AP World History Unit 5 and 6 Notes: Easy Answers & Reviews
This page explores how Enlightenment ideas spread beyond Europe and North America, influencing societies worldwide, and examines the long-term impact of this intellectual movement on global history from 1750 to 1900 and beyond.
Global spread of Enlightenment ideas:
Colonial Americas
Example: Enlightenment ideals heavily influenced the founding documents of the United States, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Latin America
Highlight: Enlightenment concepts of liberty and self-governance inspired independence movements across Latin America in the early 19th century.
Asia
Vocabulary: "Westernization" in countries like Japan during the Meiji Restoration was partly influenced by Enlightenment ideas of progress and modernization.
Africa
Example: Enlightenment ideals influenced anti-colonial movements in Africa, though their implementation was often complicated by colonial realities.
Ottoman Empire
Highlight: The Tanzimat reforms in the Ottoman Empire were partly inspired by Enlightenment concepts of rationalization and modernization.
Long-t
key term - John Locke
Definition
John Locke was an influential English philosopher in the 17th century, known as the 'Father of Liberalism.' His ideas centered around the concepts of natural rights, social contract theory, and government by consent, which profoundly impacted political thought during the Enlightenment and later shaped democratic principles in the Industrial Age.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Locke's philosophy emphasized the importance of reason and individualism, encouraging people to question traditional authority and seek knowledge.
He believed that government should be based on the consent of the governed and that it has an obligation to protect citizens' natural rights.
Locke's writings greatly influenced revolutionary movements in America and France, as his ideas laid the groundwork for modern democracy.
His work 'Two Treatises of Government' directly challenged the divine right of kings and argued for limited government and separation of powers.
Locke also contributed to educational theory, advocating for a system where children learn through experience rather than rote memorization.
Review Questions
AP World History: Enlightenment Crash Course
One of the most important, leading, and just interesting periods you will have to cover during your AP World History exam is the Enlightenment. What complete you need to know to answer the questions related to this topic correctly? Who are the main philosophers who shaped the cornerstone ideas of the Enlightenment? Keep reading our strike course to better understand this important part of the AP World History exam.
How to Accomplish Well on AP World History
Knowing about Enlightenment thinkers, political revolutions, and general facts isn’t enough to pass the AP Earth History exam. What else accomplish you need? You should also have strong interpretation skills, such as the following:
Source: The College Board
While all this might sound too much, it gets much easier once you do your AP prep practice tests.
In addition to this, you can always review all the materials with a tutor to make sure that you are fully prepared for your exam.
Historical Developments in the Era of Enlightenment: Overview
To give you an idea of what happened during the Enlightenment, let’s quickly overview the major trends.
The
key term - John Locke
Definition
John Locke was a 17th-century English philosopher whose ideas on government, individual rights, and the social contract significantly influenced modern political thought. His concepts of natural rights and government by consent laid the groundwork for constitutionalism and challenged absolute monarchies, shaping the Enlightenment and later revolutionary movements.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Locke's work 'Two Treatises of Government' outlines his political philosophy, rejecting the divine right of kings and advocating for government accountability to the people.
He argued that individuals have the right to overthrow a government that fails to protect their natural rights, influencing revolutions such as the Glorious Revolution in England.
Locke's ideas on religious tolerance emphasized the separation of church and state, promoting the notion that civil government should not interfere with individual beliefs.
His belief in the importance of education laid the foundation for later educational reforms, stressing that knowledge is crucial for individuals to fulfill their potential in society.
Locke's influ
AP World 5.1 - The Enlightenment
Historical Developments
The rise and diffusion of Enlightenment thought that questioned established traditions in all areas of life often preceded revolutions and rebellions against existing governments. Enlightenment philosophers applied new ways of understanding and empiricist approaches to both the natural world and human relationships, encouraging observation and inference in all spheres of life; they also reexamined the role that religion played in public life, insisting on the importance of reason as opposed to revelation. Other Enlightenment philosophers developed new political ideas about the individual, natural rights, and the social contract.
Enlightenment Terms
General Will is a term popularized by the 18th-century French political philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau.
In his book The Social Contract (1762), Rousseau defines the general will (volonté générale) as the civic impulses of citizens seeking to pursue the common good within their community.
He contrasts the general will with the particular will of individuals seeking only their personal good.
Rousseau argues that the general will of the people, not the i
