Forms of Government and Enlightenment Concepts

Forms of Government

• Direct Democracy: Citizens directly make laws and decisions.
• Republic: Elected officials or representatives make decisions.
• Absolute Monarchy: King or queen holds all power.
• Divine Right: Monarch's power comes from God.

Chapter 5, Section 2

• Edict of Nantes: Religious toleration decree that allowed Huguenots to live in peace in France. King Henry IV, and later revoked by Louis XIV.
• Intendants: French government officials appointed by the monarch. They collected taxes, and administered justice. Their use of power helped Louis XIV gain absolute power.

Chapter 6, Section 2

• Enlightenment: 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, and scientific method.
• Locke's Natural Rights: Belief in inherent rights to life, liberty, and property of citizens and that government's role is to protect these rights.
• Voltaire: Beliefs centered on tolerance, reason, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech.
• Rousseau: Believed civilization corrupted natural goodness and fought for individual freedom and social contract.
• Montesquieu: Advocated for separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial) and checks and balances.
• Beccaria: Reforms in the justice system: fair treatment, ending torture, and no cruel punishments.
• Wollstonecraft: Advocated for equal rights and education for women.

Chapter 6, Section 4

• Seven Years' War/French and Indian War: British debt increases, leading to taxes on colonists, fueling the American Revolution.
• Stamp Act: Tax on printed materials. It was a key event leading to the American Revolution.

Chapter 7, Section 1

• Articles of Confederation: First U.S. government; weak national government, strong state power. Drawbacks included tax collection challenges.
• Constitutional Convention (1787): Created a new national government. Important in dividing power between branches (legislative, executive, judicial).
• Bill of Rights: First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution; protects basic rights and freedoms.
• Enlightenment thinkers: Influenced Bill of Rights, by advocating freedom of speech and religion, and fair justice. Examples include Voltaire and Beccaria.
• Old Regime: Social and political system before the French Revolution. It separated society into three estates with varying privileges.

Chapter 7, Section 2

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789): Revolutionary declaration establishing equality, individual rights.
• French Revolution: Political and social upheaval in France. The French Revolution challenged the existing power structure of the absolute monarchy and led to the establishment of a republic, then a dictatorship.
• National Assembly: Legislative body representing the people, in contradiction to the Estates General.
• Tennis Court Oath: Oath taken by members of the Third Estate of France to not disband until they had written a new constitution for France.

Chapter 7, Section 3

• Napoleon's rise to power: Napoleon gained legitimacy and popular support after a coup de tat.
• Napoleonic Code: Uniform code of laws providing stability, equality and rights to citizens.
• Concordat: Agreement between the French government and the Catholic Church allowing Catholics to practice freely.
• Continental System: Napoleon's attempt to block British trade with Europe.

Chapter 7, Section 4

• Peninsular War: French conflict with Spain and Portugal. It was very costly in terms of human lives.
• Napoleon's Invasion of Russia: Failed invasion fueled by the desire of Napoleon to expand his empire. It led to significant military losses and contributed to his downfall.
• Battle of Trafalgar: Important naval battle where the British Navy defeated the French Navy.
• Battle of Leipzig: Coalition of European countries defeated Napoleon.
• Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon's final defeat by the British and Prussian forces which ends his rule.
• Congress of Vienna: International meeting to restore balance and long-term peace in Europe after Napoleon's rule.

Chapter 7, Section 5

• Congress of Vienna: Meeting of European powers to restore order and stability after Napoleonic Wars. It aimed to prevent future revolutions and restore monarchy.
• Legitimacy: Restoring former monarchs to their thrones.
• Balance of Power: Maintaining equilibrium between nations to prevent one from becoming too powerful.
• Concert of Europe: Alliances among European powers to cooperate and prevent revolution.

Explore the various forms of government, including direct democracy and monarchy, and their historical contexts. This quiz also delves into Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights and the influence of key philosophers like Locke and Voltaire. Test your knowledge on these critical concepts in political theory.