New Monarchs Sample Outline
FRQ PROMPT: Using examples from at least THREE different states, analyze the specific strategies used by the New Monarchs
(from 1450-1550) to extend the power of the state.
Sample:
(Intro) In the late 15th century a series of new monarchs began to work towards building stronger nation states in Western
Europe. Conflicts such as the Hundred Year’s War and the economic and political confusion brought on by the Black Death allowed opportunities for these monarchs to create stronger, centralized governments. (Thesis statement) New Monarchs such as Isabella and
Ferdinand of Spain, Henry VII of England, and Louis XI and Francis I of France used strategies such as increased taxation, the creation of bureaucracy and officials, religious control, and controlling warfare to reduce the power of the nobles in their country and extend the power of the state.
Outline:
Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain:

Evidence: They used a new Royal Council to carry out laws. Landowning nobles were excluded from serving on this council.

Analysis: This policy allowed them to extend their power by decreasing the influence nobles had in government while gaining loyalty among the middle class.

Evidence : They implemented the Inquisition to root out people who were suspected of being “failed Conversos” or heretics to the Catholic faith. In 1492, they expelled all Jews from living in Spain and in 1501 ordered that all
Muslims living in Spain convert to Christianity.

Analysis: The Inquisition and these religious laws worked to increase the power of the state over the individual lives of their citizens. They used the power of the state to enforce religious uniformity throughout their nation and create a population whose faith demanded that they be loyal to the monarchy.
Henry VII of England:

Evidence: Henry used diplomacy in foreign affairs rather than going to war when at all possible.

Analysis: By limiting international warfare Henry VII was able to reduce his nation’s spending. This allowed him to gain more power because he did not have to ask Parliament for money. The helped to cut out the influence of the aristocracy/nobility during his rule.

Evidence: Henry established a new bureaucracy known as the Royal Council to help him carry out the law. The ministers of this Council were largely from the prosperous middle class.

Analysis: By doing this, Henry was limiting the power and influence that members of the aristocracy (nobility) traditionally held in government. Henry did this to create a new group of people that were loyal to him and would not undermine or challenge his power.
Louis XI of France:

Evidence: Louis XI encouraged the development of new industries in his country and severely increased taxation during his reign.

Analysis: This increase in economic productivity and increase in taxes allowed Louis to build a national army that was completely under his control. This helped to centralize the government because nobles could no longer maintain their own armies that could complete with Louis’ national army. Louis was able to use this national army to put down revolts from the nobility.

Evidence: Francis I made an agreement with the Catholic Pope called the Concordat of Bologna. This Concordat allowed the French King to appoint bishops and other high officials in the French Catholic Church.

Analysis: The Concordat allowed Francis I to extend the state’s power over the Church. By being able to appoint bishops and high church officials, the kings of France could control Church practices such as taxation and tithes and the policies of church officials within the kingdom.
REMEMBER- Analysis means explaining how the evidence you use relates back to the opinion/argument made in your thesis! (In this case, it would be explaining how these strategies helped to extend the power of the state)
Analysis Trigger Words:
-This shows…
-This allows…
-This fact demonstrates
-Clearly this evidence proves
-this confirms
-this proves

1.
Pass out the 3 possible essay questions for Wednesday’s exam
2.
Get together w/groups- write down the centralizing strategies of your monarch
3.
Look at New Monarch question-read it twice! a.
What is the question asking me to do? Are there any terms/wording in the question that I find confusing? i.
Talk about 3 different countries ii.
Identify what centralizing strategies the kings are using iii.
Explain how those centralizing strategies are helping to “extend the power of the state” b.
What does “analyze” mean in this context? i.
The definition for analysis= to explain the relationship between things ii.
I have said in the past that analysis means to explain how the facts that you are using help to support your thesis. iii.
The facts/evidence that you will be using in this essay are the “strategies” that the kings used. But what do you need to prove with them? iv.
You need to explain how the strategies they used helped to “extend the power of the state” (which means make their government/power stronger) c.
How many body paragraphs does this prompt call for? What will the topics of those body paragraphs be? i.
Probably 3 ii.
Describe 2-3 strategies used by monarchs from each country
4.
Looking at the scoring rubric a.
Introduction- 1-2 sentences i.
sets up the historical context of the question (who, what, when, where, why) ii.
identifies and defines terms in the question (even implicit terms) b.
Terms in this question- “New Monarchs” i.
Who are “new” monarchs? ii.
What does it mean to be a “new” monarch? Or What did “new” monarchs do? iii.
When were these new monarchs around? iv.
Where is this happening? v.
Why are they using these strategies now? c.
Thesis i.
Takes a stance on the prompt ii.
Answers all parts of the question iii.
Includes evidence –What type of evidence can be used?
1.
Name states/countries
2.
Name monarchs
3.
Name some specific strategies used d.
Body Paragraph Outline i.
Includes evidence-What type of evidence would be used for this question?
1.
State specific centralizing strategies used by the monarchs a.
Example: Henry VII of England created a new body called the Royal
Council to help him carry out his laws. The people on this council were mainly from the middle class and were not nobility. ii.
Analysis of each piece of evidence- How do you analyze evidence for this question?
1.
Explain how that centralizing strategy helped the monarch to extend the power of the state (make him more powerful). iii.
Use evidence and analysis that answers all parts of the question.
1.
This essay asks for strategies used by monarchs from 3 states. Make sure you use evidence from 3 countries!

a) analyze means “to determine the relationship of the component elements”
(b) compare and contrast means “to discuss similarities and differences”
(c) describe means “to illustrate something in words or tell about it”
(d) discuss means “to make observations about something using facts, reasoning, and argument; to present in some detail”
(e) evaluate means “to examine and judge the significance, worth, or condition of; to determine the value of”
(f) explain means “to make plain or understandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the logical development or relationships of”