#AP World History: Modern - The Global Economy (1750-1900) 🌍

Hey! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of the global economy from 1750-1900. This period is HUGE, so we're breaking it down to make sure you're ready to rock! 🚀

#1. Introduction: A World in Transformation

This era saw massive economic shifts driven by industrialization, trade, and tech advancements. Think of it as the world's economy going from a slow stroll to a full-on sprint! 🏃💨

• Industrial Revolution: Started in Britain in the late 1700s, leading to new tech, factories, and mass production. It's like the world's biggest glow-up! ✨
• Global Trade: Steamships and railroads made trade faster and cheaper, connecting the world like never before. Imagine a super-fast global delivery service! 🚢🚂
• Colonialism: European powers grabbed colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, exploiting resources for their own benefit. Not cool, but a crucial part of the story. 😠

#2. The Rise of Export Economies

Some regions became major exporters, fueled by industrial demand. Think of them as the world's suppliers of key resources and goods.

• United Kingdom: The OG industrial powerhouse, exporting textiles, iron, and steel. Britain was like the world's factory floor. 🏭

• United States, Germany, Japan: These countries also saw massive export growth thanks to new tech and trade. They were the rising stars of the global economy. 🌟

  Focus on how industrialization drove the need for raw materials and created global trade networks. This is a major theme on the AP exam. 💡

#3. Technological Developments: The Game Changers

These inventions sped everything up and connected the world in new ways.

#3.1. Railroads

• Transformed transportation, moving goods and people faster than ever. Think of them as the arteries of the global economy. 🛤️
• Opened up new markets and territories for trade. They were like the world's highways. 🛣️

#3.2. Telegraph

• Enabled instant communication over long distances. It was like the first global text messaging system! 📱
• Made trade coordination much more efficient. Think of it as the internet of its time. 🌐

#3.3. Steamships

• Made international trade faster and cheaper. They were the workhorses of global commerce. 🚢

#3.4. Cecil Rhodes

• A businessman who built railroads and telegraph lines in southern Africa, expanding trade and investment. He was a key player in the colonial economy. 💼

#4. Agricultural Developments: Feeding the World (and Factories)

Agriculture also transformed, becoming more efficient and export-oriented.

#4.1. Mechanization

• New machines like threshers and reapers boosted farm productivity. It was like giving farmers superpowers! 💪

#4.2. New Crop Varieties

• The introduction of high-yield crops increased food production. More food = more people = more workers! 🧑‍🌾

#4.3. Enclosure Movement

• Consolidation of small farms into larger, more efficient ones. Think of it as farm consolidation, leading to more commercial agriculture. 🚜

#4.4. Infrastructure

• Better transportation made it easier to get goods to market. It's like the farm-to-table movement, but on a global scale! 🚚

#5. Raw Materials (Exports): The Fuel of Industry

These materials were the lifeblood of industrial production and trade.

#5.1. Cotton

• Massive demand for cotton textiles led to increased cotton production in the US and India. It was the fabric of the industrial revolution. 🧵

#5.2. Rubber

• Needed for tires and other industrial products, mainly from South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It was the bouncy material that kept the world moving. 🛞

#5.3. Palm Oil

• Used in soaps, candles, and lubricants, mainly from West Africa and Southeast Asia. It was the slippery stuff that kept things running smoothly. 🧴

#5.4. Copper and Tin

• Essential for manufacturing, mined in places like Chile, the US, and Malaya. They were the metals that built the modern world. 🔩

#5.5. Ivory, Minerals, and Diamonds

• Valued for decorative and industrial purposes, extracted in Africa and Asia. They were the shiny stuff that everyone wanted. 💎

#6. Global Consequences of Industrialization

Industrialization had huge impacts, both positive and negative.

• Positive: Growth of export economies and increased wealth in some areas. It was like a rising tide, but not all boats rose equally. 🚢
• Negative: Overexploitation of resources, environmental damage, and exploitation of labor. It was like the dark side of progress. 🌑
• Colonialism: European powers colonized many regions to control resources, leading to loss of sovereignty and cultural heritage. It was a major power grab that had long-lasting effects. 👑

#7. Key Terms Broken Down By Theme

Let's organize key terms by theme for easy recall.

#7.1. Environment

• Overexploitation: Excessive use of resources like guano, rubber, cotton, palm oil, diamonds, ivory, and minerals. 🌿
• Deforestation and soil erosion: Caused by resource extraction. 🌳

#7.2. Economics

• Export economies: Focus on producing goods for export. 💰
• Commercial extraction: Large-scale mining companies like De Beers. ⛏️
• Cash crops: Crops grown for profit, often displacing local food production. 💸

#7.3. Society

• Social hierarchy: Those who controlled production and trade were at the top. 👑
• Apartheid: System of racial segregation in South Africa, linked to resource exploitation. 🇿🇦

#7.4. Technology

• Railroads, steamships, telegraphs: Facilitated trade and communication. 🚂🚢📱

#8. Final Exam Focus

Okay, here's the lowdown on what to focus on for the exam:

• High-Priority Topics: Industrialization, global trade, colonialism, and the impact of technology. These are the big hitters! 🎯
• Common Question Types: Multiple-choice questions on specific inventions and trade routes, short answer questions on the consequences of industrialization, and free-response questions on the relationship between colonialism and economic development. 📝
• Time Management: Don't get bogged down on one question. Keep moving and come back if you have time. ⏱️
• Common Pitfalls: Not connecting economic changes to social and political impacts. Make sure you see the big picture! 🖼️

#9. Practice Questions

Let's put your knowledge to the test!

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the primary economic relationship between industrialized nations and their colonies during the 19th century? (A) Equal trade partnerships benefiting both parties (B) Colonies providing raw materials to industrialized nations (C) Industrialized nations providing manufactured goods to colonies (D) Colonies competing with industrialized nations in manufacturing

2. The invention of the steam engine had the most direct impact on which of the following? (A) The development of new agricultural techniques (B) The growth of textile manufacturing (C) The expansion of global trade networks (D) The establishment of new political ideologies

3. Which of the following was a major consequence of the enclosure movement in Europe? (A) Increased food production and agricultural exports (B) Decreased urbanization and migration to cities (C) Increased power of the landed aristocracy (D) Decreased availability of land for small farmers

Short Answer Question

Briefly explain ONE positive and ONE negative consequence of industrialization on global economies between 1750 and 1900. Free Response Question

Analyze the social, economic, and environmental effects of the Industrial Revolution on global patterns of trade and resource extraction between 1750 and 1900. Be sure to address both the positive and negative consequences of industrialization in your response. Consider examples from at least two different regions of the world.

FRQ Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): Presents a historically defensible thesis or claim that responds to all parts of the question.
• Contextualization (1 point): Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt (e.g., pre-industrial economies, global trade patterns).
• Evidence (2 points): Provides specific historical evidence relevant to the topic. (1 point for using specific evidence, 1 point for supporting argument with evidence)
• Analysis and Reasoning (2 points): Explains how the evidence supports the argument and analyzes the social, economic and environmental impacts of industrialization. (1 point for explaining how, 1 point for analyzing the impact)
• Complexity (1 point): Demonstrates a complex understanding by considering nuance, contradiction, or alternative perspectives. (e.g., acknowledging both positive and negative impacts, or comparing different regions)

You've got this! Go ace that exam! 💪🎉