Study Guide: Absolutism, Constitutionalism, and Philosophical Influences in Europe Absolutism and Constitutionalism

1.    What is absolutism?

2.    What is constitutionalism?

3.    Name two European countries that developed absolute monarchies.

4.    Name one European country that developed a constitutional monarchy.

5.    What is the main difference between absolutism and constitutionalism?

6.    What was the impact of absolutism on European nations?

7.    How did constitutionalism limit the power of monarchs?

8.    What role did Parliament play in a constitutional monarchy?

9.    Name one historical document that supported the rise of constitutionalism in England.

10.    Why did some monarchs support the idea of divine right?

Philosophers – Hobbes vs. Locke

11.    Who wrote Leviathan?

12.    What was Thomas Hobbes’ view of human nature?

13.    According to Hobbes, what kind of government was needed to control people?

14.    Who wrote Two Treatises of Government?

15.    What were John Locke’s views on human rights?

16.    According to Locke, what should people do if a government fails to protect their rights?

17.    Which philosopher believed in an absolute ruler to maintain order?

18.    Which philosopher supported the idea of a limited government based on the consent of the governed?

19.    Define the social contract according to Locke.

20.    How did Locke’s ideas influence later democratic governments?

Absolute Monarchs in Europe

21.    Who was known as the “Sun King” of France?

22.    What was Louis XIV's famous quote that symbolized absolutism?

23.    How did Louis XIV strengthen absolute rule in France?

24.    What were the effects of Louis XIV’s rule on France’s economy and people?

25.    Who modernized and expanded the power of Russia?

26.    What were some reforms Peter the Great brought to Russia?

27.    How did Peter the Great gain more control over the Russian nobility?

28.    Who was Frederick the Great?

29.    How did Frederick the Great strengthen Prussia’s military?

30.    In what ways were Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and Frederick the Great similar

Key Historical Documents

31.    What is the Petition of Right?

32.    Name two provisions of the Petition of Right.

33.    What is the English Bill of Rights?

34.    Name two rights guaranteed by the English Bill of Rights.

35.    How did the English Bill of Rights limit the power of the monarchy?

Answer Key

Section 1: Absolutism and Constitutionalism

1.    A system where a monarch holds total power.

2.    A system where power is limited by laws and often shared with a parliament.

3.    France and Russia.

4.    England.

5.    Absolutism gives total power to the monarch; constitutionalism limits monarchal power.

6.    Centralized power, reduced noble influence, expanded royal control.

7.    It placed laws and representative bodies (like Parliament) above the king.

8.    It made laws, approved taxes, and limited the monarch’s actions.

9.    English Bill of Rights.

10.    They believed their authority came directly from God.

Section 2: Philosophers – Hobbes vs. Locke

11.    Thomas Hobbes.

12.    People are naturally selfish and violent.

13.    An absolute monarchy.

14.    John Locke.

15.    People are born with natural rights—life, liberty, and property.

16.    They should overthrow it.

17.    Hobbes.

18.    Locke.

19.    An agreement where people give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection.

20.    They helped inspire revolutions and democratic ideas (e.g., American Revolution).

Section 3: Absolute Monarchs in Europe

21.    Louis XIV.

22.    "L'État, c'est moi" ("I am the state").

23.    He controlled the nobles, built Versailles, and centralized government power.

24.    Strengthened France’s power but caused debt and hardship.

25.    Peter the Great.

26.    Westernized Russia, reformed the military, and expanded territory.

27.    He reduced their power and made them serve in government or military.

28.    King of Prussia who ruled with absolute power.

29.    By building a strong, disciplined army and using military to expand territory.

30.    All centralized power, reduced noble influence, and expanded their states.

Section 4: Key Historical Documents

31.    A 1628 document limiting the king’s power in England.

32.    No taxes without Parliament’s approval, no imprisonment without cause.

33.    A 1689 act that limited the monarchy and guaranteed rights to citizens.

34.    Freedom of speech in Parliament, no cruel punishment.

35.    It required monarchs to follow laws and gave Parliament more power.

Absolutism and Constitutionalism

  1. Absolutism

    • Definition: A system of government where a monarch (king or queen) holds total and unquestionable power over their state.

    • Characteristics: Rulers claim divine right (authority directly from God), centralize power, and often reduce the influence of nobles or representative bodies.

    • Examples in Europe: France and Russia developed prominent absolute monarchies.

    • Impact: Led to centralized power in the hands of the monarch, reduced the influence of the nobility, and expanded royal control over the state's affairs, often at the expense of individual liberties or local powers.

  2. Constitutionalism

    • Definition: A system of government where the ruler's power is limited by a set of laws, a constitution, or a representative body, often shared with a parliament.

    • Characteristics: Places laws and representative bodies (like Parliament) above the monarch, ensuring that the ruler's actions are bound by legal and constitutional constraints.

    • Examples in Europe: England developed a constitutional monarchy.

    • Limiting Monarchical Power: Constitutionalism directly limits the power of monarchs by establishing laws and requiring the monarch to consult with or abide by the decisions of representative bodies.

    • Role of Parliament: In a constitutional monarchy, Parliament plays a crucial role by making laws, approving taxes, and serving as a check on the monarch’s actions, ensuring that the monarch does not exercise absolute power.

  3. Main Difference: The fundamental distinction between absolutism and constitutionalism is that absolutism grants total power to the monarch, while constitutionalism limits monarchical power through laws and shared governance.

  4. Divine Right: Monarchs supported the idea of divine right because it provided a religious justification for their absolute rule, asserting that their authority originated directly from God, making them answerable only to Him and not to their subjects.

Philosophers – Hobbes vs. Locke

  1. Thomas Hobbes

    • Key Work: Leviathan

    • View of Human Nature: Believed that people are naturally selfish and violent, driven by self-interest, and without strong governance, life would be a "war of all against all" (a state of nature).

    • Required Government: Advocated for an absolute monarchy as the necessary form of government to control people and maintain order, arguing that only a powerful, undivided sovereign could prevent chaos.

  2. John Locke

    • Key Work: Two Treatises of Government

    • Views on Human Rights: Believed that people are born with natural rights, which include life, liberty, and property, and that these rights are inherent and inalienable.

    • Government's Role: Argued that the main purpose of government is to protect these natural rights. If a government fails to protect these rights or violates them, the people have the right to alter or overthrow it.

    • Social Contract: Defined the social contract as an agreement between the people and their government where people willingly give up some individual freedoms in exchange for the government's protection of their natural rights.

    • Influence: Locke's ideas on natural rights, limited government, and the consent of the governed profoundly influenced later democratic movements and revolutions, such as the American Revolution.

  3. Philosophical Contrast:

    • Hobbes: Believed in an absolute ruler to maintain order due to his pessimistic view of human nature.

    • Locke: Supported the idea of a limited government based on the consent of the governed, reflecting his belief in natural rights and the inherent good in people.

Absolute Monarchs in Europe

  1. Louis XIV of France

    • Title: Known as the "Sun King."

    • Symbol of Absolutism: Famously declared, "L'État c'est moi" ("I am the state"), perfectly encapsulating the spirit of absolutism.

    • Strengthening Absolute Rule: He centralized government power, reduced the influence of the nobility by requiring them to live at his extravagant Palace of Versailles, and built a strong bureaucracy loyal to him.

    • Effects of His Rule: While strengthening France's power and cultural influence in Europe, his constant warfare and lavish spending led to immense national debt and hardship for the common people.

  2. Peter the Great of Russia

    • Achievements: Modernized and expanded the power of Russia.

    • Reforms: Implemented extensive reforms, including westernizing Russian society (e.g., dress, customs), reforming the military to create a powerful navy and standing army, and expanding Russian territory.

    • Control Over Nobility: He gained more control over the Russian nobility (boyars) by forcing them to serve in the government or military, requiring them to adopt Western styles, and replacing the old boyar council with a Senate under his direct control.

  3. Frederick the Great of Prussia

    • Role: King of Prussia who ruled with absolute power, embodying enlightened absolutism.

    • Strengthening Military: He significantly strengthened Prussia’s military by reorganizing the army, emphasizing strict discipline and training, and frequently using this formidable force to expand Prussian territory and influence in Europe.

  4. Similarities Among Absolute Monarchs: Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and Frederick the Great were all similar in their efforts to centralize power within their states, reduce the influence and autonomy of the nobility, and expand the power and territory of their respective nations.

Key Historical Documents

  1. Petition of Right (1628)

    • Definition: A significant English document passed in 1628 that served to limit the king’s power.

    • Provisions: Included provisions such as prohibiting the king from levying taxes without Parliament’s approval, forbidding imprisonment without due cause, banning the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent, and outlawing martial law in peacetime.

  2. English Bill of Rights (1689)

    • Definition: An act passed in 1689 that further limited the power of the monarchy and guaranteed certain rights to English citizens, marking a crucial step towards constitutional monarchy.

    • Guaranteed Rights: Ensured rights such as freedom of speech within Parliament, regular parliamentary elections, and protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

    • Limiting Monarchy: It explicitly required monarchs to follow the laws of the land and significantly increased the power and authority of Parliament relative to the Crown, establishing parliamentary supremacy.