Chapter 15 - Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Absolutism

the practice of monarchies expanding/centralizing their power

Landowning, tenant farming, rural workers

Peasant life in Western Europe:

Serfdom

Peasant life in Eastern Europe:

Price of Bread

When the _____ rose beyond peasants’ wages, they rioted:

Thirty Years War

from 1618 to 1648, it was fought over Protestant and Catholic religion as well as power struggles in the Holy Roman Empire

Edict of Restitution

forced Protestants to return to the Roman Catholic church all property seized since 1552, revealed to the German princes the threat of imperial absolutism

Gustavus Adolphus

Swedish king who supported Protestants in the Holy Roman Emperor in the 30 Years War

Habsburgs

Cardinal Richelieu fought against the _____ in the 30 Years War

Peace of Westphalia

The name of a series of treaties that concluded the Thirty Years' War in 1648 and marked the end of large-scale religious violence in Europe; ended religious wars in Europe

8 million

The 30 Years War devastated local economies and population, about _____ deaths

Standing Armies

a professional, full time, paid force typically established by absolutist monarchies, allowing many nations to conquer others

Navy

Great Britain built up their _____ :

Taxation

Peasants typically revolted due to high _____ :

Henry IV

established the Bourbon dynasty, the foundation for French absolutism

Cardinal Richelieu

the first minister of the French crown, expanded the government, kept France strong during the 30 years war

Intendants

an administrative system where people were established to monitor districts and other matters, solely responsible to the monarch

Cardinal Jules Mazarin

continued centralization policies during Louis XIV’s reign

Louis XIV

French king (1643-1715) who signified absolutism during the peak of the French monarchy

The Edict of Nantes

Louis XIV revoked the _____ :

Versailles

Louis XIV’s palace built outside of Paris, exemplifying the splendor and majesty of France at the time

Nobles

Louis XIV required _____ to stay at Versailles for part of the year to keep them under his control:

Fronde

A series of violent uprisings during the early reign of Louis XIV due to Mazarin’s struggle to increase royal revenue during the war over taxation

French Classicism

the art and literature of the 17th century, imitated the subject matter and style of classical antiquity and possessed the classical qualities of discipline, balance, and restraint

Language and Culture

French _____ was accepted as a standard in Europe

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

financial controller general and genius under Louis XIV

Mercantilism

system of economic regulations aimed at increasing the power of the state based on the belief that a nation's international power was based on its wealth, specifically its supply of gold and silver; created by Jean-Baptiste Colbert

War of Devolution, Dutch War, War of the Reunions, Nine Years' War, War of the Spanish Succession

Louis XIV’s many wars, ultimately proving minimally successful, yet very costly

War of Spanish Succession

war (1701-1713) fought between France and the Grand Alliance of many European countries over the Spanish throne following Carlos II’s death

The Peace of Utrecht

A series of treaties, from 1713 to 1715, that ended the War of the Spanish Succession, ended French expansion in Europe, and marked the rise of the British Empire; Philip II (France) received the throne while Great Britain received the Strait of Gibraltar

the balance of power

The War of Spanish Succession/Peace of Utrecht demonstrated _____ :

Decline of Spain

caused by hyperinflation and royal expenses

Divine Right

the idea that monarchs received their power and authority from God; basis on which many monarchs expanded their power

Philip II

Spanish Habsburg king, successor to Charles V, who gained significant power and prestige; first absolutist monarch

Partitions of Poland

three territorial divisions of Poland during the mid-late 18th century, perpetrated by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, where Poland was conquered

Absolutism in Austria

Habsburgs such as Ferdinand II and III increased their power by creating strong, standing armies and diminishing the nobility

Absolutism in Prussia

rise to power was based off of leader’s desire for a strong militaristic society

Frederick William

Prussian ruler, called the “Great Elector”, unified territories of Prussia, Brandenburg, and the Rhine

Frederick William I

Prussian rules, called the “Soldier’s King”, dominated Junkers and oppressed peasants to secure power, established a society based around their army

Junkers

the nobility of Brandenburg and Prussia, who were reluctant allies of Frederick William in his consolidation of the Prussian state

Ivan IV (The Terrible)

Russian ruler who came to power through oppression of Russian nobles and peasants.

Boyars

The highest-ranking members of the Russian nobility

Cossacks

free groups and outlaw armies originally comprising runaway peasants living on the borders of Russian territory from the fourteenth century onward; Ivan IV firmly tied serfs to their lands in responses

Time of Troubles

period in Russia (late 16th-early 17th) of chaos, characterized by power struggles among Ivan IV’s relatives, peasant revolts, and crop struggles

Michael Romanov

elected by Russian nobles after the Time of Troubles in Russia, the new hereditary tsar; established the Romanov dynasty

Peter the Great

Russian ruler who aimed to expand territory, centralize power, and to reform and Westernize Russia

Westernization

adoption of Western European practices and values by Peter the Great in order to increase Russian prestige and recognition

Black and Baltic Seas

Russia’s borders expanded to the _____ during absolutist reign :

St. Petersburg

Peter the Great forcibly established this place as the capital city of Russia on the Baltic Sea, mirroring the practices of Western European society

Ottoman Empire

occupied regions of Eastern Europe and the Middle East during the 16th century

Austrian Habsburgs

The Ottoman Empire often conflicted with the _____ over territory:

Sultan

the ruler of the Ottoman Empire; he owned all the agricultural land of the empire and was served by an army and bureaucracy composed of highly trained slaves

Janissary Corps

the core of the sultan’s army, composed of slave conscripts from non-Muslim parts of the empire

Millet System

a system used by the Ottomans whereby subjects were divided into religious communities, with each millet enjoying autonomous self-government under its religious leader

James I

succeeded Elizabeth I for the English Crown, establishing the Stuart dynasty

Parliament

James I clashed with _____ over power and divine right:

Catholic ; Puritan

In England, the line of Stuart kings were often _____ while parliament was often _____ :

Puritan

members of a sixteenth- and seventeenth-century reform movement within the Church of England that advocated purifying it of Roman Catholic elements such as bishops, elaborate ceremonials, and wedding rings

Petition of Right

sent by the English Parliament to King Charles complaining of a series of breaches of law; sought recognition of four principles: no taxation without the consent of Parliament, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial law in peacetime

Disputes over religion and the balance of power between the monarch and parliament

Causes of the English Civil War:

Constitutionalism

form of government in which power is limited by law and balanced between the authority and power of the government, on the one hand, and the rights and liberties of the subjects or citizens on the other hand; could include constitutional monarchies or republics.

Republicanism

form of government in which there is no monarch and power rests in the hands of the people as exercised through elected representatives

Oliver Cromwell

Charles I is beheaded by _____ during the English Civil War:

Protectorate

the English military dictatorship (1653-1658) established by Oliver Cromwell following the execution of Charles I

Test Act

legislation passed by the English Parliament in 1673 to secure the position of the Anglican Church by stripping Puritans, Catholics, and other dissenters of the right to vote, preach, assemble, hold public office, and teach at or attend the universities

Restoration of 1660

the placement of Charles II (Stuart) back into the English monarchy, after Oliver Cromwell

English Civil War

a period from 1642-1649 where Parliamentarians battled Royalists for control and power in England

Long Parliament

a period in which Parliament was summoned from 1640-166o; initially summoned to put down a Scottish rebellion; enacted legislation diminishing the power of the monarch during its period

Triennial Act

compelled the king to summon Parliament every 3 years; part of Parliament’s aim to reduce monarchial power

Oliver Cromwell

member of Parliament and a devout Puritan who led the resistance against the monarchy; when in power, he dismissed Parliament, invaded Catholic Ireland, and was not very religiously tolerant of Catholics

Thomas Hobbes

philosopher who held a pessimistic view of human nature; published his view in “Leviathan,” outlining his social contract theory and belief in a sole monarch

Navigation Act

passed in 1651 by Cromwell, required that English goods be transported on English ships, aligning with mercantilist practice

Glorious Revolution

replaced King James II with Dutch Mary and Prince William of Orange instated as King and Queen with no bloodshed; 1688

John Locke

wrote “Second Treatise of Civil Government"; established life, liberty, and property as items which government should protect and maintain

The cabinet system and the prime minister was established

Advancement of constitutionalism:

Stadholder

the executive officer in each of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, a position often held by the princes of Orange

Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands

gained its independence after the 30 years war; republican government established

Standard of Living

The Netherland had the highest _____ in all of Europe

Shipping

The Netherlands dominated the _____ industry

Baroque

art movement in the 17th and 18th centuries stemming from the Catholic Reformation, in an attempt to rekindle Catholic support; characterized by emotionally intense religious scenes

Peter Paul Rubens

Flemish Baroque artist; developed a rich, sensuous, colorful style that was characterized by animated figures, melodramatic contrasts, and monumental size

Johannes Vermeer

Dutch Baroque artist

Johann Sebastian Bach

German Baroque composer

greater taxation, larger armed forces, and efficient bureaucracies

Absolutist and constitutionalist governments increased their authority in:

poor communication/infrastructure, entrenched local power structures, and ethnic diversity

Expansionist governments often faced obstacles like: