AP Euro: Time Period 2 (1648-1815) - Units 3-5

Absolutism

1. A form of government in which the ruler holds absolute, or total, power, often justified by the divine right of kings, where monarchs claimed their right to rule came directly from God.

2. An effect of the Reformation and New Monarchies and Louis XIV of France became a key example

3. Caused significant change in society as absolutism and equality became a key discussion in the Enlightenment

Constitutional Monarchy

1. A system of governance in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government, such as a parliament. This became prominent in England after the Glorious Revolution.

2. These monarchies were often a response to power nobles not letting the king take absolute power and ultimately resulted in more politically and economically stable countries

Divine Right of Kings

1. The belief that a monarch's authority comes directly from God, and therefore the monarch is not accountable to earthly authorities, such as a parliament.

2. This concept supported absolute monarchies

The English Civil War (1642-1651)

A series of conflicts between Royalists, who supported King Charles I, and Parliamentarians, who opposed his attempts to rule without parliamentary consent. The war led to the temporary overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.

Commonwealth and Restoration 1649-1660

1. After the execution of Charles I, Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, ruling England as a republic.

2. The Restoration - After the death of Cromwell, The period in which the monarchy was restored in England after the collapse of the Commonwealth, with Charles II taking the throne.

The Glorious Revolution (1688)

1. The event in which James II of England was overthrown due to another Stuart debate with Parliment

2. and replaced by William of Orange and his wife Mary. This revolution was 'glorious' because it was largely bloodless and led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in England.

The Agricultural Revolution

1 . A period of technological innovation and changes in agricultural practices that significantly increased food production in Europe, contributing to population growth and urbanization.

2. Enclosure Movement - The legal process in England of consolidating small landholdings into larger farms, which led to increased agricultural efficiency but also displaced many peasants, contributing to the growth of urban labor forces.

The Peace of Westphalia (1648)

1. A series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. It marked the beginning of the modern state system and the principle of national sovereignty.

2. Balance of Power - A diplomatic concept that emerged in early modern Europe, aimed at preventing any one state from becoming too powerful and threatening the stability of the region. It was a guiding principle of European diplomacy after the Peace of Westphalia.

Bill of Rights (1689)

A key document in English history that established parliamentary sovereignty and limited the powers of the monarchy. It was passed after the Glorious Revolution as a condition of William and Mary's acceptance of the English throne.

Putting-out System

An early form of industrial production where merchants supplied raw materials to rural workers, who then processed them into finished products. This system laid the foundation for the later development of factories during the Industrial Revolution.

Peter the Great

1. A Russian czar known for his extensive reforms in an effort to establish Russia as a great nation, reigning from 1682 to 1725.

2. Grand Embassy - A diplomatic mission led by Peter the Great to Western Europe from 1697 to 1698 aimed at securing alliances and gaining knowledge about shipbuilding and other technologies.

Catherine the Great

1. Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, recognized for her significant expansion of the empire and her patronage of the arts and education.

2. Considered an Enlightened despot

Louis XIV

1. King of France from 1643 to 1715, known as the 'Sun King', who centralized power (the world revolved around him like the solar system around the sun)

2. He built the Palace of Versailles as a symbol of absolute monarchy and used it to control his nobility

James I of England

King of England from 1603 to 1625, known for commissioning the King James Version of the Bible and for uniting the crowns of England and Scotland.

rationalism

The theory that reason is the primary source of knowledge.

Nicolaus Copernicus

A Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe, placing the Sun at the center rather than the Earth.

Francis Bacon

An English philosopher and statesman known for developing the scientific method and advocating for empirical research.

Galileo Galilei

An Italian polymath who made significant contributions to physics, astronomy, and the scientific method, famously championing heliocentrism.

Johannes Kepler

A German mathematician and astronomer known for formulating the laws of planetary motion that describe the orbits of planets around the Sun.

Isaac Newton

An English mathematician and physicist who is widely recognized for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

Thomas Hobbes

An English philosopher best known for his political philosophy outlined in his work 'Leviathan,' advocating for absolute sovereignty.

John Locke

An English philosopher whose ideas on liberalism and the social contract influenced modern democratic thought.

Montesquieu

A French political philosopher known for his theory of the separation of powers, which greatly influenced modern political systems.

Voltaire

A French Enlightenment writer and philosopher famous for his wit and advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of speech and religion.

John Wesley

An English cleric and theologian who founded the Methodist movement, emphasizing personal faith and social justice.

David Hume

A Scottish philosopher known for his empiricism and skepticism, particularly regarding human understanding and causation.

Rousseau

A Genevan philosopher whose works on political philosophy and education influenced the French Revolution and modern political thought.

Adam Smith

A Scottish economist and philosopher best known for his work 'The Wealth of Nations,' which laid the foundations for classical economics.

Mary Wollstonecraft

An English writer and advocate for women's rights, best known for her work 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.'

Enlightened Absolutism

Rulers who embraced Enlightenment ideals of reason, progress, and reform, often implementing policies that promoted education, religious tolerance, and economic development. Also referred to as Enlightened Despotism.

Frederick II

King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, known as Frederick the Great, who championed Enlightenment ideals and reformed the Prussian military and bureaucracy.

Joseph II

Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of Austria from 1765 to 1790, known for his radical reforms aimed at improving the lives of his subjects, including abolishing serfdom and promoting religious tolerance.

Edict of Toleration

A legal decree granting religious freedom to non-dominant religious groups, often issued by monarchs or governments.

Baroque

Describing a style of art, architecture, and music characterized by grandiosity, elaborate ornamentation, and dramatic contrasts, prevalent in Europe during the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Dutch Golden Age

A period of unprecedented economic, cultural, and artistic flourishing in the Netherlands during the 17th century, marked by advancements in trade, science, and art.

Louis XVI (16th)

1. King of France (1774-1792) during the French Revolution (1789) and was executed in 1793 as a victim on the Revolution and beginning of the Reign of Terror

2. Mismanagement of the treasury and inaction lead to rebellion

3. Married to Marie Antionette, and Austrian, who's extreme unpopularity in France and high spending helped cause the revolution

Consumer Revolution

1. A period of significant growth in consumer goods and spending, driven by increased production, rising wages, and new marketing techniques, particularly in Europe during the 18th century.

2. A result of extreme economic growth influenced by the Mercantile system

American Revolution (1775-1783)

1. American war for independence from the British Empire

2. Influenced by enlightenment ideas and capitalistic principles

3. Louis XVI invested heavily into the revolution to defeat the British, but push France into debt

Estates System

1. French social system that divided the people into three categories: the clergy, the nobility, and everyone else

2. The clergy were not required to pay taxes and it was very difficult to increase the taxes on the nobility, so the tax burden fell on the third estate.

3. Due to extreme debt and mismanagement taxes needed to be increased so Louis XVI was forced to call an estates general to attempt to increase taxes on the nobility. However, this meeting opened the door for more significant change.

Economic Crisis (France 1789)

1. High debt from wars and limited options for taxation at a time when costs were rising for French citizens

2. High / Unchecked spending by the King and Queen

3. Low food supply and growing population had been an issue for years, but especially after 1775. Famine - an exceptionally cold winter in 1788 and a rapidly growing population lead to dramatic inflation in bread prices (the staple of the third estates diet)

Estates General (May 1789)

1. A meeting of representatives of the three estates, similar to parliament in England or congress in the United States

2. Louis XVI was forced to call this meeting as a way to raise taxes on the Second Estate (the nobility), try to solve France's financial problems, and appease people frustrated by high taxes imposed on the Third Estate.

3. The Third Estate expected significant reforms to come from this meeting but was locked out. This resulted in the Tennis Court Oath and creation of the National Assembly

Storming of the Bastillle (July 14, 1789)

1. First outward act against the authority of the king, a turning point in the French Revolution, where citizens storm the kings prison, housing political prisoners and weapons

2. Caused by the kings resistance to the Tennis Court Oath and likelihood of disbanding the National Assembly

Declaration of the Rights of Man ( August 1789)

1. Statement of fundamental political rights adopted by the French National Assembly at the beginning of the French Revolution.

2. Document was influenced by the American Declaration of Independence and partially written by Thomas Jefferson

3. The document meets resistance from Louis XVI and drives a wedge between Louis and his people.

Women's March to Versailles (October 1789)

1. Thousands of women make the 14 mile March to Versailles to protest and demand a meeting with the king.

2. The indecisiveness of Louis prevented the guards from being able to confront the women in time and ultimately allowed them to storm the palace and almost kill the Queen.

3. Louis is forced to give in to demands and is marched back to Paris and from this point until his death basically under house arrest in his palace.

Flight to Varennes (June 1791)

1. After being forced to accept the Constitution of 1791, changing France from an Absolute to a Constitutional Monarchy, the royal family attempted to flee to Austria

2. They are caught near the French boarder and returned to Paris where the king and queen are put on trial and France responded by declaring war (War of 1792) against the two countries aiding Louis (Prussia and Austria)

3. Both the king and queen are ultimately executed by guillotine starting the Reign of Terror

Committee of Public Safety (September 1793)

1. A 12 person group lead by Maximilien Robespierre that controlled the French government and oversaw the Reign of Terror.

2. The committee and subsequent terror were heavily influenced by the Jacobins, a radical revolutionary party

3. The overreach of power by Robespierre leads to his execution, an end to the Committee, and the beginning of the Directory

Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)

1. War incited by a slave uprising in French-controlled Saint Domingue, resulting in the creation of the first independent black republic in the Americas

2. Revolt lead by former slave Toussaint L'Ouverture, comparable to Napoleon

3. Influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and inspires further revolutions

Catholic Church and French Revolution

1. The Church played a significant role in the causes of the French Revolution, because they were the First Estate, could not be taxed, and many church officials lived lives much better than the average French citizen

2. The National Assembly attempted to outlaw Christianity in France and that ultimately lead to resentment against the revolution

Napoleonic Code

A comprehensive and influential set of laws established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804, codifying French law and serving as a model for legal systems in many countries.

The Continental System

1. A policy implemented by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, aiming to cripple Great Britain economically by imposing a blockade on all trade with the continent of Europe.

2. The effect was to cripple European economies and lead to the widespread smuggling of British goods

3. This pushed Russia away from an alliance with France

The Napoleonic Wars

1. A series of major conflicts spanning from 1803 to 1815, involving France under Napoleon Bonaparte against a coalition of European powers.

2. This included wars against European coalitions, Spain, and Russia

3. The effect of these wars was short term unification of Europe and a growth in nationalism

First Consul

1. The title held by Napoleon Bonaparte from 1799 to 1804, signifying his position as the chief executive of France during the Consulate period.

2. Desiring more power Napoleon dissolves the consulate and has himself crowned Napoleon I, emperor of France

Concordat of 1801

An agreement reached between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII in 1801, re-establishing the Catholic Church in France while maintaining the state's control over religious affairs.

Battle of Waterloo

A decisive battle fought on June 18, 1815, in which a coalition of European armies led by the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon Bonaparte's forces, marking the end of his reign.

Napoleon on Elba

1. Refers to Napoleon Bonaparte's exile to the island of Elba in 1814, following his abdication as Emperor of France.

2. He ultimately escapes, regains power for one hundred days and is defeated at Waterloo

The Wars of Coalition

A series of wars (1792-1815) fought against France during the Napoleonic Wars, involving a coalition of European powers united against Napoleon's expansionist ambitions.

Napoleon's Invasion of Russia

A disastrous military campaign launched by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812, aiming to conquer Russia but ultimately resulting in a devastating defeat for the French army.

Romanticism

1. a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.

2. Examples: are Liberty Leads the People, The Nightmare, and poetry by Wordsworth and Lord Byron