Essay Pointers

Question 1

Absolute Monarchy Pointers

Answer 1

Absolute monarchs claimed that they had been appointed by God to rule over the people- therefore they only had to answer to God and root to any laws.

Question 2

Absolute Monarchy Pointers 2

Answer 2

Monarchs that absolute power- they could rule as they wanted with no limits on their power.

Question 3

Absolute Monarchy Pointers 3

Answer 3

The Monarchs ruled with the help of the church and officials usually nobility who were rewarded with land for helping them to rule

Question 4

Absolute Monarchy Pointers 4

Answer 4

Power and wealth was concentrated in the hand of the ruler and those who helped him rule and the majority of people had no political power and little wealth.

Question 5

Absolute Monarchy Pointers 5

Answer 5

You became an absolute monarch through inheriting the role. It passed usually from father to son or to the nearest living male relative.

Question 6

Absolute Monarchy Example

Answer 6

The Emperor of China claimed to have mandate from heaven- permission from the gods to rule. Likewise the Tsar of Russia, the King of England and France all claimed to have been appointed by God to rule over the people. This was known as the divine right of the kings.

Question 7

Dictatorship Pointers 1

Answer 7

A dictatorship is a type of government in which an individual leader or a ruling group hold absolute power.

Question 8

Dictatorship Pointers 2

Answer 8

As dictators have usually taken power by force rather than through being elected, the majority of the population doesn’t support the dictator. The dictator then uses force and terror to control the population

Question 9

Dictatorship Pointers 3

Answer 9

So that people don’t say anything about the dictator so that he has power over them

Question 10

Dictatorship Pointers 4

Answer 10

So that the dictator’s power won’t be taken away for a new leader of the country

Question 11

Dictatorship Pointers 5

Answer 11

So that there wouldn’t be any rivals to go against that would affect the dictator’s power

Question 12

Dictatorship Pointers 6

Answer 12

Dictators also used propaganda to try and convince the people to support them

Question 13

Dictatorship Pointers 7

Answer 13

Dictators would often use propaganda to create a personality cult around themselves. Dictators are portrayed as being able to do no wrong and being almost God-like.

Question 14

Democracy Pointers 1

Answer 14

Democracy is referred to as a system of government that allows ordinary people to have a say in how they are governed. In a democracy, the people vote for whom they want to govern them.

Question 15

Democracy Pointers 2

Answer 15

Democracy is the principle that governments should rule for the benefit of all people- unlike absolute monarchies and dictatorships which ruled for the benefit of those that governed

Question 16

Democracy Pointers 3

Answer 16

Democracy is also based on the idea that individual rights are important, While basic rights such as freedom of speech, opinion, press and religion are repressed in dictatorships. In democracies, it is the government’s job to protect these rights.

Question 17

Democracy Pointers 4

Answer 17

Unlike in an absolute monarchy or dictatorship, democracies are about freedom and fairness but also equality. All people should be treated the same and subject to the same laws.

Question 18

Democracy Pointers 5

Answer 18

The government refers to the ruling party or parties.

Question 19

Democracy Pointers 6

Answer 19

Parliament refers to where all the elected members of parliament from all parties meet.

Question 20

Democracy Pointers 7

Answer 20

In Parliament, issues are discussed, laws are passed and the government is questioned by the opposition parties about their actions or decisions which they have taken.

Question 21

Democracy Pointers 8

Answer 21

Having an election every 3 years means the government might pass laws or have policies designed to win them votes in the next elections rather than have policies which in the long term, would be far more beneficial for the country.

Question 22

Dictatorship v Democracy Pointers 1

Answer 22

In a dictatorship, decisions are made very quickly. In a democracy, before laws are made, these laws must be written, discussed by a committed for 6 months, then put out for the public to discuss. After this, the committee discusses the law again and makes changes to the law before it is then passed by Parliament.

Question 23

Dictatorship v Democracy 2

Answer 23

A lot of money and time is spent in democracies trying to make sure that things are done legally and fairly. With this being good and fair, it also means that money and time are wasted. For example, when NZ held a referendum where people could vote on whether or not we should have a new flag, $26 million was spent on this referendum and in the end, it was decided that our flag should stay the same.