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| 6333022883 | Origins of Industrial Revolution | technological innovations in the 1700s led to industrialization, the mass production of goods using machine power (rather than hand power). Began in England thanks to the availability of workers, numerous natural resources (most notably coal & iron ore), an expansive canal network and easily navigable rivers, a large number of wealthy individuals willing to invest capital in new businesses, and a government that encouraged capitalistic efforts. The textile industry was the first to industrialize At first machines were powered by wind and water, but by the late 1700s, the steam engine was powering machines, as well as making changes in the transportation industry. With a century, industrialization had spread throughout western Europe to Russia, the US, and Japan. For the first time in history, nations shifted from agricultural-based societies to ones based on manufacturing. | 0 | |
| 6333022884 | Industrial Revolution: New Machines | The advent of mechanization revolutionized the production of goods. Key inventions included the flying shuttle and the spinning jenny - designed to make cotton spinning quicker and more efficient. At first machines were powered by wind and water (thus most early factories were located along rivers), but by the late 1700s, the steam engine was powering machines, as well as making changes in the transportation industry. The first steamship was built just after the turn of the 19th century, soon followed by the first steam-powered trains. Advances in steam power and steel production (for example, the Bessemer process) revolutionized the transportation industry. Steamships and railroads were used to transport cargo. Rail lines connected industrial centers to mines and ports. | 1 | |
| 6333022885 | Effects of Industrial Revolution on Society | Mass production of goods drove down the price of consumer items, and the resulting increase in demand encouraged the development of quicker and more efficient methods of production. The standard of living rose. The working class developed as a larger group of people who worked in factories and mines. Rapid urbanization occurred as people moved from the countryside to the cities in search of work. Urbanization led to the building of tenements to accommodate a growing workforce; overcrowded conditions led to the spread of disease. Women, who in agrarian societies worked on the farm, saw their roles change, as men became the wage earners. Although many women did work in factories, a large number now stayed home, especially as the size of the middle class increased. A new middle class emerged. | 2 | |
| 6333022886 | Political and Economic Effects of Industrialization | Governments passed legislation protecting workers (for example, the establishment of a minimum wage). Unions were formed to protect workers' rights. Industrialization caused many to reconsider the ownership of production and of products. Adam Smith articulated his laissez-faire philosophy in the The Wealth of Nations, while Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels condemned capitalism and promoted socialism. Industrialization led to a rise in the global demand for products such as cotton and indigo used as raw materials in factories. | 3 | |
| 6333022887 | Factory System: Social Impact | Before industrialization, societies were agriculturally based. Although in some places in Europe the domestic system existed, in which individuals worked on one part of production (for example, making cloth from wool), most people still worked on farms. As the mass production of goods drove down the prices of consumer items, demand increased. Cheaper goods were more affordable; as a result, the standard of living rose for most Europeans. Conditions in the factories in the early years were harsh and dangerous. Workers received little pay, worked long hours, and faced unsafe working conditions. Over time, governments stepped in to pass laws to protect workers (such as minimum-wage legislation). Labor unions also emerged as workers organized to protect their rights and gain fair treatment in the workplace. | 4 | |
| 6333022888 | Factory System: Economic Impact | Developed as a way to house large and expensive machines in a single location, near a source of power, in order to mass-produce goods. Mass production saw a significant increase in the development of interchangeable parts (parts that were uniformly produced and thus could be easily replaced and fixed) and the creation of the assembly line. Competition among factories encouraged the development of quicker and more efficient methods of production. | 5 | |
| 6333022889 | American Revolution: Causes | The 13 British colonies in North America resented legislation passed by the British Parliament levying taxes to pay off their debts accumulated during the 7 Years War/French and Indian War and infringing on their rights. Under the banner "No taxation without representation" they sought the right to govern themselves. In 1774, the Continental Congress was formed to oversee the colonists' anti-British actions, and on July 4, 1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The declaration, greatly influenced by Enlightenment thinking, provided the colonists with a justification for seeking independence from the crown, arguing that government is based on the consent of the governed and that the purpose of government is to protect and secure the rights of its citizens. | 6 | |
| 6333022890 | American Revolution: Impact | War began, and with the aid of France, the colonists forced the British to surrender in 1781. Following the end of the war, the newly formed United States of America emerged as a federal republic with a government based on popular sovereignty. This revolution had an enormous influence on subsequent revolutions around the world, most notably the French and Haitian revolutions. | 7 | |
| 6333022891 | French Revolution: Causes | In 1789, King Louis XVI summoned representatives to a meeting of the Estates General to convince them of the necessity of raising taxes. France was deeply in debt as the result of excessive domestic and foreign spending. Representatives from the 3rd Estate, which equaled over 95% of the population, met with the king to convince him to approve extensive social, economic, and political reforms that would accord them more rights and protections. With each of the three estates receiving one vote, a favorable outcome was unlikely. In June 1789, the 3rd Estate broke away from the Estates General and declared themselves the National Assembly. The following month, with the storming of the Bastille, revolution spread from the streets of Paris to the peasants in the country. Under the banner of "life, liberty, and fraternity," the National Assembly wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which identified the natural rights of citizens, stated the equality of all men, and expressed the belief that sovereignty belonged to the people. | 8 | |
| 6333022892 | National Assembly | In June 1789, the 3rd Estate broke away from the Estates General and declared themselves the National Assembly. Greatly influenced by Enlightenment thinkers and the success of the American Revolution. Under the banner of "life, liberty, and fraternity," they wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which identified the natural rights of citizens, including the protection of private property, and stated the equality of all men and the belief that sovereignty belonged to the people. A new constitution adopted in 1791 established a constitutional monarchy, allowing the king to retain some power. Unhappiness with this new form of government led to the creation of a new constitution and the end of the National Assembly. | 9 | |
| 6333022893 | French Revolution: Convention to Napoleon | A new constitution gave the convention the power to govern; the convention abolished the monarchy. A group of radicals seized control, and the Committee on Public Safety was created; led by Maximilien Robespierre, the Jacobins jailed and killed anyone suspected of anti-revolutionary thought or action. A new constitution, drawn up in 1795, ended this phase of the revolution and led to the creation of a five-man Directory. The Directory lost power in a 1799 coup d'etat led by General Napoleon Bonaparte, who named himself emperor in 1804 and began to conquer France's neighbors. Napoleon ruled until 1814; the following year the Congress of Vienna met and restored the monarchy to France. | 10 | |
| 6333022894 | Napoleon Bonaparte | A general in the French army who gained control of France in a coup d'etat in 1799, seizing control from the Directory, a small group of governing aristocrats. He instituted a new constitution and crowned himself emperor in 1804. His political and social reforms brought much needed stability to a country that had been in the midst of a revolution since 1789. His Civil Code extended political and legal equality to all adult men, and religious toleration was promoted. His armies conquered much of Europe, and monarchs across the continent were replaced with Napoleon's family members. His invasion of Russia in 1812 ended in disaster when his troops were unable to continue fighting in the harsh conditions of a bitter cold Russian winter. After his failure in Russia, Napoleon's enemies, led by the British forced him into exile in 1814. | 11 | |
| 6333022895 | Congress of Vienna | A meeting held from 1814 to 1815 in Vienna and attended by representatives of the nations that held the defeated Napoleon Bonaparte. The goal was to restore Europe to the way it was prior to the French Revolution. Led by Prince Metternich of Austria, the representatives wanted to reestablish boundaries, restore legitimate monarchs, and negotiate a balance of power in the hopes of preventing any one nation in Europe from ever gaining too much power. An unstated goal of the congress was to limit growing nationalistic desires, which had emerged as a strong new force after the French Revolution. Although the balance of power would be subsequently tested, it was not until WWI that Europe would again be faced with a war that would have a lasting effect upon the entire continent. | 12 | |
| 6333022896 | Latin American Independence Movements | The American and French Revolutions and the ideals of the Enlightenment inspired independence movements in Latin America. Beginning with a successful slave revolt, Haiti was the first nation in Latin America to declare its independence (1804). Creole leaders, resentful of the power and privilege of the peninsulares, spread revolutionary ideas throughout Spanish and Portuguese colonies. The majority of Spanish and Portuguese colonies gained their independence in the early 1800s, taking advantage of Napoleon's invasion of Europe. Notable independence leaders included Miguel Hidalgo, who gathered together the indigenous and mestizo population of Mexico, and Simon Bolivar, a Creole who fought Spanish rule in South America Although most of Latin America had independence by 1825, power continued to be concentrated in the hands of the elite, a combination of Creoles, caudillos, and military leaders, a trend that continued through the 20th century. | 13 | |
| 6333022897 | Simon Bolivar | A Creole from South America who led a successful revolutionary movement against Spanish rule. Inspired by Enlightenment ideals and the success of the American and French. For over a decade he led military campaigns against the Spanish, ultimately winning independence for Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Together with Jose de San Martin, he gained independence for Argentina and Chile. Hoped to unify the independent nations into a single state, Gran Colombia, but was unsuccessful. | 14 | |
| 6333022898 | Haitian Revolution | The French colony of Saint Domingue was the first colony in Latin America to gain its independence. Begun as a slave revolt in which enslaved Africans rebelled against French settlers. Leaders such as Toussaint-Louverture, a slave himself, organized the rebellious Africans into an army. Although slaves were granted their freedom in 1798, the rebellion continued as they demanded rights. Fearful that the slaves might succeed in overthrowing the white settlers, Napoleon sent French troops to the island to put down the revolt. When Toussaint was captured and imprisoned, the rebellion continued under the leadership of Jacques Dessalines. In 1804, Saint Domingue declared its independence; renamed Haiti, it became the first republic in Latin America. The US refused to recognize the new republic. | 15 | |
| 6333022899 | Toussaint-Louverture | A slave who helped lead a revolt in Haiti against white settlers. He was educated and had knowledge of Enlightenment principles, as well as of the success of the American Revolution. He organized an effective army made up of mostly rebelling slaves. In 1798, the slaves were granted their independence, but Toussaint continued his fight, calling for Saint Domingue's independence from France. In 1802, French troops were ordered to put down the rebellion and Toussaint was captured and eventually died in a French prison. The rebellion continued after his death, and in 1804, Haiti declared its independence. | 16 | |
| 6333022900 | Conservatism in Europe | A political philosophy that sought to return things to the way they were before the political revolutions that spread across Europe in the 19th century and to maintain traditional ways. Developed in response to the changes that resulted from successful revolutions in North America and France. Conservatives, such as Edmund Burke, held that change takes place and that when it occurs, it should be a natural occurrence, not the result of revolution. Conservatives argue that, since change occurs naturally over time, the existing social order should be respected. | 17 | |
| 6333022901 | Liberalism in Europe | A political ideology asserting that individuals possess certain rights such as liberty and equality and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights. Developed in response to Enlightenment ideas and the changes brought about by the American and French Revolutions. Liberals, unlike conservatives, believed that change was necessary and normal. Following the Industrial Revolution, many liberal thinkers gave their support to capitalism and laissez-faire economics, abandoning mercantilist policies. | 18 | |
| 6333022902 | Nationalism | Feeling of pride in one's nation. The sense of pride in one's national identity played a significant role in political movements throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries, including during the French Revolution and the unification movements in Germany and Italy. Nationalism was also a force outside of Europe, as evidence by the Zionist movement, aimed at building a Jewish state, the creation of the Indian National Congress in India, aimed at gaining self-rule for the nation, the The Tanzimat Reforms in the Ottoman Empire, aimed at modernization and westernization. | 19 | |
| 6333022903 | Socialism | Utopian socialists believed that people should work toward the creation of a perfect society in which everyone was equal. Over time, utopian socialism was abandoned for what was seen as a more practical application of socialist ideals, encouraging workers to take control and create a classless society; this theory of socialism was best articulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marx and Engels sought to put the means of production in the hands of the people. According to Marx's Communist Manifesto, following a struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, the proletariat would gain power and create a classless society. Marx's socialist theory was adopted by the Bolsheviks in Russia, and the Soviet Union would become the world's first communist nation. | 20 | |
| 6333022904 | Karl Marx | A 19th-century philosopher, he developed a socialist theory with Friedrich Engels in response to the changing nature of the workplace that resulted from the Industrial Revolution. He and Engels outlined their theory in The Communist Manifesto. His ideas on class struggle and the evils of capitalism influenced reform movements throughout Europe and in the 20th century would form the backbone of numerous political parties, including the Bolsheviks in Russia. Defined class struggle as the proletariat working to make money while the bourgeoisie obtained their income from the work of the proletariat, i.e., the bourgeoisie exploited the working class. In 1917, the Bolshevik Party, led by V.I. Lenin, a Marxist, took control of Russia and made it the world's first communist state. After WWII, a number of nations adopted Marxist ideology, including China and Vietnam. | 21 | |
| 6333022905 | Unification of Germany | Independent German-speaking states in Germany united to form a single nation. Otto von Bismarck, the chancellor of Prussia, the most powerful German state, led the drive for unification. Under Bismarck's leadership, Prussia won series of wars against Denmark, Austria, and France; Bismarck used these victories to bolster German nationalism By 1871, the independent states were united and the Prussian king, Wilhelm, was named the first leader of the newly united German states. | 22 | |
| 6333022906 | Otto von Bismarck | Chancellor of the German state of Prussia, he worked to united the German-speaking states into a single nation. United his states through his policy of Blood and Iron. He successfully waged war against Denmark, Austria, and France, and with each success feelings of German nationalism surged. It was largely due to his efforts that a Prussian king was named the new ruler of the unified German state. | 23 | |
| 6333022907 | Italian Unification | Independent states in Italy united to form a single nation. A nationalist movement dedicated to unification was led by Giuseppe Mazzini, Count Camillo di Cavour, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Through a combination of war and diplomacy, Italy unified by 1861. | 24 | |
| 6333022908 | Zionism | A nationalistic movement that emerged in the late 1800s with the stated goal of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine; led in large part by Theodore Herzl. Jews began to settle Palestine, especially after WWI, when the lad became a mandate of the British; migration had significantly increased after the British issued the Balfour Declaration, expressing their support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. After WWII, Zionist goals were realized. Following years of conflict between the Arabs of Palestine | 25 | |
| 6333022909 | Crimean War | In the mid 19th century, war between Russia and an alliance of British, French, and Ottoman troops broke out after Russia had threatened the stability of the Ottoman Empire by seeking to take Ottoman-controlled territory in the Balkans. Britain and France allied themselves with the Ottoman because they feared a powerful Russian empire (i.e., a disruption of the balance of power). Russia was easily defeated; the defeat was humiliating and evidence of the West's superior military and industrial strength. In response to the defeat, Russian czars sought to reform the Russian military and economy. Reform was selective and ultimately led to new problems for the Russian Empire. | 26 | |
| 6333022910 | Emancipation of Serfs in Russia (1861) | Following the humiliating defeat by Western powers in the Crimean War, Russian czars sought to reform society through state-sponsored industrialization. Following years of social unrest and demands to end serfdom on moral grounds, Czar Alexander II abolished serfdom in 1861. Some emancipated serfs remained on the land, but their lives barely improved; many others moved to cities and became a new urban workforce in Russia's push to industrialize. Although it was hoped that in setting the serfs free, agricultural productivity would be improved, there was little change; additionally, new social problems arose as a result of industrialization. By the turn of the 20th century, the nation was on the brink of revolution. | 27 | |
| 6333022911 | Imperialism: Causes | Beginning in the late 1800s, modern, industrial nations sought economic control (and sometimes political and social control) over weaker nations. Nationalism led to an increased sense of competition as strong nations sought to expand their empires. Colonies in distant lands allowed nations to establish military bases across the globe. Industrialization led to an increased need for raw materials and marketplace. Social Darwinism and the so-called White Man's Burden provided justification for the efforts of the imperialists. Christian missionaries sought to spread the Gospel. | 28 | |
| 6333022912 | The White Man's Burden | Poem by Rudyard Kipling that explained why white Europeans (and Americans) had a moral responsibility to take control of weaker nations. Christian missionaries in particular were supportive of this moral duty, as they often sought not only to bring Christianity to newly acquired lands but to "civilize" the native peoples. | 29 | |
| 6333022913 | Social Darwinism | A theory based in part on Charles Darwin's theories of evolution and natural selection. According to Darwin, man evolved from apes over a period of millions of years and all species compete in order to survive. Social Darwinists, such as Herbert Spencer, used this concept- the survival of the fittest - to explain why some businessmen are more successful than others; in later served as justification for European capitalist powers to control other nations. | 30 | |
| 6333022914 | Direct vs. Indirect Control (of Colonial Possessions) | As European nations sought to extend their authority over weaker lands, they needed to determine if rule was to be direct or indirect. Direct: The colony, normally the result of conquest, was under the express control of the mother country. Indirect: The colony was given a degree of autonomy. In Africa, the French tended to employ direct rule, while the British preferred indirect rule. | 31 | |
| 6333022915 | Sepoy Rebellion | A revolt led by Indian soldiers against the British East India Company (BEIC) in protest of rules that threatened their religious traditions. The BEIC had trading rights in the nation and employed sepoys, Indian soldiers, to protect their interests. The sepoys' gun cartridges were greased in pig and cow fat, an insult to both Muslim and Hindu Indians. Rebellion broke out, and although it was quickly put down, the British government took direct political control of India. The Indian colony was the most profitable, the "jewel in the crown," of the British Empire. | 32 | |
| 6333022916 | Indian National Congress (INC): Origins | A nationalist group formed in British India in 1885 by upper-class Hindus. Although most members were middle- and upper-class Hindus, the INC sought to serve all Indians. Initially a forum to express concerns to colonial officials on taxes and other such subjects, by the turn of the century, the INC was calling for Indian self-rule. Fearful that Hindus did not have Muslim best interests at heart, Muslim leaders created the Muslim League. In 1906, the INC joined forces with the All India Muslim League, and together the two groups gained limited rights for the Indian colonists. The INC and the Muslim League partnered to lead a mass movement to gain self-rule for the subcontinent. | 33 | |
| 6333022917 | King Leopold | King of Belgium who established a colony known as the Congo Free State in Africa. Not under the political control of Belgium, the colony provided great wealth for Leopold personally. Leopold used forced labor to ensure the profitability of extensive rubber plantations. Working conditions in the Congo Free State were harsh, and following public protests, the colony was put under the direct control of the Belgium government in 1908. Leopold's economic success propelled other European nations to seek colonies of their own and led in part to the Berlin Conference. | 34 | |
| 6333022918 | Berlin Conference (1884-1885) | A meeting of European powers in which the rules for colonizing Africa were established: European powers had to notify one another of their intentions to take control of an area. Occurred in response to the establishment of British and Belgian colonies in Africa as European nations scrambled to get a piece of the continent. Africa's indigenous population was not represented at the conference. The entire continent was completely divided up by 1885 with the exception of Liberia and Ethiopia. Before the conference, the European presence in Africa had been limited to coastal trading posts. The drawing of the new boundaries with no regard for the natives who lived there eventually contributed to numerous problems, including civil wars. | 35 | |
| 6333022919 | Opium War: Causes | A conflict fought between Britain and China (1839-1842) over British sale of opium in China. China maintained a favorable balance of trade; Europeans demanded Chinese goods, including silk and tea, and paid for these products in silver. In the late 1700s, the British East India Company began importing opium into China, where they traded it for silver and thus threatened the trade balance. In 1839, Lin Zexu, a Chinese government official, ordered the confiscation and destruction of opium and took British merchants hostage. In response, the British took military action against the Chinese. | 36 | |
| 6333022920 | Opium War: Results | Britain's superior military led to a decisive victory over the Chinese and the signing of a series of unequal treaties. The Treaty of Nanjing required China to pay for the cost of the war as well as the cost of the destroyed opium; China was forced to open additional ports to foreign trade, give up control of Hong Kong to Britain, and grant British citizens extraterritoriality. These treaties weakened China economically, and other foreign countries took advantage of China's weakened state and established their own spheres of influence there. The sustained presence of foreigner in the nation led to conflict within China; Chinese nationalists blamed the government for the presence of foreigners in the country. In the second half of the 19th century, Chinese nationalism increase as groups worked to rid the country of foreign influence. | 37 | |
| 6333022921 | Taiping Rebellion (1850s and 1860s) | A rebellion by Chinese peasants that threatened the Qing dynasty. The Taiping offered a new vision of China that included the redistribution of land, public education, and rights for women. Although they were successful in gaining supporters and even captured Nanjing, the rebellion ultimately ended at tremendous cost of life. The Qing organized a powerful army and had the support of the scholar-gentry, the class most threatened by the Taiping reforms. Although the rebellion failed, the destruction and death it caused were massive and forced the Qing to make reforms; the most well-known was called the Self-Strengthening Movement. | 38 | |
| 6333022922 | Self-Strengthening Movement | Following the signing of a series, of unequal treaties and a number of internal rebellions in the 19th century, the Qing enacted a series of reforms. The reforms focused on the introduction of Western technology in the hopes of modernizing the nation. The reforms had limited success; China remained an agrarian-based society centered on traditional Confucian thought. | 39 | |
| 6333022923 | Spheres of Influence | Areas of economic influence/control. Several were established in China in the 19th century; at first foreigners took advantage of a weakened China and seized control of China's tributary states (for example, France took control of Vietnam in 1885). Eventually Western powers, including Germany and France, gained exclusive trading rights within China. In response to the presence of foreigners in the nation, Chinese nationalism increased as evidenced by increased internal rebellions, most notably the Boxer Rebellion. | 40 | |
| 6333022924 | Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900) | An internal rebellion led by a group known as the Boxers, who unsuccessfully sought to rid China of foreign influence. The Boxers had imperial support for their efforts, which included attacking and killing foreigners and Chinese Christians. Following their attempt to gain control of foreign embassies in Beijing, foreign forces moved quickly to put down the rebellion. The defeat of the Boxers allowed foreigners to gain even more concessions from the Qing; China had to pay for damages to foreign-held property. The rebellion further weakened the ruling family, who within a decade would be overthrown by Chinese nationalists. | 41 | |
| 6333022925 | Monroe Doctrine | Articulated in 1823 as part of US foreign policy, it sought to limit European interference in the Americas. President James Monroe regarded the Americas as a US protectorate and thus saw threats to the region as threats against the US. The doctrine indicated that an attempt by Europe to take control of land in the Americas would be viewed as a hostile act and that, in theory, the US would respond. Most significantly, the doctrine would provide (in later years) justification for the US to intervene in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. | 42 | |
| 6333022926 | Spanish-American War (1898-1899) | In response to the destruction of a US ship in Havana's harbor and under the guise of protecting American business interests in Cuba, as well as the interest of those Cuban suffering under Spanish rule, the US declared are on Spain. The US quickly defeated the Spanish and gained control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. The US emerged as an imperial power. | 43 | |
| 6333022927 | US Open Door Policy | US foreign policy that sought equal trading rights for all nations trading in China and commercial advantages for US businesses. Proposed by Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 because the US was one of the few imperial powers that did not have a sphere of influence in China. Although it was never formally agreed upon, the policy was unchallenged. | 44 | |
| 6333022928 | Opening of Japan | Following over 200 years of self-imposed isolation, Japan was forced to open its doors to the world following the arrival of US commodore Matthew Perry. In 1853, Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay and under the orders of the US president requested that Japan open up to foreign trade. The US wanted to find new markets following industrialization, and Japan offered new economic opportunities. The Treaty of Kanagawa, signed by the two nations, opened Japan to trade. Japanese isolation ended; the country focused on a new domestic policy of rapid modernization. | 45 | |
| 6333022929 | Meiji Restoration | After Japan ended its isolation, rebellion led to the overthrow of the shogun, replaced by an empire, who initiated a series of social, economic, and political reforms. A centralized government, established with a new constitution, set up a two-house system, although the emperor retained most control; the government successfully resisted imperial encroachment. Fearful that Japan would experience the same fate as China, Meiji reformers sought to modernize the nation by selectively borrowing Western ideas. The Japanese economy quickly industrialized with the support of the government, which built factories, railroads, and banks. This is known as state-sponsored industrialization. Japan modernized its army and navy and improved health care and the education system. Japan modernized quickly and by 1900 began to follow a foreign policy of empire building that would lead to conflict with its neighbors in the region and would establish it as a global power. | 46 | |
| 6333022930 | Sino-Japanese War | A war fought between China and Japan for control of Korea. Korea became a target of Japan's expansionist policy (following rapid industrialization in the Meiji era). In 1894, when a rebellion led by pro-Japanese reformists broke out in Korea, the Korean government asked China to send in troops to help restore; Japan in turn sent troops and captured the Korean emperor. Japan's modern army quickly defeated the Chinese troops, and in April 1895 the Qing signed the Treaty of Shimonoseku. The Qing agreed to stay out of Korea, gave up rights to parts of Manchuria, and ceded Taiwan to the Japanese. The war was a clear indication of Japan's imperial aspirations in Asia and a reflection of China's inability to keep pace with a fast-changing world. | 47 | |
| 6333022931 | Decline of Ottoman Empire | In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire, now small, weak, and in debt, became known as the Sick Man of Europe. Threats from Russia and Austria resulted in territorial losses. Owing to the increasing instability, independence movements arose throughout the multinational empire. A shift from land to sea routes hurt the Ottomans economically, as Europeans now conducted trade directly with Asia and thus cut out the Muslim middleman. British and French interference slowed the decline; Fearful that the collapse of the Ottoman Empire would lead to a strengthened Russian Empire, Britain and France lent economic support to the sultans (i.e., to maintain the balance of power). By 1900, smaller, considerably weaker, and in debt, the Ottomans launched a series of unsuccessful reforms to save the empire. | 48 | |
| 6333022932 | Muhammad Ali | Emerged as the ruler of Egypt following an unsuccessful invasion by Napoleon in 1798. Although Egypt was theoretically part of the Ottoman Empire, the sultans were not strong enough to prevent Ali from establishing an autonomous state. His success served as evidence of the weakened state of the Ottoman Empire. Modernized the nation by focusing on the military and industrialization. | 49 | |
| 6333022933 | Steam Engine | Invented in 1765 by James Watt; played a key role in industrialization. Burns coal to boil water and create steam, which will force a piston to turn a wheel that will drive a mechanical device to perform work. Replaced pumps powered by coal mines, which were not cost-effective. By 1800, more than 1800 steam engines were used in the British Isles. Steam engines were also prevalent in the textile industry. The use of steam engines led to an increase in productivity and a decrease in price for the consumer. | 50 | |
| 6333022934 | Interchangeable Parts | In 1778, French gunsmith Honore Blanc produced some of the first firearms with interchangeable parts. He demonstrated that his muskets could be assembled from a pile of parts selected at random. In the US Eli Whitney saw the potential benefit of developing "interchangeable parts" for US military firearms. He built several guns and disassembled them before the US Congress. The problem remained, however, that these guns were hand-made by extremely skilled workmen and were, therefore, very expensive. Mass production was first achieved in 1803 by Marc Isambard Brunel with Henry Maudslay and Simon Goodrich, with contributions by Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Bentham, Inspector General of Naval Works at Portsmouth Block Mills for the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic War. By 1808 annual production had reached 130,000 sailing blocks (pulleys). | 51 | |
| 6333022935 | Cotton Gin | Earliest versions date back to 5th century CE using a single roller (made of iron or wood) and a flat stone. Eli Whitney invented the modern version in 1793. He mechanized the cleaning of cotton by using wire hooks to pull cotton through a wire screen to separate the seeds from the cotton (previously done by hand); a brushlike component was used to remove lint and prevent jams. Enabled massive increase in cotton produced in southern US. By 1830: 750,000 bales of cotton; 1850: 285 million bales of cotton. Dramatic increase in the demand for slaves. Pre-1793: 700,000 slaves; 1850: 3.2 million slaves. By 1860, the US provided 80% of the cotton for Great Britain and two-thirds of the world's supply of cotton. | 52 | |
| 6333022936 | Telegraph | A communication system that transmits electric signals over wires from location to location and translates them into a message. In 1828, the first telegraph in the US was invented by Harrison Dyar, who sent electrical sparks through chemically treated paper tape to burn dots and dashes. In 1830, an American, Joseph Henry (1797-1878), sent an electronic current over one mile of wire to activate an electromagnet that caused a bell to strike. In 1835, Samuel Morse proved that signals could be transmitted by wire. He used pulses of current to deflect an electromagnet, which moved a marker to produce written codes on a strip of paper: the invention of Morse Code. The following year, the device was modified to emboss the paper with dots and dashes. He gave a public demonstration in 1838, but it was not until five years later that Congress (reflecting public apathy) funded $30,000 to construct a 40-mile experimental telegraph line from Washington to Baltimore. | 53 |
