# 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 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 Contrast**: Absolutism = state-controlled, Constitutionalism = more free-market. ### Government #### Age of Absolutism - 👑 **Centralized** power in the monarch. - 📜 Divine right of kings. - 🚫 No opposition allowed. - 🤝 Run by monarch's officials and nobility. #### Age of Constitutionalism - 📜 Monarch's power limited by a **constitution**. - ⚖️ **Checks and balances** system. - 🏛️ Rise of **representative government** and democracy. - 🗳️ Increased political participation. - **Key Contrast**: Absolutism = autocratic, Constitutionalism = more democratic. ### Religion #### Age of Absolutism - ✝️ Religion closely tied to the **state**. - 👑 Monarchs used religion for political power. - ⚔️ Religious wars and conflicts. - 😥 Suppression of religious dissent. #### Age of Constitutionalism - ⛪ Religion **separated from the state**. - 🕊️ Greater religious freedom and tolerance. - ✝️ Emergence of new religious movements. - ✝️ Increase in religious diversity and pluralism. - **Key Contrast**: Absolutism = state-controlled religion, Constitutionalism = more religious freedom. ### Key Figures #### Age of Absolutism - 👑 **Louis XIV** of France: "I am the state!" - 👑 **Philip II** of Spain: Religious and political absolutism. - 🎯 Goal: Centralize power and strengthen the monarchy. #### Age of Constitutionalism - 💡 **John Locke**: Foundation of constitutional government and individual rights. - 👑 **William of Orange**: Led the Glorious Revolution, establishing a constitutional monarchy. - 🎯 Goal: Limit monarchical power and protect individual rights. ## Summary - **Absolutism**: Total power in the monarch, rigid society, state-controlled economy and religion. - **Constitutionalism**: Limited monarchical power, more egalitarian society, capitalist economy, religious freedom. ## Final Exam Focus Okay, it's crunch time! Here’s what to focus on: ### High-Priority Topics - 👑 The **divine right of kings** vs. **natural rights**. - ⚖️ The impact of **constitutionalism** on limiting monarchical power. - 💰 **Mercantilism** vs. **capitalism**. - ⛪ The relationship between **church and state**. - 💡 Key thinkers: **Locke**, **Montesquieu**, etc. - 🌍 The impact of these periods on **global trade and power**. ### Common Question Types - **MCQs**: Expect questions that compare and contrast the two systems. - **SAQs**: You might get asked to explain the causes or consequences of either period. - **FRQs**: Be prepared to analyze the impact of absolutism and constitutionalism on society, economy, and politics. ### Last-Minute Tips - **Time Management**: Don't spend too long on one question. - **Common Pitfalls**: Don't confuse key figures or their ideas. - **Strategies**: Use the documents provided in FRQs to your advantage. ## Practice Questions Let's see how you're doing with some practice questions! ### Multiple Choice Questions 1. Which of the following best describes the political philosophy of the Age of Absolutism? (A) Limited government and individual rights (B) Separation of powers and checks and balances (C) Divine right of kings and centralized authority (D) Popular sovereignty and representative democracy 2. Which economic system was most closely associated with the Age of Absolutism? (A) Capitalism (B) Mercantilism (C) Socialism (D) Communism 3. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England is best known for: (A) Establishing an absolute monarchy (B) Overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a republic (C) Limiting the power of the monarch and establishing a constitutional monarchy (D) Strengthening the power of the Catholic Church ### Free Response Question Analyze the social, economic, and political effects of the transition from absolutism to constitutionalism in Europe. **Scoring Breakdown:** * **Thesis (1 point):** Presents a clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt. * Example: The transition from absolutism to constitutionalism in Europe brought about significant social, economic, and political changes, marked by a shift from rigid social hierarchies and state-controlled economies to more egalitarian societies and capitalist systems, along with the establishment of limited government and protection of individual rights. * **Social Effects (2 points):** * Provides at least two specific examples of social changes. * Example 1: The decline of rigid social hierarchies and the rise of a middle class. * Example 2: Increased social mobility and the spread of Enlightenment ideas. * **Economic Effects (2 points):** * Provides at least two specific examples of economic changes. * Example 1: The shift from mercantilism to capitalism, with less state control. * Example 2: Growth of new industries and increased global trade. * **Political Effects (2 points):** * Provides at least two specific examples of political changes. * Example 1: The limitation of monarchical power through constitutions. * Example 2: The rise of representative government and the protection of individual rights. * **Contextualization (1 point):** * Places the transition within a broader historical context. * Example: The transition from absolutism to constitutionalism was influenced by the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason and individual rights, and by the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution, which challenged the divine right of kings. * **Evidence (2 points):** * Supports the argument with specific historical evidence. * Example 1: The English Bill of Rights, which limited the power of the monarch and protected individual rights. * Example 2: The economic policies of Adam Smith, which advocated for free markets and limited government intervention. * **Analysis and Reasoning (2 points):** * Explains how the evidence supports the thesis and demonstrates an understanding of historical causation. * Example 1: The shift from mercantilism to capitalism led to new economic opportunities and the rise of a wealthy merchant class, which in turn challenged the existing social order. * Example 2: The establishment of constitutional monarchies created a system of checks and balances, which limited the power of the monarch and protected individual rights. **Mnemonic**: **"ABC"** (**A**bsolutism **B**efore **C**onstitutionalism) to remember the order of the periods. **Analogy**: Think of **Absolutism** as a strict parent who controls everything, and **Constitutionalism** as a more democratic family where everyone has a say. You've got this! Go ace that exam! 💪

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Comparison in the Age of Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Benjamin Wright

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