AP World History Exam Review: 1750-1900 (Units 5-6)

Emily Glankler, an Austin-based teacher, welcomes viewers to the third live AP World History review session. She emphasizes the importance of the 1750 to 1900 era, covering units five and six, and encourages students to simplify the course content by focusing on four main eras. Emily highlights the significance of units three through six for the AP exam and addresses concerns from students who are still covering other units. She stresses that these units are crucial for the exam and may include multiple essay prompts and a DBQ, unlike units one, two, and nine, which are less emphasized.

This paragraph delves into the transformative era from 1750 to 1900, characterized by Western dominance and imperialism. The period marked a shift from the rise of the West to its peak, with European culture and power influencing the globe. Emily discusses the change from early colonies to full-blown imperialism, especially in Africa, and the challenge to powerful Asian empires like India, China, and the Ottoman Empire. She connects this era to the previous one, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between them for exam purposes, and hints at the intertwined relationship between imperialism and industrialization.

The third paragraph focuses on the Industrial Revolution's profound effects on society, particularly in Western countries. While industrialization led to urbanization, increased wealth, and improved living standards, it also widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Emily mentions the rise of philosophies like socialism and communism in response to the societal issues caused by industrialization. She also touches on the importance of understanding the chronology of events during this era for the AP exam, suggesting that students memorize key dates to anchor their understanding of the period.

Emily discusses the political revolutions and the Industrial Revolution in unit five, emphasizing the Enlightenment's influence on these events. She advises students not to get caught up in the details of each revolution but to understand their interconnectedness and the broader spectrum of change they represent. The American, French, and Haitian revolutions are highlighted as key examples, each reflecting the Enlightenment ideals to varying degrees. The paragraph also touches on the beginnings of the women's rights movement and the idea of nationalism that emerged during this time.

The fifth paragraph examines how industrialization affected not only Western societies but also non-Western nations. It explores the different responses of countries like China, India, and the Ottoman Empire to the pressures of modernization. Some, like Japan, chose to adopt industrialization rapidly, while others, like China under Empress Dowager Cixi, resisted change. The paragraph also discusses the global implications of industrialization, including the rise of social Darwinism and the idea of the 'civilizing' mission of imperial powers.

This paragraph discusses the various forms of imperialism and their impact on global cultures and societies. It describes the height of imperialism by the late 1800s, with European powers controlling vast territories worldwide. The paragraph details the destructive effects of imperialism on local cultures, the establishment of rigid racial hierarchies, and the different methods of exerting power, from direct control to economic influence. It also touches on the resistance and adaptation of colonized peoples in the face of imperialism.

The seventh paragraph focuses on the impact of imperialism on the global economy, drawing parallels to unit two's themes of exchange networks but on a much larger scale. It discusses the movement of people, such as the Indian diaspora and Chinese immigrants, and the cultural and economic exchanges facilitated by industrial technology like steamships, railroads, and the telegraph. The paragraph also highlights the resistance movements in Latin America, such as Tupac Amaru's rebellion against Spanish rule.

In the eighth paragraph, Emily talks about the various ways states and societies responded to imperialism, from military resistance like the Zulu Wars to cultural resistance such as the Ghost Dance Movement. She emphasizes the importance of understanding both the attempts at adaptation, like the Cherokee Nation's efforts to maintain independence, and the outright resistance, which often involved significant cultural preservation efforts despite the odds.

The final paragraph wraps up the review session by summarizing the key points discussed and looking forward to the next live session, which will cover the 20th century. Emily encourages students to follow her on social media for updates and predictions about the AP exam and to subscribe to her YouTube channel for more free content. She also mentions her collaboration with the Heimler review and provides information on her available review packets for purchase.