Overview of Absolutism

Overview of Absolutism

By Your friendly Neighborhood Historical Thinking Coaches

Listen carefully to John Green and make notes in your notebook that help you define what Absolutism was and who was the most famous model of Absolutism.

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Remember you can pause to make notes as you listen

​What was Absolutism?

Multiple Choice

What BEST describes the Absolutist form of government that developed in the late 17th and throughout the 18th century as the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment was occurring.

• Government where one person has divinely granted absolute power over ALL the people and land.

• A Government where a few people (clergy and Aristocrats) have entire power over the poor people.

• A Government that is corrupt and only exists to provide the ruler with wealth and freedom.

• A Government that emerged in the middle ages and began to be questioned in the Enlightenment.

Multiple Choice

Who was the ultimate example of an Absolutist ruler in the late 17th and early 18th century?

• Peter the Great

• Louis XVI

• Louis XIV

• Catherine the Great

Listen carefully to John Green and make notes in your notebook that help you define the problems France was dealing with before Louis took absolute power.

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Remember you can pause to make notes as you listen

​How did Louis Gain Power?

Multiple Choice

When Louis took power what was the state of things in France

• France was rich and powerful and Louis's regime had no problems

• France was divided, unfair, constantly at war and putting great strains on its people through taxes.

• France was united but had many outside powers that challenged its power and influence.

• France had not benefitted from the Columbian Exchange as was very poor.

Multiple Choice

How did Louis rule while he was so young?

• His aristocracy and clergy ruled for him.

• The kings court ruled through judges that he appointed.

• The king's mother Anne of Austria and a Cardinal Mazarin ruled for him as regents

• The king ruled because he was so great - he was very smart and needed no help.

Listen carefully to John Green and make notes in your notebook that help you define How Louis was able to develop Absolute control over France.

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Remember you can pause to make notes as you listen

​How did Louis Gain Power?

Multiple Choice

Louis the XIV had bureaucrats who argued that he was which of the following?

• The strongest man and greatest warrior and therefore absolutely in control of France.

• A God on earth due to divine right theory.

• Not a God on earth but a humble servant of God who could make laws.

• A king who deserved to rule and control his petty people.

Multiple Choice

Louis XIV is famously known as this

• The great king of France

• The most divine king on earth

• The Sun King

• The best dressed king ever

Open Ended

Why was Versailles so important to his rule and why did it symbolize how the King created Absolutism over France?

Open Ended

How do all the roles that aristocracy and the kings courtier's had to undertake help King Louis XIV gain more power? What would happen if you did not accept your role? Might the king have given really powerful or "dangerous" people roles that made them maintain a close proximity to him? Why?