AP Euro

✝ Martin Luther & the Reformation

Martin Luther was a German monk who started the Protestant Reformation in 1517 when he wrote the 95 Theses, criticizing the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences (paying money for forgiveness of sins).

Key idea:

  • Salvation comes from faith alone, not church actions or money

  • Bible is the main authority, not the Pope

Effects:

  • Split in Christianity: Catholic + Protestant churches

  • Weakened Catholic Church power

  • Led to religious wars in Europe

  • Printing press helped spread ideas quickly

🏛 The Three Estates (French Revolution)

French society before the revolution was divided into three groups:

1st Estate: Clergy (Church)

  • Very small group

  • Owned land

  • Paid almost no taxes

2nd Estate: Nobility

  • Rich aristocrats

  • Had privileges (no taxes, high status)

  • Held government/military power

3rd Estate: Everyone else (98% of population)

  • peasants, workers, bourgeoisie (middle class)

  • paid almost all taxes

  • had no political power

Why it matters:

  • Huge inequality caused anger

  • Enlightenment ideas made people question this system

  • Led directly to the French Revolution

🧠 Enlightenment (BIG IDEA)

Movement in the 1700s that focused on reason, science, and individual rights instead of tradition and religion.

Key thinkers:

  • John Locke → natural rights (life, liberty, property)

  • Montesquieu → separation of powers (3 branches of government)

  • Rousseau → government based on “general will”

  • Voltaire → free speech, criticized church

Effects:

  • Inspired revolutions (American + French)

  • Reduced absolute monarchy power

👑 Absolutism (Louis XIV example)

Absolute monarchy = king has total power.

Louis XIV (France):

  • “I am the state”

  • Controlled nobility by forcing them into Versailles

  • Centralized power completely

Why it matters:

  • Contrast to constitutional monarchy (England)

  • Example of strong centralized state before revolutions

⚖ Constitutional Monarchy (England)

  • King + Parliament share power

  • Monarch is limited by law

  • Example: after Glorious Revolution (1688)

Why important:

  • Early form of democracy

  • Inspired Enlightenment thinkers

⚔ French Revolution (CAUSES + EFFECTS)

Causes:

  • Inequality (Three Estates system)

  • Debt from wars

  • Enlightenment ideas

  • Food shortages

Events:

  • Bastille storming (symbol of revolution)

  • Reign of Terror (Robespierre, mass executions)

  • Rise of Napoleon

Effects:

  • End of monarchy (temporarily)

  • Spread of nationalism

  • Inspired future revolutions

🏭 Industrial Revolution

  • Started in Britain

  • Shift from farming → factories

Key changes:

  • machines replace hand labor

  • urbanization (cities grow)

  • capitalism expands

Problems:

  • pollution

  • child labor

  • poor working conditions

🌍 Imperialism

Europe took control of Africa and Asia.

Reasons:

  • raw materials

  • markets for goods

  • nationalism (power competition)

  • “civilizing mission” (justification)

💣 WWI (Simple cause chain)

  • alliances (countries tied together)

  • nationalism

  • militarism

  • assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

❄ Cold War

USA vs USSR after WWII.

Core conflict:

  • USA = capitalism + democracy

  • USSR = communism

Features:

  • no direct war

  • proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam)

  • nuclear tension