Enlightened and Other Approaches to Power
Hannah Hill
8 min read
#AP European History: Night Before Review 🚀
Hey! Let's get you prepped and feeling confident for your AP Euro exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for a quick, high-impact review. We'll hit the key points, make connections, and get you ready to ace it! Let's dive in!
#1. Rise of Prussia 👑
#The Foundation: Peace of Westphalia (1648)
- Westphalian Sovereignty: Each state gains autonomy over religion. ⛪️➡️ 🔑
- Weakening of the Holy Roman Empire: The Catholic Church's influence diminishes, creating an opening for Prussia.
- Religious Choice: German states, many opting for Protestantism (Lutheranism), reduce Catholic Church's political power.
The Peace of Westphalia is a crucial turning point, setting the stage for the rise of individual states like Prussia by undermining the authority of the Holy Roman Empire and allowing religious autonomy. This is a common theme in AP Euro questions.
#19th Century Prussia
- Prussia emerges as a leading Eastern European power.
#2. Enlightened Despots 💡
#What are Enlightened Despots?
- Absolute monarchs who adopted Enlightenment ideals. They believed in progress, reason, and improving the lives of their subjects, while maintaining their own power. Think of them as 'enlightened' rulers with a dash of 'despotism'.
Enlightened Despots: Think of them as rulers who wanted to be both smart (enlightened) and in charge (despotic). They used Enlightenment ideas to make their rule more efficient and powerful.
#Napoleon Bonaparte (1800-1815)
- Controversial Figure: Exhibits qualities of an enlightened despot but also a dictator.
- Domestic Reforms: Modeled after the French Revolution: less Church authority, fairer taxes, natural rights.
- Napoleonic Code (1804): Unified law code, citizen army, tax reforms, popular sovereignty, religious freedom.
- Military Campaigns: Sought to control Europe, ultimately leading to his downfall in Russia and defeat at Waterloo. ⚔️
When discussing Napoleon, remember his duality: he was bo...
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