Comparison in the Age of Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Benjamin Wright
7 min read
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#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.
Key Concept
- Key Contrast: Absolutism = rigid, Constitutionalism = more open and mobile.
#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.
Key Concept
- Key Contrast: Absolutism = state-controlled, Constitutionalism = more free-market.
#Government
#Age of Absolutism
- 👑 Centralized power in the monarch.
- 📜 Divine...

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