Definition Of History

Question 1

Absolutism

Answer 1

Form of government in the ancient regime. The king has all powers, legislative, judiciary and executive. His sovereignty was justify by its divine origins. The king was the God representation in earth and any law could limit him.

Question 2

Democracy

Answer 2

Form of goverment in which the people in states exercise their power directly or in elections for representatives. It made a slow and substantial progress since 19 cent. in EU and EEUU

Question 3

Despotism

Answer 3

Form of government in European optical regimes. It was developed at the second Alf of the 18 cent. monarchs tried to reconcile the absolutism and the new ideas of the enlightenment. Those monarchs make social and economic reforms but no one for challenged their authority. “Everything for the people but without the people”.

Question 4

Dictatorship

Answer 4

Political regime imposed it by force. The power is in one person/institution/group that wants to stay with the power by propaganda, security forces ad being the singles party. The characteristics of the dictatorship are: disappearance of individual freedoms, the use of violence to repress opposition and the suppression of others political parties or trade unions.

Question 5

Economic liberalism

Answer 5

Is a theory, based on freedom of action in all sectors of the economy (individual, of enterprise and of exchange). Adam smith is the most representative one, his doctrine was opposite to te intervention of the estate in the economy.

Question 6

Enlightenment

Answer 6

Intelectual movement that originates in France during the 18 cent. ideological principles were the confidence in reason as source of knowledge, the critical spirit, the reformist ideal and the unlimited progress of the humanity.

Question 7

State

Answer 7

Set of individuals who share characteristics (reduction system or economy). There were 3: nobility, Leroy and 3th state, the first two were privilege and the last one no.

Question 8

Locke

Answer 8

English philosopher, one of te fathers of the liberalism. He firmly believed tat a government should consist in a king and a parliament in which the wishes of popular sovereignty were expressed and the legislation was made for everybody. State should be sustained by the principles of the popular sovereignty and legality, and respecting everybody`s rights.

Question 9

Montesquieu

Answer 9

Enlightened that proposed the parliamentary monarchy with a separation of powers in which the king and the ministers has the legislative power, the judiciary power was of independent judges and the executive power was in other hands.

Question 10

Nation

Answer 10

A group of individuals with links, as cultural, linguistic or economy, with a common history that led them to a desire of autonomous organisation, a creation of their own institution and finally, the building of a new state

Question 11

National sovereignty

Answer 11

Political principle used by the liberal revolutions as opposed the sovereignty of te prince, characteristics of the old regime. The power of the state relies on the action as a whole, which exercises it through its representatives

Question 12

Old / ancient regime

Answer 12

Political, economic and social system. Which starting from medieval structures, was finally shaped during the Modern Age. It’s characteristics include the absolute power of the monarchs, social inequality based on the estates, a predominantly agrarian and substance economy and low population growth.

Question 13

Parliamentary Monarchy

Answer 13

Form of government in which the king or monarch serves has head of state, a position that is inherited by blood lineage. Legislative power is regulated by the government, unlike an a absolute monarchy where there is no division of power because the king has all.

Question 14

Republic

Answer 14

Form of state organización in which the head of state is no hereditary and no for life, but the results of direct or indirect election by the citizens. The duration of the presidential term, it’s functions and powers are determined by the constitution.

Question 15

Restricted suffrage

Answer 15

Restricted electoral voting system, in which only citizens included in a census based on income and education had political rights

Question 16

Rights declaration or bill of rights

Answer 16

Document which, as a consequence of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England, shortened the king’s powers, guaranteed free elections and granted broad powers to Parliament.

Question 17

Rousseau

Answer 17

French philosopher that criticized the social structure and defended a society where citizens could decide. He also denied the divine origin of the power of the king. Those governing should do it according to the general will of the people and that is why he proposed a “social contract” (constitution) between the ruler and the citizens.

Question 18

Separation of powers

Answer 18

Political proposal that advocated the separation of the powers of the state into di erent institutions, with one serving as a counterbalance to the other.

Question 19

SOCIAL CONTRACT/CONSTITUTION:

Answer 19

Basic law of any State passed by the representatives of the nation gathered in the Cortes. It established a political system with separation of powers, recognised broad civil rights and upheld national sovereignty. It could not be revoked without the consent of the Cortes.

Question 20

Universal suffrage

Answer 20

Electoral system in which all citizens of legal age can vote without any discrimination on the basis of wealth or education. However, until the early 20th century, this system did not include women’s su rage.

Question 21

Voltaire

Answer 21

French philosopher that openly criticized religious fanaticism and the structure of the Church. He proposed limiting the power of the king following the English model.