AP EURO UNIT 3 Flashcards
Absolutism
Absolutism: Political system where a monarch holds absolute power. Example: Louis XIV of France famously said, “L’État, c’est moi” (“I am the state”)
raison d’etat
Raison d’état: State reason; prioritizing the interests of the state over moral or ethical considerations. Example: Cardinal Richelieu justified his policies based on raison d’état, strengthening the power of the French monarchy.
The Fronde
The Fronde: Series of civil wars in France during the 17th century, involving aristocratic rebellions against the monarchy.
Mercantilism
Mercantilism: Economic theory emphasizing state control of trade to increase national wealth. Example: Colbert’s policies in France aimed to promote mercantilism by increasing exports and accumulating gold reserves.
Peace of Utrecht
Peace of Utrecht: Treaty ending the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713, reshaping the balance of power in Europe.
Puritans
Puritans: English Protestants who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices. Example: Puritans migrated to America seeking religious freedom, establishing colonies like Massachusetts Bay.
Serfdom
Serfdom: System where peasants are bound to the land and obligated to work for the landowner. Example: Serfdom was prevalent in Russia until the 19th century, limiting peasants’ mobility and freedom.
Sultan
Sultan: Title for a ruler in Muslim countries, particularly in the Ottoman Empire.
Millet System
Millet system: Ottoman system granting autonomy to religious communities to manage their own affairs. Example: Under the millet system, non-Muslim communities, such as Christians and Jews, had their own legal and administrative structures.
Pragmatic Sanction
Pragmatic Sanction: Decree or law designed to resolve a succession crisis. Example: The Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 secured the succession of Maria Theresa to the Habsburg lands.
Junkers
Junkers: Prussian aristocracy or landowning class, often associated with military service.
Cossacks
Cossacks: Eastern European semi-military communities known for their independence and skill in warfare.
Divine Right
Divine right: Belief that a ruler’s authority comes directly from God. Example: Charles I of England claimed divine right to rule without Parliament’s interference.
Charles I of England
Charles I of England: King of England during the English Civil War, executed in 1649.
William Laud
William Laud: Archbishop of Canterbury known for his high-church policies and persecution of Puritans.
Test Act
Test Act: English law requiring public officials to be Anglican and to reject certain religious beliefs.
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes: English philosopher known for his work “Leviathan,” advocating for absolute monarchy and social contract theory.
John Locke
John Locke: English philosopher and key figure in the Enlightenment, known for his ideas on natural rights and liberal democracy.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell: English military and political leader who ruled as Lord Protector after the English Civil War.
The Restoration
The Restoration: Period in English history when the monarchy was restored after the rule of Oliver Cromwell.
Constitutionalism
Constitutionalism: Political philosophy advocating for government limited by a constitution. Example: The English Bill of Rights established constitutionalism in England, limiting the powers of the monarchy.
Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution: Bloodless overthrow of King James II of England in 1688, leading to the ascension of William and Mary and the establishment of constitutional monarchy.
Cardinal Richelieu
Cardinal Richelieu: Chief minister to King Louis XIII of France, known for centralizing power and strengthening the French monarchy.
Louis XII
Louis XII: King of France known for his military campaigns and patronage of the arts during the Italian Wars.
