Foundations of Democracy
What is democracy?
A system of government in which power comes from the people.
What was the Enlightenment?
A movement emphasizing reason, natural rights, and challenging traditional authority.
What was the Industrial Revolution?
A period of industrialization and factory-based production.
What is imperialism?
When a country extends control over another region.
What does it mean to source a historical document?
Identifying who created the source, when it was created, and for what purpose.
How did Ancient Greece contribute to democratic ideas?
Through direct democracy and citizen participation.
What were the Three Estates in France?
The clergy, nobility, and the Third Estate (common people).
Why did industrialization begin in Great Britain?
Access to resources, capital, technology, and a stable government.
What is economic imperialism?
When a business owns a region and operates it as if they were a government (BEIC in India)
Why is it important to consider bias when analyzing a source?
Because an author’s perspective or purpose can shape how events are presented.
How did Ancient Rome influence modern democracy?
By developing a republic with elected representatives and written laws.
Why did the French Revolution turn violent during the Reign of Terror?
Leaders believed violence was necessary to protect the revolution from enemies.
How did industrialization affect working conditions?
Long hours, low wages, unsafe conditions, and child labor.
What happened at the Berlin Conference?
European powers divided Africa without African participation.
What does it mean to corroborate sources?
Comparing multiple sources about the same event to check accuracy or reliability.
Why was the printing press important for the spread of democratic ideas?
It allowed ideas to spread faster and reach more people.
Why was the Haitian Revolution unique?
It was a successful slave revolt that led to independence.
What did Karl Marx argue about capitalism?
It exploited workers and created class conflict.
Why was King Leopold II’s rule in the Congo especially brutal?
Forced labor and violence for profit.
Why are political cartoons useful to historians?
They reveal public opinions, attitudes, and criticisms from a specific time period.
Who was excluded from early democratic systems, and why does this matter?
Women, enslaved people, and non-citizens; it shows democracy was limited.
How did Napoleon both support and betray the French Revolution?
He kept some reforms but took power away from the people.
What new social class emerged because of industrialization?
The industrial working class.
What is one long-term effect of imperialism in Africa?
Borders that ignored ethnic groups, leading to conflict.
What is the difference between a primary and a secondary source?
A primary source was created during the time period, while a secondary source was created later.