Honors World History Unit 1 Test Prep

Autocracy

Government by a single person having unlimited power.

Democracy

Government by the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives.

Absolute Monarchy

A government where a king or queen has total power with no limits.

Limited Monarchy

A king or queen shares power with a parliament or constitution.

Military Dictatorship

The military controls the government, usually ruled by one general.

Oligarchy

A small group of people hold all the power.

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect leaders to make decisions for them.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws and decisions.

Anarchy

No government or authority; complete disorder.

Theocracy

Government ruled by religious leaders or based on religion.

Coup D’Etat

A sudden takeover of government by force, usually by the military.

Abdication

When a king, queen, or leader gives up the throne or power.

Divine Right

The belief that kings or rulers get their power from God.

State

An area with boundaries and sovereignty (the power to regulate internal and external affairs).

Thomas Hobbes

Believed people are naturally selfish and need a strong government for order; supported an absolute monarchy.

John Locke

Argued people are born with natural rights (life, liberty, property) and that government’s job is to protect those rights.

Baron de Montesquieu

Advocated for separation of powers in government to prevent tyranny.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Believed people are naturally good but corrupted by society; emphasized direct democracy.

Voltaire

Defended freedom of speech, religion, and criticized censorship.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Early advocate for women’s rights; argued for equal access to education and opportunities.

Glorious Revolution

Limited monarch power in England and affirmed parliamentary supremacy.

American Declaration of Independence

Declared that governments derive power from the consent of the governed.

Ancient Greece

Athens developed direct democracy, allowing citizens not only to vote on laws but also to propose new ones, creating an early form of political participation.

The Roman Republic

Established a system of representative government with elected senators, separation of powers, written laws (Twelve Tables), and checks and balances.

Judeo-Christian Thought

Stressed moral responsibility, equality before God, justice, and the idea that leaders are accountable to a higher law.

Reformation

Encouraged questioning the Catholic Church’s authority, promoted literacy (so people could read the Bible themselves), and advanced religious freedom and individual conscience.

Enlightenment

Thinkers like Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau promoted natural rights, separation of powers, freedom of speech, and the social contract between people and government.

What is the difference between autocracy and democracy?

Autocracy is when one person holds all the power and makes decisions without input from citizens, while democracy is when power is shared and people have a voice in government through voting and participation.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic and democratic governments?

Autocracy can make decisions quickly and maintain order, but it risks abuse of power and limits individual freedom. Democracy protects rights and gives citizens a say, but decision-making can be slower and sometimes less efficient.

How did differing opinions about the nature of man affect the way Western philosophers thought about government?

Philosophers who believed people are selfish (like Hobbes) supported strong, controlling governments, while those who believed people are reasonable and capable of cooperation (like Locke and Rousseau) supported governments based on rights, consent, and participation.