1. Why was the Enlightenment important to the political landscape of the eighteenth century? (1 point)
2. How did thinkers grapple with and justify the shortcomings of Enlightenment ideas when they were put into practice? (1 point)
3. How did the rule of Louis XIV exemplify both the potential and the limitations of an absolute ruler? (1 point)
4. How was absolutism similar and different as practiced by Louis XIV in France, Peter the Great in Russia, and Frederick the Great in Prussia? (1 point)
5. How did England develop a constitutional monarchy? (1 point)
6. How did Enlightenment thinking affect the development of economic systems in Western Europe? (1 point)
7. How did the free enterprise system develop? (1 point)
8. How did the events of the French Revolution relate and contribute to one another to result in the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte? (1 point)
9. Did France change or remain the same during the French Revolution and the reigns of Napoleon and Louis XVI? (1 point)
10. How were the czars of Russia, both Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, able to maintain absolutist rule while also facing an Age of Enlightenment philosophy? (1 point)
11. What role did the geographical features of the Baltic and Scandinavian regions have in the growth of Poland, Prussia, and Sweden during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries? (1 point)
12. Why were colonists frustrated by the British constitutional monarchy?(1 point)
13. How were the causes and effects of the constitutional monarchy system in England similar to and different from those of the absolute monarchy systems in France, Spain, and Russia?(1 point)
14. Why did the American Revolution occur?(1 point)
15. Why did the Enlightenment have such a profound impact on the American and French Revolutions?(1 point)
16. How do changing beliefs and systems affect society?(1 point)
17. What were the cultural impacts of the Enlightenment period?(1 point)
1. The Enlightenment was important to the political landscape of the eighteenth century because it promoted ideas of individual rights, separation of powers, and the importance of reason and science in government, ultimately leading to the questioning of traditional authority and the rise of new political ideas.
2. Thinkers grappled with and justified the shortcomings of Enlightenment ideas when they were put into practice by seeking to balance the ideals of liberty and equality with the need for stability and order in society. They also considered the practical challenges of implementing new political and social systems.
3. The rule of Louis XIV exemplified both the potential and limitations of an absolute ruler by showcasing the power and grandeur an absolute monarch could wield, but also highlighting the risks of centralizing power too much and alienating the nobility and common people.
4. Absolutism as practiced by Louis XIV in France, Peter the Great in Russia, and Frederick the Great in Prussia was similar in their centralized authority and efforts to strengthen the state, but differed in their approaches to governance, relationships with the nobility, and attitudes towards modernization and reform.
5. England developed a constitutional monarchy through a series of events such as the Magna Carta, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution, which established limits on the power of the monarchy and granted rights to Parliament and the people.
6. Enlightenment thinking affected the development of economic systems in Western Europe by promoting ideas of free trade, property rights, and limited government intervention in the economy, leading to the growth of capitalism and the rise of market economies.
7. The free enterprise system developed as a result of Enlightenment ideas about individual freedom, property rights, and competition, which led to the establishment of market economies based on private ownership and voluntary exchange.
8. The events of the French Revolution, including economic crisis, social upheaval, and political unrest, created the conditions for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, who used his military and political skills to seize power and establish himself as the ruler of France.
9. France changed significantly during the French Revolution and the reigns of Napoleon and Louis XVI, with the overthrow of the monarchy, the establishment of a republic, the rise of Napoleon as an emperor, and the eventual restoration of the monarchy.
10. The czars of Russia, including Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, were able to maintain absolutist rule by centralizing power, modernizing the state, and using propaganda and force to suppress dissent, while also selectively adopting Enlightenment ideas to strengthen their authority and legitimacy.
11. The geographical features of the Baltic and Scandinavian regions played a role in the growth of Poland, Prussia, and Sweden during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by providing strategic access to trade routes, natural resources, and military advantages that allowed these countries to expand their territories and influence.
12. Colonists were frustrated by the British constitutional monarchy because they felt that their rights and liberties were being infringed upon by policies such as taxation without representation, restrictions on trade, and interference in local governance.
13. The causes and effects of the constitutional monarchy system in England were similar to absolute monarchy systems in France, Spain, and Russia in that they both sought to maintain stability and order, but differed in their approaches to governance, the role of the monarch, and the distribution of power between the ruler and the people.
14. The American Revolution occurred due to a combination of factors including taxation without representation, restrictions on trade, violations of individual rights, and the desire for self-government and independence from British rule.
15. The Enlightenment had a profound impact on the American and French Revolutions because it promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty, inspiring individuals to challenge traditional authority and seek political and social change based on reason and rationality.
16. Changing beliefs and systems affect society by influencing the way people think, behave, and organize themselves, leading to shifts in power dynamics, social structures, and cultural norms that can have far-reaching consequences.
17. The cultural impacts of the Enlightenment period included a greater emphasis on reason, science, and individualism, as well as a questioning of traditional authority, superstition, and ignorance, which helped to shape modern ideas about democracy, human rights, and the role of government in society.