Unit 3 Study Guide Flashcards: Absolutism to Congress of Vienna

Flashcards covering Absolutism, the Habsburgs, French Absolutism, the English Civil War, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna, and the Concert of Europe, in a question and answer format.

What was the main claim used by absolutist monarchs to justify their authority to govern?

Divine right

How did absolutist monarchs consolidate power and enforce their rule?

They expanded taxation systems, reorganized state bureaucracies, and developed professional standing armies.

Which monarch is often called the 'Sun King' and became the clearest example of absolutism in France?

Louis XIV

What tool did Louis XIV use to extend royal control into local regions, bypassing local elites?

Intendants—royal officials

What was a primary method Louis XIV used to control the nobility and keep them dependent on royal favor?

He required them to live at the Palace of Versailles, subjecting them to elaborate rituals and ceremonies.

Which events contributed to the decline of absolutism?

The Enlightenment and the French Revolution

What was the key outcome of Louis XIV's constant military campaigns and extravagant spending?

It weakened the kingdom financially and contributed to social unrest.

How long did Louis XIV reign as King of France?

Over 70 years

From what origin did the Habsburg dynasty emerge?

Switzerland

During what period did the Habsburg dynasty rule Austria continuously?

1283 to 1918

Which important Habsburg ruler inherited lands that created an empire 'where the sun never set'?

Charles V

What effect did 'inbreeding' have on the Habsburg dynasty over time?

It weakened the dynasty.

What was the purpose of the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713?

It allowed Maria Theresa to succeed to the Habsburg throne despite being a woman.

What was the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867?

It created a dual monarchy, granting Hungary significant autonomy while Austria retained its power base.

What ultimately brought an end to the Habsburg dynasty in 1918?

Tensions from growing nationalism combined with the crisis of World War I.

What were the main causes of the English Civil War (1642-1651)?

Conflicts between King Charles I and Parliament over divine right, taxation, and religious tensions related to Anglican practices.

Who led the Parliamentarian forces to key victories in the English Civil War?

Oliver Cromwell and the New Model Army

What shocking event in European history occurred in 1649 that challenged the sanctity of monarchy?

King Charles I was captured, tried for treason, and executed.

What was a long-term political legacy of the English Civil War in England?

It significantly weakened the monarchy, paving the way for constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

What fundamental shift characterized the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries?

It challenged medieval reliance on tradition and church authority, replacing it with observation, experimentation, and mathematics.

Who proposed the heliocentric theory, placing the sun at the center of the universe?

Nicolaus Copernicus

Which scientist's telescopic observations of Jupiter's moons and Venus's phases supported heliocentrism, leading to conflict with the Catholic Church?

Galileo Galilei

Who emphasized empirical observation and experimentation, arguing that knowledge should come from experience?

Francis Bacon

What was the culmination of scientific knowledge from the Scientific Revolution, described by laws of motion and universal gravitation?

The work of Isaac Newton

According to John Locke, what were the natural rights that governments existed to protect?

Life, liberty, and property

What ideas did Baron de Montesquieu propose to prevent tyranny in government?

A separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

What economic concept did Adam Smith promote in 'The Wealth of Nations'?

Free markets with minimal government interference.

What was the first major political upheaval directly influenced by Enlightenment ideals?

The American Revolution

Which country provided crucial foreign aid to the American colonies during the American Revolution?

France

What document, drawing on natural rights, officially declared the American colonies independent from Britain in 1776?

The Declaration of Independence

What was the main cause of the French Revolution, which began in 1789?

Financial crisis, social inequality, and the influence of Enlightenment ideals

What significant event during the French Revolution marked the end of divine right monarchy in France, with King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette being executed?

Their execution by guillotine

Which radical group, led by Maximillian Robespierre, launched the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution?

The Jacobins

What domestic reforms did Napoleon Bonaparte institute to modernize France?

He standardized laws with the Napoleonic Code, reformed education, established a merit-based bureaucracy, and reduced privileges of the nobility.

What became Napoleon's greatest military mistake, leading to the devastation of his army in 1812?

His invasion of Russia

At which battle did Napoleon face his final defeat in 1815?

The Battle of Waterloo

What was the primary goal of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?

To restore order and stability to Europe after Napoleon's defeat

Which Austrian statesman played a central role at the Congress of Vienna, advocating for a conservative order?

Klemens von Metternich

What two key principles guided the decisions made at the Congress of Vienna?

Legitimacy (restoring old ruling families) and maintaining a balance of power

What was the Concert of Europe, established in 1815?

A system of diplomacy that grew out of the Congress of Vienna, designed to maintain peace and stability by ensuring major powers worked together.