#AP European History: Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism 👑 🏛️

Hey! Let's break down Absolutism and Constitutionalism for your AP Euro exam. Think of this as your late-night study buddy, here to make sure everything clicks!

#Overview: Two Paths of Power

These two periods are HUGE for AP Euro. They represent fundamentally different ways of organizing power and society.

#Age of Absolutism

• 🗓️ Late 16th to late 18th century
• 👑 Absolute monarchs held total power.
• 📜 Believed in divine right: God chose them to rule.
• 🎯 Goal: Centralize power, squash dissent.

#Age of Constitutionalism

• 🗓️ Late 18th to 19th century
• 📜 Constitutions limited monarch's power.
• 🏛️ Rise of representative government and democracy.
• 🎯 Goal: Balance power, protect individual rights.

#Comparison: Side-by-Side

Let's get into the nitty-gritty. How did these two eras differ?

#Societal Structure

#Age of Absolutism

• 🏰 Rigid social hierarchy: Monarch at the top, commoners at the bottom.
• 👑 Nobility and clergy held power.
• 🚫 Little social mobility.
• 😥 Common people had little say.

#Age of Constitutionalism

• ⚖️ More egalitarian society.
• 📈 Growing middle class.
• 🗽 Rise of individual rights and freedoms.
• 🗳️ Increased political participation.
• 🚀 More social mobility.

#Economy

#Age of Absolutism

• 🚜 Primarily agrarian.
• 💰 Mercantilism: State control of trade.
• 🚫 High tariffs and trade restrictions.
• 😥 Heavy taxes on common people.

#Age of Constitutionalism

• 🏭 Increasingly capitalist.
• 💼 Emphasis on individual rights and freedoms.
• 📉 Limited government role in the economy.
• 📈 Growth of new industries (manufacturing, banking).
• 🌍 Global trade expansion.

#Government

#Age of Absolutism

• 👑 Centralized power in the monarch.
• 📜 Divine...