AP World History POD #14 – Age of Transition

1. AP World HistoryPOD #14 – Age of Transition Absolutism

2. Class Discussion Questions McKay – “Absolutism”, pp. 532-548 McKay – “Lords and Peasants in Eastern”, pp. 566-569 McKay – “The Rise of Austria and Prussia”, pp. 569 -578

3. What is the definition of sovereignty? • A state is sovereign when …. (1) It possesses a monopoly over the instruments of Justice and the use of force within clearly defined boundaries (2) There is not threat to royal authority (3) When the states army is supreme (4) Royal (state) Law touches all persons within the country

4. What is the definition of absolutism? • Personified by the ruler • A state in which the king claims his authority to rule by divine right, meaning they were responsible to God alone

5. What are the keys to an absolutist state? • Seek cooperation from one group that historically posed problems – the NOBILITY • The key to power and success of an absolute monarch lay in how they solve their financial problems

6. What was the benefit of the new absolute bureaucracy? • Composed of career officials who were appointed by and solely accountable to the king • These new bureaucrats held public offices designed to benefit the state – they did not hold these positions for private gain

7. How did the absolutist state maintain law and order? • Created permanent standing armies • Used secret police to monitor the activities of the citizenry • Absolutism is conservative by nature. That is to say it desired to maintain the status quo.

8. What difference existed between the absolutist state and the 20th century totalitarian state? • “The rule of absolute monarchs was not all embracing because they lacked the military and financial resources and the technology to make it so. Thus, the absolutist state was not the same as the totalitarian state. Totalitarianism is a 20th century phenomenon; it seeks to direct all facets of a states culture – art, education, religion, the economy, and politics – in the interest of the state. By definition totalitarian rule is total regulation.” - McKay et.al.

9. How did the absolutist state foreshadow the 20th century totalitarian state? • Glorification of the State • Expansionist foreign policy

10. How did Sully set the stage for French absolutism? • Brought France to greater financial stability • Reduced taxes yet increased revenue through the revival of trade • Restored public order and laid the foundations of economic prosperity

11. What steps did Cardinal Richleau put in place to elevate the French king to absolute power? • Appointed to the council of ministers by Marie Medici – became president of the council in 1627 and first minister of the French Crown in 1628 • Laid cornerstone of French absolutism • Policy of total subordination of all groups and institutions to the French monarchy • Curbed the power of the nobility by destroying castles and executing noble conspirators • Created a strong, efficient bureaucratic system that employed intendents (royal commissioners) • Oversaw the issuing of the Edict of Nantes allowing religious toleration as opposed to permanent coexistence

12. How and why does Louis XIV represent the epitome of French and European absolutism? • “Sun King” (1643-1715) • French absolutism reached its peak • Followed the theory of divine right • Manipulated the nobility to weaken their power and influence and secured their cooperation • Forced the nobility to regularly visit the court at Versailles where he could keep them under a watchful eye

13. How does the Palace of Versailles symbolize the French absolutist state? • Used architecture to overawe subjects and foreign visitors • Full of grandeur – represents the lavishness and decadence of the times • Construction put France into deep economic crisis and hardship

14. How does the Palace of Versailles facilitate a scenario in which only revolution and death of a king can fix? • Financial hardship caused by spending on luxury and grandeur especially the Palace of Versailles • Louis XIV never called the Estates General to deal with financial crisis • It was accepted that the king could tax all he wanted as long as he did not tax the nobles • Created a situation where the Third Estate (middle class and peasants and urban working class) were to be heavily burdened • France never collected enough revenue for its level of spending

15. What was absolute France’s position on religious toleration? What steps were taken to address this issue? • 1598 - Edict of Nantes allowed religious toleration as 150 towns were allowed Protestant worship • 1627 – Louis XIII outlawed Protestant militaries on the grounds that it created a “state within a state” • The monarchy argued that the Huguenots demanded freedom of conscience but did not allow Catholic worship in their towns – this was interpreted as political disobedience • All of this ran counter to the theory of absolutism • Revocation of the Edict of Nantes – churches were destroyed, schools were closed, and the Huguenots were ordered to be re-baptized as Catholics • Religious pluralism was still not an accepted idea – especially in an absolutist state • Absolutism demanded “One King, One Law, One State” • There was little public support for the Edict of Nantes from the nobility • As result of the revocation many skilled and wealthy Huguenots fled France

16. Through what methods did France attempt to reach financial independence? • Jean Baptiste-Colbert • Mercantilism – collection of government policies for the regulation of economic and commercial activities for the benefit of the state • A nation’ s power was determined by its’ gold and silver reserves • Nations needed a favorable balance of trade (Export > Imports = $$$) • France tried to sell abroad and buy nothing back • Attempted to become economically and commercially self-sufficient and independent • The bankruptcy of Spain (1596, 1607, 1627, 1647, 1680) represents the case study for the limitations of mercantilism

17. How was the Peace of Utrecht interwoven with world exploration and European absolutism? • Ended the war of Spanish Succession (1701-1713) • Represents the balance of power principle in operation • Limits were set on the extent to which any one power could expand • This principle will be revisited in World War I (The Great War) and the Treaty of Versailles

18. How does western absolutism compare to eastern absolutism? • Western Absolutism – (1) powers of the nobility limited (2) strong middle class (3) peasants free from serfdom • Eastern Absolutism – (1) powerful nobility (2) weak middle class (3) oppressed peasantry of serfs

19. What actions were taken to further strip the peasants of power in Eastern Europe following the Black Death? • Eastern peasants lost rights and freedoms • The Black Death caused a labor shortage – eastern landlords used political and police power to tie the peasants to the land – western landlords offered improved conditions • Laws limited a peasants free time and movement • Landlords took more peasant lands • Landlords imposed heavier labor obligations • Local lords ruled as prosecutor, judge, and jailer – ruling against the peasants (their power was unchecked) • The poor east fed the wealthy west – forced serfdom allowed eastern nobles to produce an agricultural surplus – this was sold to the growing cities of the west

20. What steps were taken by eastern monarchs to further their control over the power of the purse and the power of the sword? • Imposed and collected permanent taxes without consent • Maintained permanent standing armies – used to police the country and fight abroad • Conducted foreign relations with other states as they pleased

21. What impact did the Thirty Years War have on Habsburg power? • Habsburg’s (Austria) • Emerged from the Thirty Years War greatly weakened • Attempt to root out Protestantism in Europe had weakened the empire • Real power was in the hands of nearly 300 separate princes, nobles, and separate political jurisdictions • The Habsburgs were defeated in central Europe and turned east to find a theater in which to secure unity and an absolutist state – in the east they would encounter the Ottoman Turks

22. How did the Turks further weaken Habsburg power? • Captured Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453 • Put Vienna under siege in 1529 • Ruled the Balkans for over 150 years (closed off access to Slavic / Russian slaves – Europe turned to Africa) • Used conquered people (slaves) to fill the army – this system worked well as long as the army expanded • After 1570 the Ottoman empire began to slowly decline and disintegrate as the Turks western advance was stopped not to mention the increasing decadence of the empire • The Turkish Wars and the great expansion strengthened the Habsburg army and promoted some sense of unity in Habsburg Lands • Province of Austria, Kingdom of Bohemia, and Kingdom of Hungary were tied together by a common monarch

23. How did religion impact the evolution of absolutism in the Habsburg empire? • Charles VI (1711-1740) • Pragmatic Sanction – Habsburg possessions were never to be divided and were to be passed intact to a single heir (who may be female) • Hungarian nobility resisted the rise of Habsburg absolutism by rising in revolt – much of the revolt was a result of their Protestantism and opposition to the Habsburg attempt to re-Catholicize the empire • Compromise – many of the traditional practices of the Hungarian nobility were reinstated in return for an acceptance of hereditary Habsburg rule

24. What steps were taken by Frederick William (“The Elector”) to enhance his power of the purse and power of the sword? • Moved Prussia towards absolutism • Desired to link Brandenburg (Berlin), Prussia, and the Rhine as one • Each of these provinces had its’ own Estates – the Estates controlled the power of the purse • The Estates were dominated by the nobility and land owning class called the Junkers who were conservative by nature • 1660 – Army created to fight Sweden / Army became permanent / Taxes were levied to pay for this / Taxes became permanent • The power of the Estates waned as the monarch had financial independence and superior force • The Great Elector created a single state (small and fragile) out of scattered principalities

25. What long term influence did Frederick William I (“Soldier King”) have on the evolution of Prussia / Germany? • Truly established Prussian absolutism • Created strongest army in Europe • Imposed strict military value into Prussian society • Cult of military power provided the rationale for a great expansion of royal absolutism in Prussia • Created a strong centralized bureaucracy • Eliminated last vestiges of Parliamentary influence • Enlisted the nobility into the army – this was resisted and they became officers who commanded the peasantry

26. What enlightenment reforms were instituted by Frederick the Great? • Rebelled against tyrannical father- reconciled and determined to use the army his father had left him • Fought Austria and Maria Theresa in the War of Austrian Succession to gain Silesia and increase the population of Prussia by over 6 million people