AP Human Geography: Economic and Technological Advancements - Night Before Review 🚀

Hey there! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident for your AP Human Geography exam. This guide is designed to be your quick, go-to resource, focusing on the most important stuff and making connections that'll help you nail it. Let's dive in!

The Industrial Revolution: A Quick Overview

The Industrial Revolution was a huge deal, marking a shift from handmade goods to machine-made products. It all started in the late 18th century and spread like wildfire. Think of it as the moment when human history sped up! 💨

• Key Change: From manual labor to machine-based manufacturing.
• Fuel: New technologies (like the steam engine) and energy sources (like coal).
• Impact: Growth of cities, expansion of trade, and the rise of factories.

Jump to New Technologies

New Technologies: Powering the Revolution

The 2nd Agricultural Revolution and new resources were the main drivers of industrialization. People moved from rural areas to cities for factory jobs, leading to big changes in society.

• Rural to Urban Migration: People left farms for city jobs.
• Social Stratification: New social classes emerged.
• Population Growth: Cities boomed due to increased food supplies.

• Ford Process & Assembly Line: 🏭 Think of it like a super-efficient way to make things. Each worker has a specific job, making production faster and cheaper.
• Example: Imagine a car moving down a line, with each worker adding a different part.
• Interchangeable Parts: ⚙️ This meant any part could be replaced without replacing the whole product. No more custom-fitting!
• Example: A broken screw can be replaced with any other screw of the same size.

Jump to Industrialization Jump to Social Stratification Jump to Population Growth Jump to Assembly Line Jump to Interchangeable Parts

Industrialization

• Definition: The transformation of a society from agricultural to industrial, using machines to produce goods.
• Impact: More complex societies and diversified economies.
• Key Factor: The use of machinery, especially steam-powered engines.

Social Stratification

• Definition: How a society is divided into layers based on wealth, power, and prestige.
• Types: Can be rigid (like a caste system) or fluid (where social status can change).
• Impact: Affects opportunities and quality of life.

Population Growth

• Definition: The increase in the number of people in a population.
• Factors: Birth rates, immigration, life expectancy, and fertility rates.
• Impacts: Can lead to economic growth or strain resources.

Assembly Line

• Definition: A production process where tasks are completed in a specific order to build a product.
• Key Feature: Each worker or machine is responsible for one specific task.
• Impact: Increased speed and efficiency of production.
• Example: Automobile production, where each worker adds a specific part as the car moves down the line.

Interchangeable Parts

• Definition: Manufacturing process where parts are designed to be interchangeable.
• Key Feature: Any part can be used in place of any other part.
• Impact: Faster, more efficient production and repair.

New Systems: The Big Picture

The Industrial Revolution started in Britain because of its abundant coal. Cities like Liverpool and Manchester became major industrial centers. Waterways were initially vital, but coal became the main power source as industrialization spread. 🚢🏭

• Location: Britain's coal reserves and waterways were key.
• Trade: Easy to import raw materials and export goods.
• Mercantilism: 💰 England's economic policy of getting raw materials from colonies.
• Imperialism & Colonialism: 🌍 These grew as European powers sought resources.

Jump to Mercantilism Jump to Imperialism Jump to Colonialism

Mercantilism

• Definition: Economic theory that wealth is tied to gold and silver, promoting exports and limiting imports.
• Goal: Accumulate precious metals.
• Example: British policies in American colonies, requiring them to produce raw materials for Britain and purchase finished goods from Britain.

Imperialism

• Definition: Extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
• Methods: Acquiring colonies, establishing protectorates, using military bases.
• Impacts: Exploitation, abuse, economic development, and cultural exchange.
• Example: A powerful country invading a weaker one for resources.

Colonialism

• Definition: A country seeking to extend its authority over other territories, often by establishing settlements and occupying the land.
• Key Feature: The colonial power exerts control over the colonized people and their resources.
• Impacts: Significant impacts on cultures, economies, and political systems.

Industrialization also led to a shift from subsistence farming to commercial farming. Coal became more important than water power for factories. As industrialization spread to NW Europe and the Americas, places like Ohio and Pennsylvania became industrial hubs. 🌎

Final Exam Focus

Okay, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Here’s what you absolutely need to know for the exam:

• Key Topics:

• The Industrial Revolution's causes and effects.

• The impact of new technologies on society and the economy.

• The relationship between mercantilism, imperialism, and colonialism.

• The spatial diffusion of industrialization.

• Common Question Types:

• Multiple-choice questions on the causes and consequences of industrialization.

• Short-answer questions on the social and economic impacts of new technologies.

• Free-response questions comparing different economic systems and their effects.

• Exam Tips:

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later.

• Common Pitfalls: Be careful with questions that ask for the "least likely" or "except" - read carefully!

• FRQ Strategy: Always start with a clear thesis statement and support it with specific examples.

• Mnemonic for Industrialization: Resources, Technology, Urbanization, Social Change (RTUS).
• Mercantilism: Think "Money for the Motherland" - colonies exist to enrich the colonizing power.
• Imperialism: Think "Influence and Invade" - extending power through various means.

Practice Question

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary cause of the Industrial Revolution? a) Increased agricultural labor b) Development of new technologies and energy sources c) Decreased population growth d) Expansion of mercantilism

2. The assembly line is most closely associated with which of the following? a) Cottage industries b) Mass production c) Subsistence farming d) Mercantilism

3. Which of the following was NOT a major factor in the growth of industrial cities? a) Increased food supplies b) Rural to urban migration c) Decreased birth rates d) Factory jobs

Free Response Question

Prompt: Analyze the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution, focusing on its impact on social structures and economic systems. Be sure to include specific examples.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear statement that addresses the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution.
  • Example: The Industrial Revolution, driven by technological advancements and new energy sources, profoundly altered social structures and economic systems, leading to urbanization, new social classes, and the rise of capitalism.
• Causes (2 points): Identify and explain two causes of the Industrial Revolution.
  • Example 1: The development of new technologies, such as the steam engine and power loom, dramatically increased production efficiency.
  • Example 2: The availability of new resources, such as coal and iron, provided the energy and raw materials needed for industrial production.
• Social Consequences (2 points): Describe two social consequences of the Industrial Revolution.
  • Example 1: The shift from rural to urban living led to the growth of cities and the creation of new social classes, such as the industrial working class.
  • Example 2: Social stratification became more pronounced, with wealth concentrated in the hands of factory owners and the middle class.
• Economic Consequences (2 points): Describe two economic consequences of the Industrial Revolution.
  • Example 1: The factory system led to mass production and increased the availability of consumer goods.
  • Example 2: Mercantilism was replaced by capitalism, leading to new economic theories and practices.
• Specific Examples (2 points): Provide specific examples to support your points.
  • Example 1: The Ford assembly line is a prime example of the efficiency gains in the factory system.
  • Example 2: The British policy of mercantilism in the American colonies shows how colonies were used to benefit the mother country.

You’ve got this! Remember to stay calm, read carefully, and trust your knowledge. Go rock that exam! 💪