Regents Prep Day 11

Absolutism, Enlightenment,
French Revolution
Reminders

1)
I) Absolutism

A) Absolutism rulers having COMPLETE
CONTROL over the government, people, and their
country.

B) Monarch a king

C) Divine Right Belief that absolute power comes
from God

D) Absolute Rulers Louis XIV, Akbar the Great,
Phillip II, Peter the Great

Characteristics of Absolute rulers???


II) Opposition to Absolutism

A) Magna Carta Document
limiting the power of the
King in Britain.

B) Enlightenment Time
period of thinking,
questioning, and reasoning.
Against strong governments /
kings.

What similarities exist between the
Magna Carta and the
enlightenment?

II) Opposition to Absolutism

C) Enlightenment Beliefs Natural
rights, the right to choose your
leaders, government serves the people.

D) Enlightenment Thinkers John
Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean
Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire,
Montesquieu

What affect might the enlightenment
have on absolutism? What events did
the enlightenment lead to?

III) The French Revolution

A) Three estates in France

Estate 1 (Clergy 1% of the population)
Estate 2 (Nobles 2% of the
population)
Estate 3 (Peasants 97% of the
population)

What problems existed in France?
What ideas are influencing the
peasants to rebel?
III) The French Revolution

B) Problems facing the 3
rd

Estate

1) Unfair high taxes
2) Third estate has the
most people, but only get
one estate vote.
3) Hunger
4) Land distribution
5) Louis was a harsh
absolute ruler
III) The French Revolution

C) Key French Revolution Events:


1) National Assembly Formed
by the Third Estate to meet
privately

2) Reign of Terror Time period
of riots, fighting, and murder
under Robespierre

3) King Louis - beheaded at the
guillotine

III) The French Revolution

D) Napoleon becomes dictator
of France after Louiss death


1) Tries to conquer all of
Europe

2) Fails because of Russias cold
winter (troops freeze)

3) Fails because he could not
defeat Britain

IV) Effects of the French Revolution

A) French Revolution inspired peasants and colonies
around the world to resist absolute or bad rulers.
(Latin America and Haiti Revolutions)

B) Congress of Vienna To make sure another
Napoleon does not come about by;


1) keeping a balance of power in Europe
2) Prevent other revolutions from occurring

Whats the real goal here of the congress?