Constitutionalism in England – V1
• England’s journey to __________________
• 1066: King William established feudal system in which he sought advice of ___________
before making laws
• 1215: King John signs _________________________, recognizing and protecting
nobility’s traditional feudal rights
• 13th through 16th century: power of Parliament was dependent on the relative strength
of monarch
• Even strongest kings required Parliament’s consent to ____________
• 1603: Elizabeth Tudor dies without a successor
• Parliament named Scottish house of _______________ to throne
• United the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland
• King James I believed in Divine Right of Kings
• God put him in charge, not ________________________________________
• Charles I, James’ successor, __________________________________
• 1642-1651: English Civil War over authority, religion
• Parliamentarians (Roundheads) win, but dictatorship reigns
• 1660: Monarchy restored, Charles II became king
• 1668:(The Glorious Revolution) _________________________defeated James II, signed
English Bill of Rights
• Created a constitutional monarchy within England
• Stated specific powers of Parliament & King (establishing _____________________),
stated that all monarchs would be Protestant
Coat of Arms of England
Absolutism: response to crisis
• Some nations found stability by granting increasing ________________ to monarchs
• __________________: political system where the ruler holds total authority
over their subjects
• _______________________ : The Divine Right of Kings
• Monarchs were granted power from God, therefore they were responsible
only to God
• To question a king’s power was to question _____________
• How did Absolutism bring order to ________________?
• A single ruler has only one religious belief
• Acceptance of the legitimacy of authority (divine right) created no need
for civil war
• ________________________ = more money & control to monarch
• ____________________ of France: The Sun King
• Absolute monarch of France for 74 years
• Became pinnacle of monarchial power & style
• Used extreme wealth to build Versailles, used palace to pacify French
nobility & peasants
• Years of extravagance left France _______________________
King Louis XIV of France
Absolutism Across Europe
• Powerful Absolutist German States
• _______________________ emerged as strong military force
• Austria’s Hapsburgs dynasty defeated Turks, created large central
_________________________________
• Never became powerful absolutist state because it was comprised of very
different cultures
• Absolutist ___________________ of the Russian Empire
• Ivan the Terrible crushed ___________________ of nobility
• Powerful ___________________ dynasty reigns: 1613-1917
• Peter the Great wanted to Westernize Russia
• Looked to incorporate advanced ________________________
• _______________________ built as a “window to the West”
• Remained Russian capital city until fall of czars
• Built Russia’s ____________________, greatly expanded borders
• Drafted men for 25 year stints, established navy
• Required adoption of western dress and customs
• Forced all men to _____________________________________________
• Upper-class women gained more freedom
• No longer wore veils, could mix socially w/men
Peter the Great
Practice Questions: Content and Basic Skills
1. Which statement best characterizes the changing relationship
between Parliament and the King?
A. Parliament enjoyed more power prior to King James I
B. Parliament never had much power compared to the King
C. Parliament had less power before King James I than after
D. Parliament was always more powerful than the King
2. Which statement would King James I agree with the most?
A. I should share power with Parliament, to keep my people happy.
B. My people put me in charge—I will not share power with Parliament.
C. I am elected, and so I serve Parliament.
D. My power comes from the lord; I share power with nobody else.
3. Which of the following ideas does not belong with Absolutism in Europe?
A. Rulers had singular religious beliefs
B. Civil ward could be avoided, because the monarch’s power came from god
C. Mercantilism encouraged monarchs to have relaxed trade policies
D. Mercantilism helped funnel resources and power to the king or queen
5. What are the following numbers in Roman
Numerals?
IV: _____
VIII: _____
IX: _____
XVII: _____
XIV: _____
Match the year with the century it belongs in:
6. 1843: _______
A. 18th Century
7. 1960: _______
B. 19th Century
8. 1711: _______
C. 20th Century
9. 2007: _______
D. 21st Century
4. Peter the Great’s drive to Westernize Russia included which of the following policies?
I. Inclusion of new technologies
II. Military buildup
III. Women’s freedoms were restricted IV. Men adopted Western fashion
A. I, III, and IV
C. II and IV
B. I, II, and IV
D. II, III, and IV