership Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of Communism?

An economic system based on collective ownership Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of Humanitarianism?

A philosophy that emphasizes the importance of promoting human welfare Signup and view all the answers

Who is the prominent figure associated with Classical Conservatism?

Edmund Burke Signup and view all the answers

What is the central idea of Classical Conservatism?

The stability and continuity of society Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument against allowing all citizens to vote, as per Classical Conservatism?

Citizens are not educated enough to make informed decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What is welfare capitalism?

A system where businesses provide benefits and services to employees to promote social stability Signup and view all the answers

What are the main reasons for the implementation of Factory Acts?

To improve working conditions in factories Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a provision of the Factory Acts?

Providing financial assistance to factory workers Signup and view all the answers

What event triggered the Great Depression?

The 1929 crash of Wall Street Signup and view all the answers

What economic theory emphasizes the role of government spending and fiscal policy in stabilizing the economy?

Keynesian economics Signup and view all the answers

What are the three R's of the New Deal?

Relief, Reform, and Recovery Signup and view all the answers

What is a welfare state?

A system where the government provides a range of social services and benefits to its citizens Signup and view all the answers

What was the main factor driving the post-war economic boom?

A combination of all these factors Signup and view all the answers

What is a proxy war?

A conflict fought between countries using intermediaries rather than fighting directly Signup and view all the answers

What are the key factors that contributed to the rise of nationalism and communism in the early 20th century?

Economic instability, political ideology, and social unrest Signup and view all the answers

What is environmentalism?

A movement that seeks to protect the natural environment through sustainable development Signup and view all the answers

What is the core belief of Neoconservatism?

A strong belief in limited government, low taxes, and free market principles Signup and view all the answers

What are the key principles of 'Responsible Government'?

Representation, accountability, and transparency Signup and view all the answers

What is a Constitutional Monarchy?

A system of government where the monarch's powers are limited by a constitution or other laws Signup and view all the answers

What is Liberalism?

A political ideology that emphasizes individual freedom and rights Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Imposing Liberalism'?

Promoting liberal values and institutions in other countries through diplomacy, economic aid, or military intervention Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind Post-Modernism?

Reality is a social construct and emphasizes diversity and pluralism Signup and view all the answers

What is Extremism?

Politically extreme behaviors or actions, or economically extreme systems Signup and view all the answers

Explain how pandemics can challenge liberal principles.

Pandemics can challenge liberal principles by restricting individual liberties, like the right to travel or assembly, and by raising complex ethical questions about the balance between individual freedom and public health. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main issue highlighted by The Occupy Movement?

Income inequality and poverty Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered a socialist and advocates for aggressive progressive taxation?

John Stuart Mill Signup and view all the answers

Explain the main challenge to Liberalism posed by Capitalism?

Capitalism requires continual economic growth to attract investment and remain competitive, which puts strain on resources and accelerates climate change. Signup and view all the answers

What were the Jim Crow laws?

Segregation laws that created separate spaces for black and white people in the US. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main message of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech?

A vision of racial equality and a call for peaceful social change. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Feudalism in Britain declined with the establishment of courts and juries by Henry II (1154-1189).
King John's Magna Carta in 1215 introduced the principle of habeas corpus.
Habeas corpus ensures individuals know why they are arrested, have access to legal counsel, and receive a fair trial.

Renaissance and Protestant Reformation

The Renaissance revived ancient Greek thought, emphasizing human rationality and individualism.
Notable figures like Aristotle influenced this period of intellectual and artistic awakening.
The Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther, advocated for individual interpretation of the Bible.

Key Figures and Their Contributions

John Locke: Proposed empiricism, challenging the Church's concept of innate knowledge.
Locke emphasized individual rights and the social contract.
Voltaire: Challenged the divine right of kings and advocated for reason and tolerance.
Voltaire criticized the clergy and nobility's excesses.

Major Liberal Revolutions

English Revolution (1688-1689): Established a parliamentary monarchy, limiting the monarch's power.
American Revolution (1765-1783): Created a democratic republic, enshrining the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
French Revolution (1789-1799): Established principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, culminating in a republic.
Haitian Revolution (1791-1804): Led to the establishment of the first independent black nation globally and the abolition of slavery.

Classical Liberalism and its Critics

Classical liberalism emphasizes individual rights, limited government, and free markets.
Critics include Luddites (opposed to new machinery), Chartists (advocated for universal suffrage), and Socialists (criticized capitalist inequality and advocated for government intervention).
Key concepts are capitalism, socialism, communism, humanitarianism, and classical conservatism.

Economic Policies of the Gilded Age

The Gilded Age (in the US) saw economic growth and industrialization, alongside income inequality and worker exploitation.
Economic policies were characterized by laissez-faire capitalism (minimal government intervention), monopolies, and trust cartels (groups of businesses working together to control prices and limit competition).

The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era (in the US) was a period of reform and social change, led by progressive politicians like Theodore Roosevelt.
Economic policies included antitrust laws (to prevent monopolies) and regulation of businesses, as well as support for small businesses.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression (a global economic downturn) was triggered by the 1929 Wall Street Crash.
Causes include international market glut, a surge in American supply leading to plummeting prices, and panic selling of stocks.
Peak unemployment reached 30% in Canada and 25% in the US during this period.
Demand side economics (promoted by Keynes) argued for government intervention to control economic fluctuations.

The Welfare State

A welfare state provides social services and benefits to its citizens, including employment insurance, federal deposit insurance, and regulatory bodies like the SEC.

Post-War Boom

The post-war period witnessed a significant economic boom boosted by population growth, government spending, and Keynesian economic policies.

Proxy Wars

Proxy wars are conflicts fought between countries through intermediaries instead of directly.
Examples include the Vietnam War and the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.

Rise of Nationalism and Communism

The rise of nationalism and communism in the early 20th century was fueled by economic instability and appealing ideologies.

Environmentalism

Environmentalism seeks to protect the natural environment through sustainable development.
Early figures include John Muir.

Neoconservatism

Neoconservatism emphasizes low taxes, small government, and monetarist policies.

Post-Modernism

Post-modernism is an ideology that views reality as socially constructed, and it emphasizes diversity and pluralism.

Extremism

Extremism involves politically extreme behaviors and economically extreme systems.

Imposing Liberalism

Imposing liberalism involves promoting liberal values and institutions in other countries.
Approaches include diplomacy, economic aid, and military intervention.

Pandemics and Liberal Principles

Pandemics can challenge aspects of liberal principles, including freedom of movement and assembly.
The need for harm reduction is considered essential public health principle.

Public Infrastructure and Review of Unit 3

Privatization of public infrastructure has potential negative consequences like reduced service and disputes over repairs.
Neo-liberal policies have altered post-secondary aid in some countries.

Civic Participation

Civic engagement can influence government policy and lawmaking, and it is associated with higher levels of education.

Occupy Movement

The Occupy Movement highlighted issues of income inequality (the richest 3 billionaires with a combined $131 Billion).

The American Civil Rights Movement

The American Civil Rights Movement challenged segregation laws impacting schools, transportation, and restaurants.
Key figures and events include Plessy v. Ferguson, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and the March on Washington.

Important Thinkers

John Stuart Mill is an important thinker known for supporting progressive taxation.

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Description

Explore the transformation from feudalism to modern social contracts through key events such as the Magna Carta and influential figures like John Locke and Voltaire. This quiz covers the impact of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation on individual rights and rational thought. Test your knowledge on how these historical shifts laid the foundation for contemporary governance and society.