Unit 3 test prep Flashcards
study guide
What belief did Charles I of England strongly uphold regarding his rule?
He believed in the Divine Right of Kings, meaning he thought he ruled by God’s authority and should not be questioned by Parliament.
Why did Charles I shut down Parliament in 1629?
He wanted to rule without Parliament becauseof a seires of cause and effect, starting in 1628 when Parliament forced the King to assent to the Petition of Right by threatening to stop granting any future taxes → Charels emplemted Petition of Right in a way that made it inefective →The Commons passed a number of motions against the King’s recent actions. → 1629 Disbandment of Parlement →The Personal Rule (1629-1640), also called the Eleven Years’ Tyranny.
What were the two sides in the English Civil War (1642-1649)?
The Royalists (Cavaliers) supported Charles I, while the Parliamentarians (Roundheads), led by Oliver Cromwell, opposed him.
What happened to Charles I after the English Civil War?
He was tried for treason, found guilty, and executed in 1649.
What type of government was established after Charles I’s execution?
England became a republic under Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate (1649-1660).
How did Oliver Cromwell rule England?
As Lord Protector, he acted as a military dictator, imposed strict Puritan laws, and suppressed uprisings, especially in Ireland.
What event marked the return of the monarchy in England?
The Restoration of 1660, when Charles II became king.
Why was the reign of James II controversial?
He was a Catholic monarch in a Protestant country and James II tried to increase Catholic influence, which angered Parliament.
What was the Glorious Revolution? When did it happen?
The Glorious Revo took place1688-1689. Parliament invited William of Orange and Mary to take the throne, forcing James II to flee. This established a constitutional monarchy, limiting royal power.
What document did William and Mary sign, and why was it important?
The English Bill of Rights (1689), which limited the monarch’s power and strengthened Parliament, marking the end of absolute monarchy in England.
Who was the first king of the Bourbon dynasty, and what did he do to unify France?
Henry IV (ruled 1589-1610); successfully ended the French Wars of Religion by the issueing of the Edict of Nantes
What was the Edict of Nantes (1598)?
A decree issued by Henry IV that gave civl and religous protection to 150 fortified Huganogt towns.
Who was the powerful advisor to Louis XIII, and how did he strengthen the monarchy?
Cardinal Richelieu, who reduced the power of nobles, expanded the intendant system, and crushed Huguenot resistance.
What was Louis XIV’s famous quote, and what did it symbolize?
‘L’état, c’est moi’ (‘I am the state’). It represented his belief in absolute monarchy.
What palace did Louis XIV build, and why was it important?
The Palace of Versailles; it showcased his power and allowed him to control the nobility by keeping them under his watch.
How did Louis XIV weaken religious tolerance in France?
He revoked the Edict of Nantes, and issued the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685) effectively ending religious freedom for Huguenots, forcing them to convert to Catholicism or leave the country, which harmed France’s economy, but helped creat religous unity and further centralized power to the state.
What was mercantilism, and who promoted it under Louis XIV?
An economic policy focused on exporting more than importing; Jean-Baptiste Colbert strengthened France’s economy through it.
How did Louis XIV expand France’s power?
He fought numerous wars, but they drained France’s finances and led to resentment among neighboring countries.
What was one major similarity between Isabella of Castile and Elizabeth I?
Both strengthened their countries and promoted exploration, leading to the growth of Spain and England as world powers.
How did Isabella of Castile handle religious matters differently from Elizabeth I?
Isabella enforced religious uniformity through the Spanish Inquisition, while Elizabeth I tolerated Protestantism but avoided religious wars.
How did Isabella and Elizabeth I support exploration?
Isabella funded Christopher Columbus (1492), and Elizabeth I supported Sir Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh.
What was a major military success of Elizabeth I?
She led England to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588, weakening Spain’s naval dominance.
How did Isabella of Castile impact Spain’s unification?
She married Ferdinand of Aragon, completing the Reconquista by expelling the Moors from Spain.
What type of monarchy did Elizabeth I establish in England?
A balanced monarchy, working with Parliament instead of ruling absolutely.
Was Isabella of Castile a Converso?
No, she was not a Converso. She hated Conversos and pushed them out of Spain.
What is a Converso?
A Converso is a Jewish person who converted to Christianity, often under pressure.
What policy did Isabella enforce regarding the Jewish population?
She expelled Jewish people from Spain, giving them the choice to leave or be killed. Even after conversion, they were often accused of secretly practicing Judaism, leading to further persecution.
What was Isabella of Castile’s religion?
She was Catholic.
What was Elizabeth I of England’s religion?
She was Anglican.
What does it mean to be a Politique?
A Politique is a ruler who prioritizes the stability of the state over personal religious beliefs.
How did Elizabeth I enforce religious unity?
She made Anglicanism the official religion of England because religious unity strengthened the state and reduced the risk of uprisings.
Which dynasty did Elizabeth I belong to?
She was a Tudor and marked the end of the Tudor dynasty.
When did Isabella of Castile and Elizabeth I rule?
- Isabella of Castile: 1474–1504
- Elizabeth I of England: 1558–1603
What is one major similarity between the policies of Louis XIV and Peter the Great?
They were both absolutist rulers, meaning they centralized all power and subjugated all groups to their authority.
How did both rulers control their nobles?
- Louis XIV: Forced nobles to live at Versailles for six months a year.
- Peter the Great: Forced Boyars to relocate to Saint Petersburg, his version of Versailles.
What was one major difference between their policies?
Peter had to modernize Russia from the ground up, while Louis XIV ruled an already modernized France.
What military policies did both rulers have in common?
Both had standing armies, but Peter had to create Russia’s first standing army and navy from scratch.
How did both rulers display their power architecturally?
They both built Baroque-style palaces:
- Louis XIV: Built Versailles.
- Peter the Great: Built Saint Petersburg.
How did Peter the Great enforce Westernization?
- He banned traditional Russian clothing for Boyars.
- Imposed a beard tax, forcing men to pay if they wanted to keep their beards.
- Sent young Russian men to study in Europe.
What economic policies did both rulers use?
They both expanded trade and used mercantilist policies to strengthen their economies.
What was Peter the Great’s stance on meritocracy?
He abolished hereditary privileges and created a merit-based system where people had to earn their ranks instead of inheriting power.
How did Louis XIV and Peter the Great change their nations’ capitals?
- Louis XIV: Moved the French government from Paris to Versailles.
- Peter the Great: Moved the Russian capital from Moscow to Saint Petersburg.
How did Peter the Great gain access to warm-water ports?
He invaded Sweden during the Great Northern War to gain access to ports for trade and naval power.
What was Russia like before Peter the Great’s rule?
- It was considered backward and traditional.
- It had few schools, no universities, and limited trade.
- There was no standing army or navy.
What event from Peter’s childhood influenced his hatred of Russian traditions?
The Streltsy Massacre (1682), where rebellious guards killed his family and attacked the Kremlin. This led Peter to reject Russian traditions and push for Westernization.
What were some of Peter’s key reforms?
- Created Russia’s first standing army and navy.
- Built factories and expanded trade.
- Established schools, even for non-nobles (though they still required tuition).
- Encouraged Western craftsmanship and military techniques.
- Allowed people to choose their spouses instead of arranged marriages.
What was Peter’s ‘Beard Tax’?
A tax imposed on Russian men who wanted to keep their beards, as Peter wanted nobles to adopt Western fashion.
How did Peter handle opposition?
He tortured and executed anyone who plotted against him, including his own son.
Why did Peter the Great’s son hate him?
His son was a traditionalist who opposed Peter’s Westernization efforts. After fleeing Russia, he was lured back with false promises of safety, then tortured and condemned to death by his father.
How did Peter enforce meritocracy in Russia?
He abolished hereditary privileges and forced people to earn their positions instead of inheriting them.
How did Peter’s westernization efforts compare to Louis XIV’s control over nobles?
- Louis XIV: Required nobles to dress extravagantly and live in Versailles.
- Peter the Great: Forced nobles to adopt Western fashion and abandon Russian traditions.
Why did Peter move Russia’s capital to Saint Petersburg?
He wanted a modern, Western-style city with access to the sea for trade.
How did Peter the Great expand Russia’s territory?
He waged war against Sweden to gain warm-water ports, which were essential for trade and naval power.
Who was John Locke, and when did he live?
John Locke (1632–1704) was an English philosopher and political thinker. He lived during the Glorious Revolution (1688) and was also trained as a medical doctor.
What were Locke’s views on human nature?
Locke believed that in a state of nature (before government), humans have the ability to reason and possess a moral compass. He did not claim that people were naturally good, but he believed they were capable of morality and rational thought.
How did Locke influence the American Declaration of Independence?
Locke’s ideas about natural rights—life, liberty, and property—inspired Thomas Jefferson when drafting the Declaration of Independence.
What is Locke’s view on government and the social contract?
Locke believed that people enter into a social contract, allowing themselves to be governed in exchange for the protection of their natural rights. If a government fails to protect these rights or becomes tyrannical, the people have the right to overthrow it.
What did Locke write?
Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government, in which he argued that government exists to serve the people, not the other way around.
Did Locke believe everyone had equal rights?
No, Locke’s ideas about natural rights applied mainly to landowning men. He did not extend these rights to enslaved people or non-property-owning citizens.
How did John Locke’s views differ from Thomas Hobbes’?
Locke believed that humans are rational and capable of morality in the state of nature. Hobbes believed that humans are naturally violent and selfish in the state of nature and require a strong ruler to maintain order.
What were Hobbes’ political beliefs?
Hobbes supported absolute monarchy and argued in Leviathan that people give up their rights completely in a social contract to ensure peace and security.
What did Locke and Hobbes have in common?
Both were English philosophers who believed in the social contract and natural law, and both wrote about the role of government. However, Locke favored a constitutional monarchy with limited government, while Hobbes favored an absolute ruler.
Who was Montesquieu, and what did he believe?
Montesquieu (1689–1755) was a French nobleman who studied various European governments. He believed the best way to protect citizens’ rights and prevent tyranny was through a government with three separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
What book did Montesquieu write?
He wrote The Spirit of the Laws (1748), which heavily influenced the U.S. Constitution and the ideas of James Madison.
How did Montesquieu’s ideas impact modern government?
His theory of separation of powers influenced the structure of democratic governments, including the U.S. government, ensuring that no single branch has too much power.
Who was Voltaire, and what did he believe?
Voltaire (1694–1778) was a French Enlightenment philosopher known for advocating freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and the separation of church and state.
Why was Voltaire critical of the Catholic Church and the French government?
He criticized their corruption and suppression of free thought, which led to his exile and imprisonment at the Bastille.
What are some famous quotes attributed to Voltaire?
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
“It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.”
What type of government did Voltaire prefer?
He supported enlightened absolutism, believing that a well-educated, rational monarch could be the best ruler.
Who was Denis Diderot, and what was his major contribution?
Denis Diderot (1713–1784) was a French philosopher and the chief editor of the Encyclopédie, a 28-volume work that took 25 years to complete.
Why was the Encyclopédie important?
It spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe, challenging the power of the monarchy and the Catholic Church by promoting knowledge and reason.
Who contributed to the Encyclopédie?
Philosophers like Montesquieu and Voltaire wrote articles for it.
What were Rousseau’s main beliefs?
Rousseau (1712–1778) believed that humans are naturally good, but society corrupts them. He developed the idea of the noble savage, suggesting that people in their natural state are pure. He believed in general will—that the good of the majority should take precedence over individual interests.
What famous quote is attributed to Rousseau?
“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”
What book did Rousseau write?
The Social Contract (1762), where he argued for direct democracy and that people should collectively decide their government.
Why did Rousseau dislike private property?
He believed that property creates inequality and that wealth corrupts society.
What was the Thirty Years’ War, and why did it start?
It was a religious and political conflict in the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) that began in 1618 when Calvinists, who were excluded from the Peace of Augsburg, rebelled.
What were the four phases of the war?
- Bohemian Phase (1618–1622): Started with the Defenestration of Prague, where Protestant nobles threw Catholic officials out a window.
- Danish Phase (1625–1629): King Christian IV of Denmark intervened to protect Protestants but was defeated.
- Swedish Phase (1630–1635): Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden entered the war to weaken the Habsburgs but was killed in battle.
- French Phase (1635–1648): France, led by Cardinal Richelieu, fought to weaken Habsburg Spain and became the dominant power in Europe.
How did the war end, and what were its effects?
The Peace of Westphalia (1648) ended the war. It recognized Swiss and Dutch independence. The Holy Roman Empire weakened as over 300 German principalities gained more autonomy. France emerged as Europe’s dominant power. The war devastated Germany, killing about one-third of its population.
