APEH

Chapter 18 Key Concept Packet

Eighteenth Century European States, Wars, and Social Changes
adapted from the work of Lou Gallo
Directions—Complete the following handout that accompanies your reading.
● I advise you to look over this packet before you read as it does not completely follow the order of
the textbook. After looking it over and seeing what you should focus on, read the entire chapter but
only taking notes on the key concepts
● Remember to use the SCAR method (where applicable) when IDing historical information.
● Remember that if it is on this sheet—you are required to know this information. If you cannot find
adequate information in the textbook—be sure to look it up. In most cases where the information is
not in the text, I will provide a link.
Vocabulary:
Enlightened form of government in the 18th century in which absolute monarchs
Despotism/Absolutism pursued legal, social, and educational reforms inspired by the
Enlightenment.
Balance of Power suggests that states may secure their survival by preventing any one state
from gaining enough military power to dominate all others.
Reason of State denotes a way of thinking about government that emerged at the end of
the fifteenth century and remained prevalent until the eighteenth
century.
Primogeniture denotes a way of thinking about government that emerged at the end of
the fifteenth century and remained prevalent until the eighteenth
century.
Infanticide the crime of killing a child within a year of birth.

Cottage Industry a business or manufacturing activity carried on in a person's home.

Tithes one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the
support of the Church and clergy.
Commercial/Consumer consisted of the creation of a European economy based on trade, which
Revolution began in the 11th century and lasted until it was succeeded by the
Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century. Beginning with the
Crusades, Europeans rediscovered spices, silks, and other commodities
rare in Europe.
Natural Rights rights are those that are not dependent on the laws or customs of any
particular culture or government, and so are universal, fundamental and
inalienable (they cannot be repealed by human laws, though one can
forfeit their enjoyment through one's actions, such as by violating
someone else's rights).

Textbook Readings/Notes
Key Concept 2.1: Different models of political sovereignty affected the relationship among states and
between states and individuals.
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THEME: In much of Europe, absolute monarchy was established over the course of the 17 th and 18th
centuries.
Subtheme: a number of states in eastern and central Europe experimented with enlightened
absolutism.

● What is enlightened absolutism?

form of government in the 18th century in which absolute monarchs pursued legal, social, and
educational reforms inspired by the Enlightenment.
● Explain the rule of Frederick William I in Prussia.
- built up a competent army of 40,000
- General War Commissariat
- officials members of the Junkers
- nobles power over peasants
- constructed roads and canals
- allowed for mercantillist policies

● Explain the rule of Maria Theresa in Austria.

- clergy forced to pay tax
- remained Catholic
- readied against Prussia

● Explain reasons why Maria Theresa is NOT considered to be an enlightened despot.

did not implement intellectual side of the Enlightenment

Fill in the following graphic organizer regarding the policies of the Enlightened Despots.
Enlightened Policies Despotic Policies To what degree do you
consider this person to
be enlightened. Briefly
explain
Frederick II, the Great - mercantillism - gave power to A bit, but the power
of Prussia - army nobles vested in nobles mostly
- construction undermines most of his
- education policies.

Joseph II of Austria - abolished Very Enlightened, but

serfdom failed due to a lack of
- attempted support from nobility
hereditary
rights to
peasants
- equality of all
before the law
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- religious
toleration
- public
education
Catherine II, the Great - reorganized - strengthened Not. Serfs were ignored
of Russia government landholding
class

THEME: After 1648, dynastic and state interests, along with Europe’s expanding colonial empires,
influenced the diplomacy of European states and frequently led to war.

Complete the following regarding warfare during this period.

● Explain the War of the Austrian Succession
the last Great Power conflict with the Bourbon-Habsburg dynastic conflict at its heart. It occurred
from 1740 to 1748 and marked the rise of Prussia as a major power.

● Explain the Seven Years’ War

widely considered to be the first global conflict in history, and was a struggle for world supremacy
between Great Britain and France. In Europe, the conflict arose from issues left unresolved by the
War of the Austrian Succession, with Prussia seeking greater dominance.

● Explain the Polish partitions

three partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place toward the end of the 18th
century and ended the existence of the state, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland and
Lithuania for 123 years.

Key Concept 2.3: The spread of Scientific Revolution concepts and practices and the Enlightenment’s
application of these concepts and practices to political, social, and ethical issues led to an increased but
not unchallenged emphasis on reason in European culture.
THEME: During the Enlightenment, the rational analysis of religious practices led to natural religion and
the demand for religious toleration.

Key Concept 2.2: The expansion of European commerce accelerated the growth of a worldwide
economic network.
THEME: Early modern Europe developed a market economy that provided the foundation for its global
role.

Complete the following regarding the development of a market economy.

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● ID the Agricultural Revolution

an unprecedented increase in agricultural production in Britain arising from increases in labour and
land productivity between the mid-17th and late 19th centuries.

● Explain Enclosure
a push in the 18th and 19th centuries to take land that had formerly been owned in common by all
members of a village, or at least available to the public for grazing animals and growing food, and
change it to privately owned land, usually with walls, fences or hedges around it.

● Explain TWO New Methods of Finance

- venture capitalists
- grants

● ID Cottage Industry (putting-out or domestic system)

a business or manufacturing activity carried on in a person's home.

THEME: The European-dominated worldwide economic network contributed to the agricultural,

industrial, and consumer revolutions in Europe.
● Explain mercantilist policies towards world trade

● Explain the development of a new consumer culture in Europe

● Explain reasons for and the results of an increased food supply in Europe

Key Concept 2.4: The experiences of everyday life were shaped by demographic, environmental,
medical, and technological changes.
THEME: In the 17th century, small landholdings, low-productivity agricultural practices, poor
transportation, and bad weather limited and disrupted the food supply. By the 18 th century, the balance
between population and the food supply stabilized, resulting in steady population growth.

● Explain the reasons and results of population growth during the 18th century

THEME: The consumer revolution of the 18th century was shaped by a new concern for privacy,
encouraged the purchase of new goods for homes, and created new venues for leisure activities.

Explain the following (you may use information from previous chapters):
● A New Concern for Privacy (Homes)
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● New Consumer Goods

● New leisure venues

Fill in the following graphic organizer with characteristics of the differing classes.
Peasants Nobility Towns/Village Inhabitants

THEME: By the 18th century, family and private life reflected new demographic patterns and the effects
of the commercial revolution.

Explain the following—be sure to distinguish between classes:

● Explain European marriage patterns and attempts at birth control

● Explain changes and continuities in childcare in the 18 th Century—be sure to explain the impact of
Rousseau’s Émile
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Short Answer Question (SAQ) Practice (15 points)

Read the Tips for Writing SAQs prior to answering this question.  Be sure to distinguish A, B, and C.

REMEMBER ACE
·         ANSWER
·         CitE EVIDENCE
·         EXPLAIN
 
Answer A, B, and C.
“She turned a blind eye to the presence and activities of the Old Believers, wound down Orthodox
missionary activity among Muslims and pagans and allowed ‘reputable’ religions to build churches, run
their own schools and practice their religion freely though under state inspection of their organisation
and finances….

Catherine herself was opposed to serfdom and she took some steps to introduce non-servile tenures on
imperial estates which proved highly unpopular with the serfs….She had, for instance, suggested that
serfs should be entitled to purchase their freedom, or that servitude should be limited to a period of six
years…. Historians have also criticized her for giving away thousands of ‘free’ peasants to her favourites
and public servants, thus enserfing them….

What marks Catherine’s approach is the careful planning of a programme of interrelated measures
steadily pursued over a number of years. Local government and the judiciary were remodeled in 1775
with elected participation by nobles, townspeople and state peasants.”
-- Isabel Madariaga, historian, " Catherine the Great: A Personal View ", 2001

(A) Briefly explain ONE piece of evidence that Madariaga uses in the passage that supports the idea
of Catherine the Great as an enlightened absolute ruler.

(B) Briefly explain ONE piece of evidence that Madariaga uses in the passage that refutes the idea
that Catherine the Great was an enlightened absolute ruler.

(C) Briefly explain ONE way not mentioned in the passage in which Catherine sought to westernize
the Russian state and society.

Your Response:
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