French Revolution Flashcards
(70 cards)
French for “philosopher”; applied to all intellectuals during the Enlightenment. Not all were French. Were writers, professors, journalists, economists, and social reformers.
Philosophes
Scientific and technological changes. New theories were the basis for this revolution
Scientific Revolution
a systematic procedure for collecting and analyzing evidence that was crucial to the revolution of science in the modern world. Created by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher with few scientific credentials
Scientific Method
one of Newton’s three rules of motion; it explains that planetary bodies continue in elliptical orbits around the sun because every object in the universe is attracted to every other object by a force called gravity
Universal Law of Gravitation
Earth-centered; a system of planetary motion in which the sun, moon, and other planets revolve around the Earth. Created by philosophers of the Middle Ages using ideas from Ptolemy, Aristotle, and Christianity. Called the Ptolemaic system.
Geocentric
sun-centered; the system of the universe in which the Earth and planets revolve around the sun. Created by Copernicus
Heliocentric
a system of thought expounded by Rene Descartes based on the belief that reason is the chief source of knowledge
Rationalism
the doctrine that scientists should proceed from the particular to the general by making systematic observations and carefully organized experiments to test hypotheses or theories, a process that will lead to correct general principles. Francis Bacon believed that this system should be used to learn about nature
Inductive Reasoning
the theory that says knowledge is achieved through observation. Practiced by Bacon. This theory, coupled with experimentation and inductive reasoning would lead to a greater understanding of the natural world
Empiricism
a model of the universe where it is seen as a series of spheres, one inside the other, and the Earth is motionless at the center. Heavenly bodies are in the form of orbs of light that rotate the earth.
Ptolemaic System
a form of government in which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches limit and control each other through a system of checks and balances
Separation of Power
an eighteenth-century religious philosophy based on reason and natural law
Deism
the concept that the state should not impose government regulations but should leave the economy alone. The Physiocrats believed in this
Laissez-Faire
Written by Scottish philosopher Adam Smith in 1776. Best statement of laissez-faire. Smith believed that the state should not interfere in economic matters and gave it three basic roles. First, it should protect society from invasion(the army). Second, it should defend citizens from injustice(the police). Finally, it should keep up certain public works that private individuals alone could not afford, but were necessary for social interaction and trade(roads, canals, etc.)
Wealth of Nations
the concept that an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will and all individuals should be forced to abide by it since it represents what is best for the whole community
Social Contract
an artistic style that replaced baroque in the 1730s; it was highly secular emphasizing grace, charm, and gentle action
Rococo
a system in which rulers tried to govern by Enlightenment principles while maintaining their full royal powers
Enlightened Absolutism
a conflict that was primarily fought in Europe, North America, and Asia. Changing alliances led to this war.
The Seven Years War
Fought in three parts of the world. Europe - Prussia took Silesia and France occupied some Austrian lands. Asia - France took Madras in India from British. North America - British took French fortress of Louisbourg at entrance of St. Law Silesia to original owners. Bc Prussia didn’t return Silesia, another war happened bc Maria Theresa refused to accept the loss. Theresa rebuilt army while working diplomatically to separate Prussia from its chief ally, France. She achieved what was labeled as a diplomatic revolution
War of Austrian Succession
Fought in North America. British and French fought over two main areas. Gulf of St. Lawrence, protected by the fortress of Louisbourg and by forts that guarded French Quebec, and unsettled Ohio River valley. French won a lot at first, but British were revived by William Pitt the Elder, prime minister. Pitt thought that French colonial empire had to be destroyed for Britain to have its own colonial empire. British victories soon followed and went on to seize Montreal, Great Lakes, and Ohio River valley. French forced to make peace with Treaty of Paris. Great Britain became the world’s greatest colonial empire
French and Indian War
French transferred Canada and lands east of Mississippi to England. Spain transferred Spanish Florida to British bc they were allies of France. French gave Louisiana to to Spanish in return
Treaty of Paris
the right to govern through the consent of the people
Popular Sovereignty
a form of government in which power is shared between the national and state governments. What the Constitution created. Govt. was separated into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each branch had power to check, or restrain acts of the other branches.
Federal System
Imposed by Parliament on American colonies. Required certain printed materials, such as legal documents and newspapers to carry a stamp showing that a tax had been paid to Britain. Violent opposition and was repealed in 1766. Britain wanted to get new colonial revenues from the colonies to cover war costs and pay for the expenses of maintaining an army to defend the colonies
Stamp Act
