Unit 3- Ap European History USG

• Absolutism


  Political system where the monarch holds sole political power and is not restricted by laws, a constitution, or other political entities
• Constitutionalism


  Political system where the power of the government and the monarch is limited by a constitution
• Divine right


  The belief that a monarch's authority comes directly from God and cannot be challenged
• Cottage industry


  A small-scale industry where work is carried out in people's homes or small workshops, rather than factories
• Bank of England


  The central bank of the United Kingdom
• Triangle trade


  A trading system that involved the exchange of goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas
• Dutch Republic


  A sovereign state that existed from 1588 to 1795, led by a stadtholder and a parliament
• Edict of Fontainebleau


  An edict issued by Louis XIV of France that revoked the Edict of Nantes and led to the persecution of Protestants
• The Fronde


  A series of civil wars in France between 1648-1653 that were aimed at limiting the power of the monarchy
• Partition of Poland


  The division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth among Prussia, Russia, and Austria, leading to the elimination of Poland as a sovereign state
• Intendants


  Royal officials appointed by the French monarchy to oversee the administration of provinces
• Russian Academy of Sciences

  An institution established by Peter the Great to promote scientific and scholarly activities in Russia
• New political models and ideologies emerged during this time period. While much of Europe, like France and Spain, still remained under absolute monarchies, alternative political systems emerged, like constitutionalism in England.
• In England, Parliamentarians and Loyalists clashed in the English Civil War. In continental Europe, Protestants revolted against the Catholic Habsburg rule, and, in the Low Countries, the Dutch Republic was formed.
• After the Peace of Westphalia, religion declined as a cause for warfare among European states; however, these states still desired a balance of power. This was maintained after the War of Spanish Succession with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
• Eastern European states attempted to exert their power and influence. Poland was partitioned by Prussia, Russia, and Austria, and Peter I of Russia attempted to "westernize" Russia's political and cultural institutions.
• European colonies in the Americas led to continued economic development, including the creation of a market economy and new financial practices. In Europe, the Agricultural Revolution increased the supply of food and other goods.
• After King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215, the English monarchy had to share power with the Parliament. Parliament did retain one power over the monarchy: the Parliamentary "power of the purse," or the ability to levy taxes.
• After Queen Elizabeth I dies, James VI of Scotland (or James I of England) becomes king, and attempts to rule by divine right.
• Parliament forced Charles to sign the Petition of Right because Charles kept trying to raise taxes; in order for Parliament to grant future taxes, they forced Charles I to address their complaints. Charles was banned from raising taxes without Parliamentary consent and he could not imprison someone without due trial.
• The two main sides in the English Civil War were the Cavaliers, or Loyalists, and the Roundheads, or Parliamentarians.
• Cromwell's "new model army" reflected changes in military strategy by promoting leaders on merit rather than heredity, and having well-trained, well-disciplined soldiers wearing a common uniform.
• Cromwell enacted strict Puritanical rule in England during the Interregnum, and in Ireland, he crushed an uprising, took Catholic lands and gave them to Protestants, and around half of the population died from famine and disease. He also increased mercantilist policies and passed the Navigation Acts to weaken the Dutch.
• Charles II reversed some of Cromwell's policies during his reign by reopening brothels, allowing for religious freedoms, especially for Catholics.
• Parliament invited William and Mary to rule because James II wanted to return England to Catholicism, and Parliament feared that England would become Catholic.
• In 1689, William and Mary signed the English Bill of Rights, which placed clear limits on the English monarchy, such as requiring Parliamentary consent for taxation and laws, prohibiting Roman Catholics from becoming monarch, and guaranteeing subjects' rights.
• Cardinal Richelieu attempted to limit the political power of the French nobility through the creation of the intendants system, but this led to a series of rebellions known as the Fronde.
• Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes and his implementation of the Edict of Fontainebleau led to around 200,000 Huguenots fleeing to England, the Dutch Republic, and Protestant German states.
• Colbert, Louis XIV's finance minister, economically strengthened France by promoting external trade, abolishing internal tariffs, placing high tariffs on imports, encouraging emigration to American colonies, and implementing strict mercantilist policies.
• The Palace of Versailles supported Louis XIV's rule in France through its Baroque architecture used as propaganda to promote the power and rule of Louis XIV, showing off France's cultural dominance in Europe, and requiring nobility to stay at Versailles, limiting their power.
• Spain's political and economic power declined after Ferdinand and Isabella's reign due to the exile of many middle-class Jews and Muslims during the Reconquista and Inquisition, the massive influx of silver causing inflation, Spain's losses in many wars, and a series of ineffective rulers.
• Peter I of Russia wanted to "westernize" his state because he believed Russia had fallen behind its European counterparts and he wanted to make Russia able to compete on the world stage by creating a modern military and navy, and changing its cultural characteristics.
• Peter I's westernization policies included adopting western-style education systems, fashion, and architectural styles, expanding and modernizing the military, creating a navy, and limiting the power of the nobility.
• The Hohenzollern family began to inherit more land and possessions within the Holy Roman Empire, and under Frederick William I, the Prussian military grew to encompass 80,000 soldiers.
• Balance of power


  The concept that states work together to limit the ability of any one state to gain too much power and influence in Europe
• The partition of Poland by Austria, Prussia, and Russia was caused by Poland's political turmoil and lack of a strong army or ability to implement taxes, and resulted in the elimination of the sovereign Polish state until WWI and the strengthening of Russia, Austria, and Prussia.
• Louis XIV engaged in many wars during his reign because he desired to expand France's borders and make France a global superpower to rival England's growing influence, but this led to heavy debts and taxation in France.
• The 1713 Treaty of Utrecht prevented France and Spain from uniting, gave England Spanish naval bases, French colonies in the Americas, and the asiento from Spain, and recognized the Elector of Brandenburg as the Prussian king.
• New forms of warfare that developed as a result of the military revolution included more mobile cavalry, greater reliance on infantry and musketeers, use of mobile cannons, more elaborate fortifications, and more training and supplies for soldiers.
• The military revolution encouraged countries to amass and train larger militaries, which expanded state power but required more funds.