# AP European History: Absolutism Study Guide 👑 Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP Exam with a deep dive into Absolutism. We'll break down the key concepts, connect the dots, and make sure you're feeling confident and ready to rock! ## What is Absolutism? 🧐 Absolutism is a political system where all power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler—the monarch. Think of it like a one-person show where the king or queen calls all the shots. - **Key Idea**: Absolute monarchs claimed their power came from **divine right**, meaning God chose them to rule. No one else could question their authority. - **Impact**: Limited participation of nobility in governance, while preserving their social and legal privileges. - **Contrast**: Unlike constitutional monarchies where power is shared, absolute monarchs had total control. Absolutism is characterized by centralized power, divine right, and limited participation from other groups. ## French Absolutism: The Bourbon Dynasty 🇫🇷 ### Laying the Foundation: Henry IV and Louis XIII - **Henry IV (1589-1610)**: - First Bourbon king, converted to Catholicism to unite France. - Signed the **Edict of Nantes (1598)**: Granted religious tolerance to Huguenots (French Protestants). - Worked with **Sully** (Chief Minister) to reduce debt, build infrastructure, and revive the economy. - Sold titles of nobility (**robe nobles**) to raise money, exempting them from taxes (burdening peasants). - **Louis XIII (1610-1643)**: - Appointed **Cardinal Richelieu** as Chief Minister (1624-1642). - Richelieu’s actions: - Implemented the **intendant system**: Royal officials enforced decrees, collected taxes, and maintained order. - Reduced the influence of the nobility and the Church. - Increased France's power in Europe, including supporting Protestants in the Thirty Years' War. Remember **Henry IV** as the king who brought peace with the Edict of Nantes, and **Richelieu** as the power behind Louis XIII, centralizing France. ### Louis XIV: The Sun King ☀️ - **Reign (1643-1715)**: The epitome of absolutism. - **Divine Right**: Believed he was chosen by God to rule. - **“L’etat, c’est moi”**: “I am the state!” - **Palace of Versailles**: Built to control the nobility and show off his power. ![](https://zupay.blob.core.windows.net/resources/files/0baca4f69800419293b4c75aa2870acd_d09aac_1387.jpg?alt=media&token=714aae7f-6ac9-443d-bcb1-5a4f1c179fa1)
*The Palace of Versailles, a symbol of Louis XIV's absolute power.* - **Jean-Baptiste Colbert**: Finance minister who helped centralize the state: - Improved infrastructure (canals, roads). - Protected French industries with tariffs. - Modernized the military with academies and conscription. - **Religious Control**: - Revoked the **Edict of Nantes (1685)** with the **Edict of Fontainebleau**: “One king, one law, one faith.” - Suppressed Protestantism, causing many Huguenots to flee. - **Wars of Expansion**: Led to financial problems for France. Louis XIV is a classic example of absolutism! Remember Versailles, Colbert, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. ## Russian Absolutism: The Romanov Dynasty 🇷🇺 ### The Romanovs and Peter the Great - **Time of Troubles**: Period of instability before the Romanovs. - **Michael Romanov**: Elected tsar by the boyars (nobles) in 1613. - **Peter the Great (1682-1725)**: - An “enlightened monarch” who modernized Russia. - Traveled to Western Europe to learn about their customs and militaries. - Established a centralized bureaucracy, new laws, tax codes, and legal codes. - Built **St. Petersburg** as Russia’s “window to the West.” ![](https://zupay.blob.core.windows.net/resources/files/0baca4f69800419293b4c75aa2870acd_7552d1_2766.jpg?alt=media&token=a05e645a-bf52-4d85-8552-c997799a72a8)
*Peter the Great, the Tsar who westernized Russia.* - **Social Reforms**: - Women could appear in public without veils. - Boyars had to shave their beards and serve in the military or government. - **Economic and Educational Reforms**: - Developed science, education, and industry. - Founded the **Russian Academy of Sciences (1724)**. - Encouraged shipbuilding, metalworking, and infrastructure. - **Military Modernization**: - Brought in German military leaders to train his army. - Built a navy. - Won the **Great Northern War (1721)**, gaining control of the Baltic Sea. Peter the Great's reforms aimed to westernize Russia, making it a major European power. ### Catherine the Great - **Continued Peter's Reforms**: Particularly in education and territorial expansion. - **Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens**: A boarding school for girls from wealthy families. - **Moscow University**: One of Russia’s first universities. Don't confuse Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. Peter focused on military and bureaucracy reforms, while Catherine emphasized education and expansion. ## Final Exam Focus 🎯 - **High-Value Topics**: - The characteristics of absolutism. - The reigns of Louis XIV and Peter the Great. - The impact of absolutist policies on society, religion, and the economy. - **Common Question Types**: - Multiple Choice: Identifying key figures, events, and policies. - Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Explaining the causes and effects of absolutism. - Free Response Questions (FRQs): Analyzing the impact of absolutism on different European states. - **Time Management**: - Quickly identify the main topic of the question. - Use your knowledge of key concepts and events to structure your answers. - Don't get bogged down on one question; move on and come back if you have time. - **Strategies**: - Connect absolutism to other themes like the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. - Use specific examples to support your points. - Remember the big picture: how did absolutism shape Europe? Absolutism is a major theme in AP Euro. Make sure you understand the key figures, policies, and impacts! ## Practice Questions ### Multiple Choice Questions 1. Which of the following best describes the political philosophy of absolutism? (A) Power is divided among different branches of government. (B) The monarch's authority is derived from the consent of the governed. (C) The monarch has unlimited power justified by divine right. (D) Power is shared between the monarch and a council of nobles. 2. Which of the following was a significant consequence of Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes? (A) Increased religious tolerance in France. (B) A decline in the French economy due to the emigration of skilled Huguenots. (C) Strengthening of the French nobility's power. (D) A decrease in France's military strength. 3. Peter the Great's reforms in Russia were primarily aimed at: (A) Preserving traditional Russian culture and values. (B) Expanding Russia's influence in Asia. (C) Modernizing and westernizing Russia. (D) Decentralizing the Russian government. ### Free Response Question (FRQ) **Analyze the ways in which absolutist rulers in France and Russia used their power to consolidate their authority and control over their respective states during the 17th and 18th centuries.** **Scoring Breakdown:** * **Thesis (1 point):** A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt. * *Example Thesis:* "Absolutist rulers in France and Russia, such as Louis XIV and Peter the Great, employed various strategies including centralized administration, control of the nobility, and religious or social reforms to consolidate their authority and control over their respective states." * **Evidence (2 points):** Provides specific historical evidence relevant to the prompt. * *Example Evidence for France:* Louis XIV's construction of Versailles, the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and Colbert's economic policies. * *Example Evidence for Russia:* Peter the Great's westernization reforms, the establishment of St. Petersburg, and military modernization. * **Analysis and Reasoning (2 points):** Explains how the evidence supports the thesis and demonstrates historical reasoning. * *Example Analysis for France:* Louis XIV used Versailles to control the nobility, the revocation of the Edict of Nantes to enforce religious uniformity, and Colbert's policies to strengthen the state's financial base. * *Example Analysis for Russia:* Peter the Great's westernization reforms aimed to modernize Russia and increase its military power, the establishment of St. Petersburg symbolized Russia's shift towards the West, and his reforms aimed to centralize power and reduce the influence of the boyars. * **Synthesis (1 point):** Extends the argument by connecting it to a different historical context. * *Example Synthesis:* Connects the concept of absolutism to its impact on the Enlightenment, noting how the concentration of power led to calls for individual rights and limited government. ### Short Answer Question (SAQ) 1. Briefly explain ONE way in which the policies of Louis XIV impacted French society. 2. Briefly explain ONE way in which the policies of Peter the Great impacted Russian society. 3. Briefly explain ONE similarity between the methods used by Louis XIV and Peter the Great to consolidate their power. Alright, you've got this! Remember to stay calm, take deep breaths, and trust in your knowledge. You're well-prepared, and I'm here cheering you on! Let's ace this exam! 💪

Absolutist Approaches to Power

Abigail Young

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