Honors World History Unit 1 Test Prep
Types of Government and Related Terms
Autocracy: Government by a single person having unlimited power (kings, queens, etc.) (complete control)
Democracy: Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives
Absolute Monarchy: A government where a king or queen has total power with no limits.
Limited Monarchy: A king or queen shares power with a parliament or constitution.
Military Dictatorship: The military controls the government, usually ruled by one general.
Oligarchy: A small group of people hold all the power.
Representative Democracy: Citizens elect leaders to make decisions for them.
Direct Democracy: Citizens vote directly on laws and decisions.
Anarchy: No government or authority; complete disorder.
Theocracy: Government ruled by religious leaders or based on religion.
Coup D’Etat: A sudden takeover of government by force, usually by the military.
Abdication: When a king, queen, or leader gives up the throne or power.
Divine Right: The belief that kings or rulers get their power from God.
States/Countries vs. Nations: State: an area with boundaries and sovereignty (the power to regulate one’s internal and external affairs
Centuries vs. Years (18th century = 1700s, 19th century = 1800s, etc.)
Historical Contributions to the Rise of Democracy
Ancient Greece – Athens developed direct democracy, allowing citizens not only to vote on laws but also to propose new ones, creating an early form of political participation.
The Roman Republic – Established a system of representative government with elected senators, separation of powers, written laws (Twelve Tables), and checks and balances.
Judeo-Christian Thought – Stressed moral responsibility, equality before God, justice, and the idea that leaders are accountable to a higher law.
Reformation – Encouraged questioning the Catholic Church’s authority, promoted literacy (so people could read the Bible themselves), and advanced religious freedom and individual conscience.
Enlightenment – Thinkers like Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau promoted natural rights, separation of powers, freedom of speech, and the social contract between people and government.
Glorious Revolution – Limited monarch power in England, affirmed parliamentary supremacy, and produced the English Bill of Rights, which protected individual liberties.
American Declaration of Independence – Declared that governments derive power from the consent of the governed and emphasized equality, natural rights, and the right to overthrow unjust governments.
Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes – Believed people are naturally selfish and need a strong government to maintain order; supported an absolute monarchy but introduced the idea of a social contract (people give up some freedom for protection).
John Locke – Argued people are born with natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and that government’s job is to protect those rights; supported limited government and the right of citizens to overthrow unjust rulers.
Baron de Montesquieu – Advocated for separation of powers in government (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent tyranny and protect liberty.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Believed people are naturally good but corrupted by society; emphasized the general will and supported direct democracy where citizens make laws together.
Voltaire – Defended freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and tolerance; criticized censorship, corruption, and oppressive institutions.
Mary Wollstonecraft – Early advocate for women’s rights; argued that women should have equal access to education and opportunities so they could fully participate in society and politics.
Essential Questions
- What is the difference between autocracy and democracy?
Autocracy is when one person holds all the power and makes decisions without input from citizens, while democracy is when power is shared and people have a voice in government through voting and participation.
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of autocratic and democratic governments?
Autocracy can make decisions quickly and maintain order, but it risks abuse of power and limits individual freedom. Democracy protects rights and gives citizens a say, but decision-making can be slower and sometimes less efficient.
- How did differing opinions about the nature of man affect the way Western philosophers thought about government?
Philosophers who believed people are selfish (like Hobbes) supported strong, controlling governments, while those who believed people are reasonable and capable of cooperation (like Locke and Rousseau) supported governments based on rights, consent, and participation.