Need to Know Unit 3

1. English Bill of Rights (1689):
A law that limited the monarchy's power, affirmed parliamentary sovereignty, and guaranteed civil liberties like freedom from cruel punishment and the right to a fair trial.

2. Stuarts:
A royal family that ruled England from 1603 to 1714, including Charles I, Charles II, and James II. Their reigns were marked by conflicts with Parliament and the eventual rise of constitutional monarchy.

3. Popish Plot (1678):
A fabricated conspiracy alleging a Catholic plot to assassinate King Charles II, causing anti-Catholic hysteria and the execution of several people.

4. Tories:
A political faction in Britain that supported the monarchy, traditional institutions, and Anglicanism, later evolving into the Conservative Party.

5. Whigs:
A political faction that advocated for parliamentary power, constitutional government, and religious tolerance, precursor to the Liberal Party.

6. Charles II (1630–1685):
King of England (1660–1685), restored to the throne after the English Civil War and Commonwealth period, known for his charm and efforts to balance power between monarchy and Parliament.

7. James II (1633–1701):
King of England (1685–1688), deposed in the Glorious Revolution due to his pro-Catholic policies and attempts to increase royal power.

8. William and Mary (1689–1702):
Joint monarchs of England, Scotland, and Ireland, ascended to the throne after the Glorious Revolution, strengthening parliamentary power.

9. Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658):
Leader of the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War, became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, effectively ruling as a dictator.

10. Constitutional Monarchy:
A system of government where the monarch’s powers are limited by law or constitution, and political power is shared with or held by elected representatives.

11. Test Act (1673):
English law requiring all government officials to take an oath denying Catholic beliefs, aiming to exclude Catholics from public office.

12. Governments of the Netherlands and Poland:
The Netherlands had a republic with a decentralized government led by elected officials, while Poland had a unique elective monarchy with weak central authority, often controlled by nobles.

13. Louis XIV (1643–1715) / Sun King:
King of France, known for his absolute monarchy, centralized power at Versailles, and expansionist policies, epitomizing the "divine right of kings."

14. Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642):
Chief minister to Louis XIII of France, strengthened royal authority, reduced the power of nobles, and expanded French influence in Europe.

15. Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619–1683):
French finance minister under Louis XIV, known for his policies of mercantilism, promoting industry, and strengthening France’s economy.

16. Count of Olivares (1587–1645):
Spanish nobleman and chief minister under King Philip IV, responsible for foreign policies that led to the decline of Spain’s power.

17. War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714):
A European conflict over who would succeed the Spanish throne, resulting in the Treaty of Utrecht, which limited Bourbon dominance and redrew European borders.

18. Peter the Great (1672–1725):
Tsar of Russia who modernized the country, expanded its territory, and reformed its military and administrative structures, making Russia a major European power.

19. Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566):
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for military conquests, legal reforms, and overseeing a cultural golden age, expanding Ottoman influence in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

20. Amsterdam:
Capital of the Netherlands, a major financial and trade hub during the 17th century, central to the Dutch Golden Age.

21. Sweden:
A powerful European kingdom in the 17th century, known for its military strength under leaders like Gustavus Adolphus and its expansion in the Baltic region.

22. Hannover Dynasty:
A German royal family that ruled Britain from 1714 to 1901, beginning with George I, after the death of Queen Anne, securing the throne due to their Protestant faith.

23. Dutch East Indies and British East India Company:
Colonial trading companies from the Netherlands and Britain, respectively, that controlled vast territories in Asia for trade and resources, particularly in spices and textiles.

24. Habsburgs:
A powerful European dynasty that ruled Austria, Spain, and other territories, known for their strategic marriages that expanded their influence across Europe.

25. Prussia:
A German kingdom known for its military strength and disciplined army, which later became the core of the German Empire in 1871.

26. Balance of Power:
A political theory and practice in which power is distributed among nations to prevent any one country from dominating, often seen in European diplomacy.

1. Cardinal Richelieu:
Chief minister to Louis XIII of France, strengthened royal power, reduced noble influence, and pursued policies that expanded French influence in Europe.

2. Dutch East India Company:
A Dutch trading company established in 1602 to control trade in Asia, particularly spices, and to establish colonies in the East Indies.

3. Columbian Exchange:
The transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia following Columbus’s voyages, dramatically altering ecosystems and societies.

4. The Dutch Golden Age:
A period of great economic, cultural, and artistic achievement in the 17th century, when the Netherlands became a leading world power in trade, art, and science.

5. The Dutch Revolts:
A series of conflicts (1568–1648) in which the Dutch provinces fought for independence from Spanish rule, resulting in the formation of the Dutch Republic.

6. Amsterdam:
The capital of the Netherlands, a leading financial and cultural center during the Dutch Golden Age, known for its wealth, banking, and trade.

7. Poland:
A kingdom with a unique elective monarchy and decentralized power, plagued by internal instability and external invasions, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.

8. Results of the War of Spanish Succession and the Treaty of Utrecht:
The war ended in 1714 with the Treaty of Utrecht, which limited the power of the French and Spanish crowns, redistributed territories, and established a balance of power in Europe.

9. Results of the Thirty Years’ War and Treaty of Westphalia:
The war (1618–1648) devastated Europe, particularly the Holy Roman Empire. The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) ended the war, recognizing religious freedoms, redrew borders, and weakened the Habsburgs.

10. The Fronde:
A series of French civil wars (1648–1653) led by nobles, who opposed the centralizing policies of Louis XIV’s regent mother, Anne of Austria, and chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin.

11. The Junkers:
The landed aristocracy in Prussia, who held significant political and military power and were crucial to the rise of Prussian militarism.

12. Peter the Great:
Tsar of Russia who modernized the country, reformed the military, expanded Russian territory, and founded St. Petersburg as a "window to the West."

13. St. Petersburg:
A city founded by Peter the Great in 1703, built on the Neva River as Russia’s new capital and symbol of Westernization.

14. Louis XIV:
King of France (1643–1715), known as the "Sun King," who ruled with absolute power, centralized the state, and expanded French influence in Europe.

15. Absolute Monarchy in France:
A system where the king held total control over government, epitomized by Louis XIV’s reign, without checks on royal power from nobility or Parliament.

16. Intendants:
Royal officials in France appointed by Louis XIV to enforce royal policies and administer local government, weakening the power of the nobility.

17. Philip II of Spain:
King of Spain (1556–1598), known for his efforts to expand Spanish influence, including the failed Spanish Armada and the intensification of Catholicism across Europe.

18. Economic and Political Decline of Spain:
Spain’s decline in the 17th century was caused by military overextension, economic mismanagement, and the depletion of resources from its colonies, leading to political instability.

19. English Government from 1688–1715:
After the Glorious Revolution (1688), England saw the rise of constitutional monarchy, with William and Mary, and later Anne, as monarchs. Parliament became the dominant power, especially following the Bill of Rights (1689).

20. James I of England:
King of England (1603–1625), who struggled with Parliament over issues like taxation and religion. His belief in the divine right of kings led to tensions and conflicts, setting the stage for the English Civil War.

21. English Civil War (1642–1651):
A conflict between the Royalists (supporters of King Charles I) and Parliamentarians, resulting in the king's execution and the establishment of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell.

22. English Bill of Rights (1689):
A key document that limited the powers of the monarchy, affirmed Parliament’s authority, and established individual rights such as freedom from cruel punishment and the right to a fair trial.

23. Frederick William:
The "Great Elector" of Brandenburg-Prussia (1640–1688), who strengthened the military, centralized power, and laid the foundations for the rise of Prussia as a major European power.

24. Glorious Revolution (1688):
The peaceful overthrow of King James II of England by William of Orange, resulting in William and Mary ascending the throne and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Britain.