unit 2

Ivan the Terrible

(1530 - 1584)

• Who? First ruler to be officially crowned Czar (Tsar) of Russia in 1557, title from “Caesar.”

• When? Ruled mid-1500s until 1584.

• Where? Russia.

• What? Used terror to centralize power, created a secret police (Oprichnina), extremely paranoid, and ruled with violence. Ordered a massacre at Novgorod when he suspected rebellion. Famously killed his own son and heir after a violent argument.

• Why Important? Strengthened autocracy in Russia through fear, but his brutality and the loss of his heir left Russia unstable after his death.

Louis XIV

(1638-1715)

• Who? King of France, called the “Sun King.”

• When? Ruled for 72 years (1643–1715), the longest reign in European history.

• Where? France, ruled from the Palace of Versailles.

• What? Practiced absolutism: never called the Estates General, persecuted Huguenots, enforced mercantilist policies, built the strongest army in Europe, and forced nobles to live at Versailles where they had little power.

• Why Important? He was the ultimate example of an absolute monarch—his extravagance and costly wars made France powerful but left the nation in great debt for his successors.

What is absolutism?

a system of government where a king or a queen has complete control over the government and people

How did the monarchs justify their absolute power?

they claim divine right – authority from God, above the law

What were common features of absolutism?

strong armies, high taxes, and limited representative bodies

What caused absolutism to rise in Europe?

breakdown of feudalism, rise of nation – states, continuous warfare, need for money, overseas, exploration, and declining power of the church

What were the effects of absolutism?

monarchs, regulated, religion society reduced the power of nobles and legislators, created a new government, bureaucracies, and built huge places/projects

What dynasty ruled absolutist France?

the bourbon monarchy

What did Henry IV do to strengthen absolutism in France?

increased government power and reduced power of nobility

What did Louis XIII due to strength absolutism?

strengthened and build up the army

Who was Cardinal Richelieu and what did he do?

chief minister under Louis XIII: subdued nobles, and French protestants

Absolutism in Russia

in 1480, Russian rollers drive the Mongols out. Czars Ivan III & Ivan IV the terrible used harsh method to unify Russia and strengthen the monarchy

1613

Michael Romanov begins the Romanov dynasty

Peter the great

(1672-1725)

• Who? Tsar of Russia, later Emperor, one of Russia’s most famous rulers.

• When? Ruled late 1600s–early 1700s.

• Where? Russia.

• What? Modernized and centralized Russia, built the largest army in Europe, reduced the nobility’s power, brought the Orthodox Church under his control, won territory on the Baltic Sea, and moved the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg—his “Window to the West.”

• Why Important? Transformed Russia into a major European power by expanding its territory and westernizing its government, military, and culture.

What was the Magna Carta (1225)?

a document King John was forced to sign that limited the King's power

What did Edward I establish in 1295

the model parliament – a lawmaking body with the House of Lords and House of Commons

How did parliament affect English monarchs?

it successfully blocked their attempts to shift to absolute role

What is an enlightened monarch?

an absolute ruler in the 18th century who used and ideas, but kept absolute power

What is enlightened despot?

a reformed – minded ruler who allowed religious tolerance, improved laws, expanded education, and supported arts and science

What is the enlightenment?

a 1600 – 1700s movement that used reason and science, question, monarchs, power, and promoted rights, freedom, and equality

Thomas Hobbes

(1588–1679)John Locke

• Who? English philosopher, political thinker.

• What? Wrote Leviathan (1651), introduced Social Contract Theory. Believed people are selfish (“nasty, brutish, and short”) and need a strong sovereign to maintain order.

• Why Important? Early Enlightenment thinker who justified absolute rule as necessary for peace and safety.

John Locke

(1632–1704)

• Who? English philosopher.

• What? Believed people are born with natural rights—life, liberty, property. Government’s job is to protect these rights, and citizens can overthrow unjust rulers.

• Why Important? His ideas inspired democracy and revolutions like the American and French Revolutions.

Voltaire

 (1694–1778)

• Who? French writer and philosopher.

• What? Criticized the Church and absolute monarchy. Defended freedoms of speech, religion, and thought.

• Why Important? His ideas helped spread the belief in civil liberties and religious tolerance.

Montesquieu

(1689–1755)

• Who? French philosopher.

• What? Wrote The Spirit of the Laws. Believed power should be separated into three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent corruption.

• Why Important? Inspired the structure of many modern governments, including the U.S. Constitution.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

(1712–1778)

• Who? French philosopher.

• What? Wrote The Social Contract. Believed laws should reflect the general will (majority rule) and that people are naturally good but corrupted by society.

• Why Important? Promoted popular sovereignty and inspired democratic revolutions.

What is another name for the enlightenment?

the age of reason

What did people begin to examine during the enlightenment?

how government should look and how we should govern and be governed

What are natural rights?

rights that all individuals are born with

What is social contract?

and agreement between ruler and citizen, we're both have rights and responsibilities

Why should power be separated and balanced?

to protect against corruption

What government changed did people want during the enlightenment?

from absolutism and divine right to constitutionalism

What should laws reflect according to enlightenment thinkers?

the general will of the people

What right do people have a rulers abuse power?

the right to rebel

What did enlightenment thinkers believe about knowledge?

it comes from science and reason, not just from God

What did enlightenment thinkers believe about progress?

science and reason would lead to human progress and understanding of the world or my

What war at the stage for the American Revolution?

the French and Indian war (seven years’ war)

What problem did Britain face after the war?

the war was costly, so Britain raised taxes on the colonists

Why did colonists oppose new taxes?

they said they could not be taxed without representation in Parliament

What slogan capture the colonists’ anger over taxes

“no taxation without representation”

How did enlightenment influence the colonists?

they believe the king had broken the social contract and use locke’s ideas in the declaration of independence

Who wrote the declaration of independence?

Thomas Jefferson

Whose ideas influenced the declaration of independence?

John Locke’s natural rights and social contract theory

Who helped the colonist win the revolutionary war?

the French

How did the American revolution influence the French?

it showed enlightenment ideas in action and inspired French people to question their government

What American document influenced French thinkers and revolutionaries?

the declaration of independence

What were the Three Estates in the Old Regime?

1. 1st: Clergy (no taxes)

2. 2nd: Nobles (no taxes)

3. 3rd: Everyone else (paid taxes).

What were main causes of the French revolution?

raising prices, inequality, Louis XVI’s spending, debt, and Noble's refusing taxes

How did the American Revolution influence France?

showed enlightenment ideas and action and inspired French performers

Louis XVI

(1754–1793)

• Who? King of France before and during the French Revolution.

• What? Tried to use Enlightenment ideas to reform (religious tolerance, no death penalty for deserters) but failed due to noble opposition. Poor economic decisions worsened food shortages.

• Why Important? His mismanagement and resistance from nobles helped trigger the French Revolution.

Marquis de Lafayette

(1757–1834)

• Who? French nobleman and military leader.

• What? Helped Americans in the Revolutionary War and later supported early French Revolution ideas.

• Why Important? Connected American and French revolutions and promoted Enlightenment principles in France.

Thomas Jefferson

 (1743–1826)

• Who? American Founding Father and principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

• What? Advocated natural rights and government based on the social contract.

• Why Important? His writing inspired not only Americans but also French revolutionaries.

Who was the estate general?

a meeting of the three estates called by Louis XVI to approve taxes

What was the tennis court oath?

the third state promised to stay in a tennis court until a new constitution was made

What happened on July 14, 1789?

people storm the bastillie for gunpowder: symbolize the end of the monarchy

What was the great fear?

peasants attack Noble's because of fear, hunger, and injustice

What was the women's march on Versaillies?

Women protested bread prices, and forced the king to listen

What was the national assembly?

revolutionary group that made laws and adopted the declaration of the rights of man

What was the declaration of the rights of man and the citizen?

document saying all men's have rights to freedom, property, security, and equality before the law

Who was Olympe de Gouges?

wrote the declaration of the rights of women to fight for women's equality