Unit 1: Intellectual Revolutions in Europe (1500-1800) PDF

Unit 1: Intellectual Revolutions in Europe (1500-1800) Key Topics: Scientific Revolution: ○ Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and the Scientific Method. ○ Bacon and the shift to evidence-based reasoning. Political Philosophies: ○ Hobbes: Leviathan; absolute rul...

Unit 1: Intellectual Revolutions in Europe (1500-1800) Key Topics: Scientific Revolution: ○ Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and the Scientific Method. ○ Bacon and the shift to evidence-based reasoning. Political Philosophies: ○ Hobbes: Leviathan; absolute rule. ○ Locke: Two Treatises of Government; natural rights. ○ Montesquieu: Separation of powers. ○ Rousseau: The Social Contract; general will. Government Evolution in England: ○ Glorious Revolution and Constitutional Monarchy. ○ English Bill of Rights: Parliamentary representation. Essential Questions: 1. How and why did England develop a more representative government in the 17th century? ○ The Glorious Revolution ended absolute monarchy and established constitutional monarchy, limiting royal power and expanding parliamentary authority. 2. How did thinkers like Locke and Rousseau challenge absolutism? ○ Locke emphasized natural rights and the social contract, while Rousseau argued for the general will and collective governance. 3. How did the Enlightenment stretch into the 19th century? ○ The Enlightenment's ideals of reason, liberty, and progress influenced the French Revolution, 19th-century liberalism, and reform movements such as abolitionism and women's suffrage. Unit 2: The French Revolution and Napoleon Key Topics: French Revolution: ○ Causes: Enlightenment ideas + social inequality. ○ Key Events: Tennis Court Oath, Storming of the Bastille, Reign of Terror. ○ Reforms: Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, Constitution of 1791. Napoleon: ○ Rise to power: Coup d'état, military success. ○ Reforms: Napoleonic Code, Concordat, lycées. ○ Fall: Continental System, Peninsular War, Waterloo.  Congress of Vienna: ○ Goals: Balance of power, legitimacy. Essential Questions: 1. How did social inequalities and Enlightenment ideas lead to the French Revolution? ○ The unequal Estates System, combined with Enlightenment calls for equality and liberty, fueled revolutionary sentiments. 2. To what extent did Napoleon reflect or deviate from revolutionary ideals? ○ Napoleon upheld legal equality through the Napoleonic Code but curtailed individual freedoms and reinstated authoritarian rule. 3. How did Napoleon’s empire affect Europe and lead to the Congress of Vienna? ○ His conquests destabilized Europe, leading to the Congress’s efforts to restore balance through the redrawing of borders and reestablishment of monarchies. Unit 3: Nationalism, Imperialism, and Industrialization Key Topics: Nationalism: ○ Italy: Unification (Victor Emmanuel II, Cavour, Garibaldi). ○ Germany: Bismarck, "blood and iron," Realpolitik. Industrialization: ○ Key Innovations: Steam engine, factories. ○ Effects: Urbanization, child labor, sanitation challenges. ○ Responses: Unions, labor laws (Factory Acts, Mines Act). ○ Economic Theories: Adam Smith (laissez-faire), Karl Marx (Communist Manifesto). Imperialism: ○ Justifications: Social Darwinism, "civilizing mission." ○ Key Events: Berlin Conference (1884-85). Impact: Established European rules for colonizing Africa. Increased competition among imperial powers. Led to exploitation of African resources and people. Ignored indigenous cultures and sovereignty. Essential Questions: 1. How did the Agricultural Revolution lead to industrial growth? ○ Enclosure movement and crop rotation increased food production, freeing labor for factories. 2. How did workers respond to factory conditions?  ○ Workers formed unions, advocated for reforms, and supported ideologies like socialism and communism. 3. What were the causes and consequences of European imperialism? ○ Driven by industrial demand for resources and nationalist competition, imperialism reshaped global power dynamics and subjugated non-European societies. 4. How much impact did the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 have on Africa and global geopolitics? ○ It formalized the "Scramble for Africa," creating artificial boundaries and entrenching European dominance while neglecting African interests. 5. How did nationalist movements reshape Europe’s political map by 1900? ○ Italian and German unifications altered Europe’s balance of power, setting the stage for new alliances and conflicts. Unit 4: World War I Key Topics: Causes (MANIA): ○ Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, Assassination. Warfare Innovations: ○ Trench warfare, machine guns, submarines, aerial surveillance. Key Events: ○ Battles: Somme, Verdun. ○ Fronts: Eastern and Western. Essential Questions: 1. How did MANIA contribute to the outbreak of World War I? ○ The web of alliances and aggressive nationalism turned localized tensions into a global conflict. 2. How did technological advancements impact the war? ○ Innovations like machine guns and chemical weapons increased lethality, leading to high casualties and prolonged stalemates. 3. What were the effects of World War I on global politics and societies? ○ The war reshaped borders, dismantled empires, and sowed seeds for World War II through the Treaty of Versailles. Essay Writing Tips 1. Introduction:  ○ Contextualize with background information. ○ Clearly state your thesis in response to the prompt. 2. Body Paragraphs: ○ Use evidence (names, events, ideas) to support your thesis. ○ Analyze how the evidence answers the prompt. 3. Conclusion: ○ Summarize your argument and connect to broader historical themes. Sample Essay Prompts for Practice How did Enlightenment ideas influence revolutionary movements in Europe? To what extent did the Industrial Revolution lead to European imperialism? How did the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 shape the modern political and economic landscape of Africa?