Study Questions for our Europe s Political Revolutions Reading Readings: Stavriano s A Global History (1999), chapter 27, Europe s Political Revolutions. 1 2. All political spectrums are a simplification of reality. Nonetheless, consider the tyranny spectrum. OK, I just made the term up, but go with it. The Tyranny spectrum measures how easy it is for a subset of society to impose its will on others. The Tyranny spectrum runs the gamut from: Tyranny of the minority: government in which one person has nearly all the power and there are few checks on his or her rule to Balanced government: a government in which several interests have a voice and which no single person can dictate what government does to Mob rule: If any interest has the numbers to dominate other groups, it can do whatever it wants 1. Show where Britain was at the two points below. a. Charles I, ca 1640, just before the Civil War b. William and Mary s reign, 1688-1702 Tyranny of the Minority) Absolutism Strong King but Parliament has some powers. Balanced Gov (Strong Executive but legislature has most of the power) Very Democratic Govt (Widespread Enfranchisement) Mob Rule 2. Show where France was at the three points below. There is some slack in where you put b. a. 1788 b. Where many French, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, hoped France would go in late 1789. c. 1793 (hint: The Terror) d. 1804 under Napoleon. Ignore that fact that he was supposed to be an enlightened despot. Tyranny of the Minority) Absolutism Strong King but Parliament has some powers. Balanced Gov (Strong Executive but legislature has most of the power) Very Democratic Govt (Widespread Enfranchisement) Mob Rule
# 3 5. Consider the English Revolution (17 th century, as defined by Stavriaonos) and French Revolution (18 th century). 3. Which revolution say the largest swing in political system? i.e. Which revolution saw the largest changes? a. England s b. France s c. It was basically a tie. 4. Which revolution is generally considered to have resulted in a pretty good system of government? a. England s b. France s c. It was basically a tie. 5. The year is 1710. Roughly what percentage of adult Male British citizens can vote in 6. The year is 1870. Roughly what percentage of adult Male British citizens can vote in 7. The year is 1935. Roughly what percentage of adult Male British citizens can vote in 8. The year is 1710. Roughly what percentage of adult Female British citizens can vote in 9. The year is 1870. Roughly what percentage of adult Female British citizens can vote in
10. The year is 1935. Roughly what percentage of adult Female British citizens can vote in 11. What was the point of our in-class discussion on enfranchisement in Britain (# s 5 10 above)? a. When it came to males, Britain achieved full enfranchisement about 200 years earlier than most. b. Britain made many gradual changes in political system rather than sudden changes. c. The British were an enigma in that they were both conservative as evidenced by letting few vote, and liberal as evidenced by letting women vote early on. 12. What is The Declaration of the Rights of Man? 13. What, in the terms of European history, is The Terror? 14. Who came to power after The Terror? Note: The rise of this person or group was gradual. They were not fully in charge until about 6 years after the Terror. 15. Stavrianos (chapter 27) discussed 3 revolutions in Europe. In class, we only discussed 2. What revolution was discussed in Stavrianos, but not in lecture? 16. Why did Louis XVI call the Estates General? 17. How did Louis XVI want voting in the Estates General to work? Louis wanted there to be one vote per: 18. How did most merchants and bourgeoisie 1 want voting Estates General to work? They wanted there to be one vote per: 1 Amazing! I spelled it correctly the first time!! Boo yah! 3
19. What were the estates in the Estates General? a. There were 2 estates, namely blah, blah, blah b. There were 2 estates, namely blah, blah, blah c. There were 3 estates, namely blah, blah, blah d. There were 3 estates, namely blah, blah, blah e. There were 5 estates, namely blah, blah, blah f. There were 5 estates, namely blah, blah, blah 20. I m not entirely sure of the question, but the answer is: a. The Paris mob basically forced the King into meeting their demands. b. blah c. blah d. blah 21. I m not entirely sure of the question, but the answer is: a. Yes, there was a short period in which France had a government in which the elected legislature had most of the power but the King still had a role in policy. b. blah c. blah d. blah 22. I m not entirely sure of the question, but the answer is: a. The French government declared war and several European nations. b. blah c. blah d. blah 23. What was the Gunpowder Plot? a. A plot to sell English technology, namely the recipe for corning gunpowder, to the Dutch. b. A plot to sell English technology, namely the recipe for corning gunpowder, to the Spanish. c. A plot by the English to steal Dutch technology, namely the recipe for corning gunpowder. d. A plot to have the King of France support the Stuart kings in their struggle with Parliament by sending a French Army to England. e. A plot by a few English Catholics to blow up the English Parliament building with the King and Parliament in it. f. A plot, by the British Parliament, to have the British switch sides and support the Dutch in return for Dutch help in overthrowing the Stuarts. g. A plot by a Stuart prince living in France to seize the British throne, with French assistance. In return, the Stuart prince would be tolerant of Catholics and go to war against the Dutch. 4
24. Why might an Economic Historian care about the Gunpowder Plot? a. The failure of the Gunpowder Plot is a major reason why the British kept their technological edge. b. The success of the Gunpowder Plot is a major reason why the British kept their technological edge. c. The outcome of the Gunpowder Plot meant that, in the short-run, Britain s technological edge was threatened. In the long-run, however, this threat caused the British to radically change their government policies regarding inventions and technology. d. The Gunpowder Plot is part of the reason the English polity was generally anti-catholic. Anti-Catholicism was a driving force behind many developments in English politics. e. The success of the Gunpowder Plot is the main reason the British Parliament was able to military defeat the Stuart King. 25. Arrange the following in their historical order. The 1 st and last (9 th ) ones have been done for you. Regime change! Parliament invites William 1 humankind discovers how to make fire. and Mary, to take the English throne. The English King, Charles I, gets his head cut The Gun Powder Plot is hatched and then off. fizzles. Regime change! Parliament invites a new 10 Jimmy Stewart, famous American actor, is Stuart king to take back the English throne. born in 1908. Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord protector The English Bill of Rights is signed. and governs as a near dictator for 11 years. The English Civil War breaks out. 26. When, approximately, did the above take place? a. 1587-1605. b. 1587-1649. c. 1605-1649. d. 1605-1689 e. 1649-1689. f. 1649-1729. g. 1689-1729 27. Why are the events above of interest to Economic Historians? The events explain: a. the reasons Europe, led by Britain, adopted free trade policies during the 1700s. b. how Britain came to have a powerful, yet restrained, government. c. The reasons Europe, led by Britain, adopted policies that practically brought international trade to a halt during the 1700s. d. How Britain gained and then lost her advantage in technology during the 1700s. 5
28. What did the English Bill of Rights state? Check any and all blanks that apply. There will be no standing army in peacetime unless Parliament approves it. While there is to be freedom of Protestant worship in England, the King is the one who appoints bishops in the Church of England. England and Scotland are now united. Each Scottish counties or boroughs elects a Member of Parliament just like an English counties or borough. There is freedom of speech in Parliament While the Monarch has some privileges, he or she cannot make new laws or courts without consent of Parliament Trade between England and the rest of the world will not be taxed unless England is at war with the country for which the trade is bound all adult males in England can vote regardless of their wealth or income Catholics can worship openly in England and can hold any government office 29. Indicate the characteristics of each British ruler by putting either Yes or No in each blank. Also, indicate their historical order of rule. Most of the shaded cells have been done for you. Don t worry about James I s beliefs regarding how much power kings should have. Ruler Pretty darned anti-catholic in his beliefs Had his head chopped off while alive Was a Stuart Believed Kings should have relatively absolute power Deposed (forcibly removed from office) Order of Rule James I / / / / / / 1 st James II 5 th Charles I Charles II William III (of William & Mary) Oliver Cromwell Jimmy Stewart, American Actor No No No No No * Except perhaps in a limited way in the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Never ruled* 30. What are the three main economic classes discussed in this chapter. Check all that apply. You should have 3 checks. 6
31. Of the above classes (# 30). Which is the oldest, establishment, class during the 17 th and 18 th centuries? 32. What are the three main economic outcomes for Europe discussed in this chapter. Check all that apply. You should have 3 checks. Nationalism: feelings of belonging to a nation, and a desire to see your nation rise above others 7