AP European History - Absolutism and Constitutionalism

What is a Junker?

A Junker is a member of the Prussian aristocracy noted especially for militarism.

What is a constitutional monarchy?

A form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the guidelines of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified, or blended constitution. Examples during this time period include England (soon to be Great Britain) and the Dutch Republic.

What is the Law Code of 1649?

A legal reform which combined peasants and slaves in Russia into a singular class of serfs.

What were the Times of Troubles?

A period of mass disorder within Russia following the death of Ivan the Terrible without an heir. Peasant uprisings were prevalent throughout Russia, although they were all defeated. Boyars attempted to use vacuum of power to reestablish their authority. The Romanov dynasty became the ruling dynasty with Michael Romanov elected as tsar in 1613, concluding the conflict.

What was the Fronde?

A series of revolts caused by nobles who desired to increase royal revenue and expand state bureaucracy. While Louis XIV and Anne of Austria were forced to flee Paris initially, the rebellion ultimately failed, causing Louis XIV to lose trust for the nobility permanently, and therefore paved the road to absolutism within France.

What is an absolute monarchy?

A state whose ruler holds complete authority over the government and the lives of the people. Examples during this time period include France, Russia and Prussia.

What is the Great Northern War?

A war between the Great Power Sweden, and a coalition consisting of Denmark, Poland and Russia. Sweden was able to best all three nations at the start of the war due to superior military tactics. However, the Winter of 1708 immensely weakened the Swedish army, who was attempting to invade Russia. The Battle of Poltava saw a turning point in the war, where Russia destroyed the main Swedish army. The war concluded in 1721, and saw Sweden lose it's role as a great power and Russia begin to emerge as one.

What is the War of Austrian Succession?

A war lasting between 1740-1748 where Frederick the Great sieged the opportunity of Maria Theresa of Austria ascending the throne. Prussia was able to defeat Austria, occupying Silesia.

Who was Frederick II?

Also known as Frederick the Great, Frederick II ruled from 1740 to 1786. He was considered an enlightened monarch. He enlarged the Prussian army by actively recruiting the nobility into civil service. Frederick kept a strict watch over the bureaucracy.

Who was Frederick I?

Also known as Frederick the Soldier King, Frederick I was an absolute monarch who consolidated the power of Prussia.

Who was Ivan IV?

Also known as Ivan the Terrible, Ivan became the first tsar (czar) of Russia from 1533-1584. He defeated the remaining hordes surrounding Russia, heavily expanding Russia. After his wife's death, Ivan implemented heavy taxation on the Russian people.

Who is Peter I?

Also known as Peter the Great, Peter assumed the throne from 1682-1725. He was considered an enlightened monarch, and ultimately reformed Russia from an outdated European state into one of Europe's most threatening nations.

What was the Estates General?

An assembly of representatives from all three estates.

How did Jean Baptiste Colbert reform and modernize the French navy?

Beforehand, the French navy was immensely weak compared to other colonial powers such as England and the Dutch. Colbert improved the French navy by constructing the Brest Arsenal, which was a collection of naval and military buildings located in Brest. Colbert was able to construct more powerful vessels in Brest, which made it more of a naval threat.

What was the outcome of the Seven Years War?

Britain and Prussia emerged as the victors. For Great Britain this meant annexing all of France's American and Indian colonies, and for Prussia this meant emerging as a great power of Europe.

How did Charles I interact with the parliament?

Charles I believed in absolutism, and in the period between 1629-1640 he refused to call parliament into session and practically ignored them. He called parliament back into session in 1640 because he needed money to deal with a Scottish rebellion. This parliament was known as the Short Parliament, because they didn't cooperate with Charles I so he dismissed them and ran election for a new parliament. This new parliame was known as the Long Parliament, because when Charles I attempted to dismiss this parliament, they refused.

How did religious tensions lead to the English Civil War

Charles I marrying a Catholic woman upset the English population, who mostly followed the church of religions.

How did Sweden's military change during the reign of Charles XI?

Charles XI abolished mandatory conscription in Sweden.

How did Jean Baptiste Colbert reform and modernize the French army?

Colbert implemented a number of reforms to strengthen and update the French military. He established military academies and institutions to train officers in addition to a system of universal military conscription that required all young men to serve. Colbert also constructed manufacturing centers to produce weapons and other military supplies to improve the equipment and logistics of the French military.

How did Jean Baptiste Colbert financially assist Louis XIV in consolidating power?

Colbert significantly improved infrastructure in France by constructing canals and roads to facilitate commerce and measure to protect French industries from foreign competition including tariffs on imported goods.

Who was Jean Baptiste Colbert?

Colbert was the First Minister of State in France during Louis XIV's rule.

How did Louis XIV cause financial problems that would plague France for decades?

Despite Jean Baptiste Colbert's efforts, France remained under an underdeveloped tax system called the taille, which exempted the clergy and nobility from taxes, and therefore taxed only peasants. This tax system, along with constant warfare during Louis XIV's reign, would ultimately leave France with an economic system that would crumble in the following decades.

What is the Pragmatic Sanction?

Due to a failure to produce a male heir, Charles VI (Holy Roman Emperor) passed the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, allowing female heirs to inherit the Habsburg hereditary possessions.

What was England's economic situation before the English Civil War?

England had accumulated a ton of debt during the Thirty Years War, for Charles I had spent money that wasn't authorized by the Parliament.

What is an enlightened monarch?

Enlightened monarchs are monarchs that are influenced by philosophes introduced by the enlightenment, and utilize those discoveries to reform their state. Examples include Peter the Great of Russia and Frederick the Great of Prussia.

What was the Intendant System?

France was divided into districts held in the name of the king. Bureaucratic agents called Intendants were assigned to various regions to ensure they were obeying Louis XIV's rule.

How did Frederick the Great reform Prussia?

He abolished the use of torture except in treason and murder cases. He also granted limited freedom of speech and press, as well as greater religious toleration. However, Frederick kept Prussia's serfdom and rigid social structure intact and avoided any additional reforms.

How did Peter develop Russia's education in science?

He founded teh Russian Academy of Sciences in 1724 based on a desire to promote and support research and innovation in Russia. This was modeled by the Royal Society of London. The academy was responsible for organizing scientific expeditions, publishing research and awarding grants and prizes to scholars.

What was Louis's XIV religious policy?

In 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, and replaced it with the Edict of Fontainebleau. Under the Edict of Fontainebleau, France adopted a "One king, one law, one faith" policy. This demanded that Huguenots renounce their faith, and called for the destruction of Huguenot churches and closing of Huguenot schools. As a result, over 200,000 Huguenots fled France to places such as the Dutch Republic.

What was the seed drill?

Invented by Jethro Tull, the seed drill planted seeds much more efficiently.

Who was Anne of Austria?

Louis XIV's mother, Anne acted as the regent queen during the time period 1610 to 1643, as Louis XIV was too young to rule when he was announced king.

How did Oliver Cromwell transform England?

Oliver Cromwell drove the monarchists out of parliament. He imposed a strict moral code, and essentially transformed England into a military dictatorship by dismissing parliament.

What was the outcome of the English Civil War?

Oliver Cromwell had defeated and captured Charles I, who was then executed.

Who was Oliver Cromwell?

Oliver Cromwell was the leader of the New Model Army, who was against Charles I.

Why did Peter the Great build the city of St. Petersburg?

Peter I constructed and relocated the Russian capital to St. Petersburg to exemplify the westernization and modernization of Russia during Peter's rule.

How did Peter the Great reform the military?

Peter I heavily increased the military manufacturing industries. He also implemented ruthless, yet effective conscription policies. He effectively founded the Russian navy, the Table of Ranks and Holy Synod. The sons of the nobility were required to be sent to train as officers in new military technical schools established in Russia. He also established a standing army, and brought in German military leaders to train the army.

How did Peter the Great consolidate power within the Boyars?

Peter ordered boyars to shave their traditional long beards, and serve either in the army or in administrative positions.

How was Peter I able to westernize Russia so effectively?

Peter travelled to Holland and England to observe western customs and militaries, and applied their successes to Russia, copying tax codes and legal codes.

How did the Agricultural Revolution impact European society?

Populations in Europe began to grow exponentially faster due to an increased supply of food. The food brought over from the Columbian Exchange meant that European diets were expanding, which directly lead to longer lifespans.

What were the sides of the Seven Years War?

Prussia's allies includes Great Britain (and by extension Hannover), Portugal and Russia past 1762. Austria's allies include France, Saxony, Spain, Sweden and Russia until 1762.

What was the Petition of Right?

Request by Parliament in 1637 to the king wanting a limit to his power and reinstatement of citizen's rights. The Petition of Right stated that the king could not impose taxes without Parliamentary approval, could not imprison a free man without a trial, could not subject free men to special court s and could not force free men to lodge troops in their home.

How did the role of women in Russia change during the reign of Peter the Great?

Russian women could appear in public without veils.

Why did Louis XIV never call for the Estates General?

Since this action would effectively recognize that the Estates General would have authority and power, Louis XIV rejected the idea of calling for an Estates General, for he wanted to control everything himself.

Why was Spain declining during this time period?

Spain experienced many political and economic failures, as well as a series of incompetent kings during this time period, which ultimately drained Spain's status as a great power.

What is the Agricultural Revolution?

The Agricultural Revolution was a period of technological improvement and increased crop productivity that occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe. Farmers began to adopt new technologies and innovations, increasing food production. The Dutch and English were able to most effectively utilize the event to their benefit.

Who were the Boyars?

The Boyars were the Russian nobility class.

Who were the Cossacks?

The Cossacks were independent warriors; groups consisted of former peasants, criminals, and adventurers who fled the tsar.

What was the Dutch War?

The Dutch War was a conflict lasting between 1672-1678 in which Louis XIV invaded Spanish Belgium, but was forced to retreat by English and Swedish pressure. This war was very costly to both France and Spain; however, France would end up gaining territorial gains in the form of Flanders and Franche-Comte.

How potent was the Dutch navy?

The Dutch at the time had the largest fleet in the world with 10,000 ships. Such a massive fleet allowed the Dutch to dominate trade and colonies.

How did the Dutch benefit from colonization?

The Dutch established the Dutch East India Treading Company, which displaced the Portuguese in control of the East India spice trade.

How did the Dutch benefit from the Agricultural Revolution?

The Dutch were able to reclaim a lot of arable land from the sea, and effectively utilized new inventions from the Agricultural Revolution to create economic successes.

Why is this time period often considered the Dutch Golden Age?

The Dutch were able to thrive in the time period between 1588-1672 for a multitude of reasons. They became economically, socially and navally dominant in the region, and benefitted from many of the events in Europe such as the Agricultural Revolution.

How did the Dutch's religious policy contribute to the Dutch's prosperity?

The Dutch were tolerant of all religions, including non Christians. This meant that the Dutch became very attractive to immigrants who were looking for religious freedom. Examples of groups of people that fled to the Dutch in look for religious freedom include Huguenots from France during Louis XIV's reign, and Jews.

What is the English Bill of Rights?

The English Bill of Rights was a document signed by the William and Mary of Orange in 1689 that guaranteed certain basic rights to all English citizens.

What is The Glorious Revolution?

The Glorious Revolution was an event in 1688 which saw the transferring of power to William and Mary of Orange. With the ascension of William and Mary, the idea of divine rights of kings was officially put to death in England.

What was the state of the Holy Roman Empire following the Peace of Westphalia?

The Holy Roman Empire politically divided the empire into ~300 states. The Holy Roman Emperor had no army, revenue, or even central authority, and as a result, Habsburg-ruled-Austria and Hohenzollern-rulled-Prussia became the leading German states within the empire.

What was the Palace of Versailles?

The Palace of Versailles was the largest secular building in Europe, and also where Louis XIV resided. The nobility were forced to live in the Palace of Versailles for a major part of the year, which meant Louis XIV could keep an eye on the nobles at all times. Within the palace, the nobility began fighting amongst themselves over who should be closer to the King, ultimately allowing Louis to consolidate power even further.

Who was Charles I?

The King of England who ultimately led the nation into a civil war.

Who was Louis XIV?

The King of France from 1643 to 1715, Louis XIV transformed France into an absolute monarchy, becoming the most controlling and powerful monarch France has ever seen. Also known as the Sun King, for all French people revolved around him like planets.

What is the Holy Synod?

The Patriarch was eliminated, and replaced with the Holy Synod. This effectively reorganized the Russian Orthodox Church. The Holy Synod consisted of several bishops headed by a layman that governed the church according to the tsar's requirements.

What led to the decline of Poland in the 18th century?

The Polish government was decentralized and weak, meaning nothing was ever accomplished in the nation, and it swiftly led to it's surrounding neighbors of Austria, Russia and Prussia eclipsing Poland in power.

What were the Partitions of Poland?

The Prussian, Austrian and Russian monarchs agreed to divided the weakened Poland amongst themselves.

What is the Seven Years War?

The Seven Years War was the first truly global conflict, in which all the major European powers fought each other. It began when Frederick the Great invaded the German state of Saxony. In response, Maria Theresa of Austria attacked Prussia, causing a massive domino effect.

Who was Charles XI?

The Swedish King from 1655 to 1697 who effectively transformed Sweden into an absolute monarchy.

How did Charles XI reform Sweden's navy?

The Swedish Royal Navy was entirely remodeled, and Charles XI relocated Sweden's naval base from Stockholm to Karlskrona. At Charles XI's death, Sweden had one of the most powerful navies in the world.

How was Sweden's military so powerful during this time period?

The Swedish army never formed tercios, and therefore had less pikemen. Because of this they compensated with equiping their men with guns, effectively creating a relatively small army with an extremely high gun-to-pike ratio.

What is the Table of Ranks?

The Table of Ranks was created by Peter to create opportunities for nonnobles to serve the state and join the nobility.

What was the Treaty of Utrecht?

The Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713, concluding the War of Spanish Succession. Philip was allowed to become King of Spain; however, the Spanish and French thrones would not be allowed to merge. Austria gained massive territorial earnings in the form of Belgium, Naples, Milan and Sardinia.

What was the War of Spanish Succession?

The War of Spanish Succession was most damaging for Louis XIV and France. Charles II of Spain died without an heir, meaning Spanish throne would be passed to Louis XIV's grandson, Philip. Other European nations feared this would allow Louis XIV to merge the Spanish and French thrones, and the Grand Alliance went to war against France to prevent Philip from taking the throne.

What was the cast iron plow?

The cast iron plow increased the efficiency of digging furrows. The cast iron plow was also made with interchangeable parts, which made cleaning much easier.

What were the three estates?

The clergy, the nobility, and everyone else.

How did colonization benefit the Agricultural Revolution?

The colonization of the New World and the Columbian Exchange meant that Europeans were bringing over new goods such as corn and potatoes.

What ultimately led to the Dutch's decline?

The country was frequently at war with other European powers such as England and France; and was also hit by a number of economic crisis. England became more stabilized under constitutionalism after the Glorious Revolution, and France stabilized under the absolutist control of Louis XIV, allowing both nations to eclipse the Dutch as world leaders.

What was the mechanical hoe?

The mechanical hoe increased the efficiency of the removal of weeds.

How was the Prussian government unique during this time period?

The military under the command of nobles played a dominant role within the government. Frederick I used most of Prussia's economy to construct a potent military.

What was the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756?

The reversal of longstanding alliance in Europe, where Prussia allied Britain and in response, Austria allied it's great rival France in order to maintain the balance of power.

What is the Divine King of Rights?

The theory that monarchs received their right to rule directly from God, and therefore citizens owed their loyalty to their rulers.

What was the Acts of Union?

The unification of England and Scotland signed by parliament in 1707.

Why did absolute monarchies arise during this time period?

The weakened influence of the Catholic Church due to a growing acceptance and tolerance of Protestant practice, and the merchant class, who desired absolute monarchies for the economic and political stability they could provide, rapidly expanding during this time period led to the rise of absolute monarchs.

How did the Dutch culture prosper during this time period?

There Netherlands was home to a number of talented artists and writers, and thec ountry's prosperity allowed for a flourishing arts scene. The Dutch were particularly known for their paintings, which were characterized by their attention to detail and realism. Some of the most famous Dutch painters of this period include Rembrandt, Vermeer and Hals.

How did the Dutch's government system allow the Dutch to prosper?

While the country was a republic in name, the Dutch were really more of an oligarchy with power cencentrated in the hands of wealthy merchants. The country was divided into seventeen provinces, with each having its own government and laws. This system allowed for a great degree of freedom and democracy, and contributed to the country's cultural prosperity.

What was the Nine Years' War?

William of Orange created the Grand Alliance between England, Spain and Austria, and declared war against France in order to keep them in check in response to the Dutch War. France ended up having to cede Lorraine, and accepted William of Orange as the rightful King of England.

What was Frederick the Great's religious policy?

Within Prussia, Frederick the Great tolerated both Catholics and Protestants; however, he did not tolerate Catholics in recently conquered territory such as Silesia.