Scientific Revolution
This model of the universe places the Sun at the center, replacing the Church's traditional Earth-centered view.
What is the Heliocentric Theory (or Heliocentric Model)?
This philosopher established the "Social Contract" and argued that governments exist to protect citizen's natural rights to Life, Liberty, and Property.
Who is John Locke?
This term describes the belief that a monarch's authority to rule comes directly from God, requiring unquestioning obedience from subjects.
What is Divine Right (or Divine Right of Kings)?
This group made up roughly 98% of France's population and bore the overwhelming burden of paying all national taxes prior to 1789.
What is the Third Estate?
This former enslaved man organized a massive uprising and led Saint-Domingue to become the independent nation of Haiti.
Who is Toussaint L'Ouverture?
He improved the telescope, observed Jupiter's moons (proving everything doesn't revolve around the Earth), and saw the Earth's moon is not a perfect circle and instead has craters.
Who is Galileo Galilei?
He advocated for Criminal Justice reform, protesting torture and fair trials, directly inspiring the 8th Amendment (prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment).
Who is Cesare Beccaria?
Louis XIV of France, Philip II of Spain, and Peter the Great of Russia all shared this central political belief regarding their power.
What is: The monarch is entitled to central, absolute, unquestioning power?
This foundational issue in late 18th-century France was the primary root cause that triggered the French Revolution.
What is unfair taxation and severe social inequality (Estate System)?
Besides Enlightenment ideas and American/French inspiration, what brutal system was the primary cause of the Haitian Revolution?
What is Slavery (and severe economic exploitation)?
His Three Laws of Motion (including F=ma and Action/Reaction) proved that the universe operates in Natural Laws that can be explained.
Who is Sir Isaac Newton?
He proposed dividing government into three co-equal branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial) to prevent tyranny through a system of checks and balances.
Who is Baron de Montesquieu?
The English Civil War, and Glorious Revolution in England all led to the establishment of THIS system of government.
What is a Limited Monarchy (or Constitutional Monarchy)?
What is the radical phase known as the Reign of Terror famous for?
What is: Lost of life (or the guillotine)?
Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín relied on Locke's idea that people have a right to do THIS against unjust governments.
What is: The right to revolt or overthrow an unjust government?
Why did the Catholic Church strongly oppose the heliocentric theory during the 16th and 17th centuries?
What is: It contradicted Church scripture and challenged humanity's position as the divine center of God's universe?
This thinker championed freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state, famously stating he would defend to the death your right to say it.
Who is Voltaire?
According to both the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution, what is the main purpose of government?
What is: To protect the pre-existing natural rights and liberties of individual citizens
Following years of turmoil and chaotic revolution, what major beneficial effect did Napoleon Bonaparte's rule bring to France?
What is the restoration of political and economic stability?
What commonality did both the French and Latin American Revolutions share in their origins?
What is: Rigid, unequal social class structures?
How did the shift from geocentric to heliocentric thinking directly provide the foundation for the political Enlightenment?
What is: It encouraged thinkers to use Natural Laws, observation, and logic to question traditional authority and Divine Right?
The Enlightenment did NOT target rights like religious practice or speech, but it DID target THIS political institution's uncheck authority over individuals.
What is Absolute Monarchy (and Church Tyranny)?
The Age of Revolutions permanently altered government rule worldwide by replacing Divine Right with THIS core foundational principle.
What is Popular Sovereignty (or "Consent of the Governed")?
In the French Revolution, what is the Third Estate looking for?
What is: Greater political power and equal representation in government?
Which of these revolutions did NOT directly inspire the Latin American wars of independence: American, French, Haitian, or English?
What is the English Revolution (Glorious Revolution)