AP European History - Unit 3 Review: Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Key Themes

• Development of Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Europe.
• Centralization of power and decline of power among nobles and the church.

Absolutism

Definition

• Monarchs consolidate all state power under themselves to advance state needs.

Factors for the Rise

• Weakened Catholic Church: Acceptance of Protestantism and reduced interest in religious wars post-Peace of Westphalia.
• Merchant Class Expansion: Desired stability provided by absolute monarchs.
• Shift of power from landed nobility to monarchs and merchant class.

Key Absolutist Rulers

Louis XIV of France

• Famous for saying "L'état, c'est moi" (I am the state).
• Actions:
  • Intendant System: Bureaucratic agents ensured laws were followed, undermining local and noble authority.
  • Palace of Versailles: Nobles lived there, reducing their power.
  • Revocation of Edict of Nantes: Reduced religious tolerance, drove Huguenots out.
  • Military Expansion: Funded by mercantilist policies under Jean-Baptiste Colbert.

Peter the Great of Russia

• Westernized Russia through reforms:
  • Political: Nobles required to serve in military/administration.
  • Religious: Reorganized the Russian Orthodox Church.
  • Cultural: Imposed Western clothing and beards.

Constitutionalism

Definition

• Government limited by law; monarch shares power with a representative body (e.g., Parliament in England).

England

• English Civil War (1642-1651): King's power vs. Parliament.
• King Charles I executed; Oliver Cromwell established a military dictatorship.
• Glorious Revolution: Transition to constitutional monarchy under William and Mary, English Bill of Rights enacted.

Dutch Republic

• Prosperous due to trade, resisted Spanish control.
• Established an oligarchy, not a monarchy, balancing power among urban gentry and landowners.

Balance of Power

• Focus on maintaining equal power among European nations to prevent domination.

Key Events

• Partition of Poland: Divided by Russia, Prussia, and Austria to balance power.
• Battle of Vienna (1683): European powers united against Ottoman expansion.
• Louis XIV's Wars: Pursued territorial gains, faced opposition to maintain the balance of power.

Military Expansion

• Influenced by leaders like Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.

Agricultural Revolution

• Innovations led to increased food production.
• Crop Rotation: Alternating crops like potatoes, clover, with grains.
• New technologies like Jethro Tull's seed drill, mechanical hoe, and cast iron plow.
• Colombian Exchange: Introduced new crops, improved diets and lifespans.

Economic Developments

Ground-Level Changes

• Decline of guilds and rise in direct labor payment.
• Cottage Industry: Transition from home-based production to factories.
• Factories: Specialized labor increased production efficiency.

State-Level Changes

• Mercantilism: State-driven, focused on maintaining trade surplus.
• Colonial Exploitation: Increased demand for New World products (sugar, cotton).
• Triangular Trade: Enslaved African labor used for plantation work, supporting consumer culture in Europe.

Conclusion

This unit explores the political, economic, and social transformations in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, focusing on the rise of absolutism, constitutionalism, economic shifts, and the balance of power among nations.