AP European History › Unit 3
After 1648, European rulers built stronger states in different ways. Louis XIV of France, Peter the Great of Russia, and others claimed absolute power, while England and the Dutch Republic limited royal authority. The unit also covers mercantilism, the Dutch Golden Age, and the balance of power. Comparison is the key skill, so prompts often ask how two states were alike or different. Students often call any powerful king absolute. Others forget that even absolute monarchs had to bargain with nobles and could not rule alone.
These are taken from the Regular set, with the answer and explanation shown.
Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counsellors ... did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom; ...
That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal; ...
That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament ... is illegal; ...
That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law; ...
And that for redress of all grievances ... Parliaments ought to be held frequently.
Extirpate: destroy completely. Prerogative: powers the monarch claimed to hold without needing Parliament's approval.
English Bill of Rights (1689). Text: Avalon Project, Yale Law School
1. The clauses about suspending laws and levying money most directly addressed fears that James II would
Answer: A. James II had used his prerogative to suspend laws against Catholics and had kept a large army. Parliament feared he would rule like Louis XIV of France. The clauses make each of those powers illegal without Parliament's consent.
Common trap: The republic option describes fears from the 1650s under Cromwell. The Bill of Rights aims at royal power, not at army rule.
In this City of Amsterdam is the famous Bank, which is the greatest Treasure, either real or imaginary, that is known any where in the World. ... the security of the Bank lies not only in the Effects that are in it, but in the Credit of the whole Town or State of Amsterdam, whose Stock and Revenue is equal to that of some Kingdoms; and who are bound to make good all Moneys that are brought into their Bank; The Tickets or Bills hereof, make all the usual great Payments that are made between man and man in the Town; and not only in most other places of the United Provinces, but in many other Trading-parts of the World.
Effects: the gold, silver and coin held in the bank's vault. Credit: trust that debts will be paid.
Sir William Temple, Observations upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands (London, 1673), ch. 2. Text: EarlyPrint (EEBO-TCP A64324)
2. The Bank described in the excerpt contributed to Dutch commercial success mainly by
Answer: B. Temple says the Bank's "Tickets or Bills" handle the great payments in Amsterdam and in many trading places abroad. Reliable payments lowered the cost and risk of trade. The excerpt says nothing about loans to Spain or paying soldiers.
Common trap: The paper-money option sounds modern, but the excerpt describes bills used by merchants for payments. It says nothing about paying soldiers.
| Grade | Civil service title | Army title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (highest) | Chancellor | General field marshal |
| 4 | Active state councillor | Major general |
| 6 | Collegiate councillor | Polkovnik (colonel) |
| 9 | Titular councillor | Kapitan (captain) |
| 14 (lowest) | Collegiate registrar | Fendrik (ensign, from the German Fähnrich) |
Rules of the Table: Rank came from service in the army, the civil service or the court. Officials had to qualify before promotion to the next grade, and the tsar personally approved appointments to grades 1 through 5. A civil official who reached grade 14 gained personal nobility for his lifetime. One who held an office in grade 8 (collegiate assessor) gained hereditary nobility, which passed to his children.
Titles and rules as given in a published overview of the Table of Ranks (1722). Source description
3. Peter the Great's approach to the nobility, as shown in the table, differed most from Louis XIV's in that Peter
Answer: C. Both rulers bound the nobility to the crown. Louis did it mainly through court life at Versailles. Peter made nobles work for the state in the army and civil service, and he ranked them by that service.
Common trap: The removal option goes too far. Peter wanted nobles in the army and government, as long as they served and qualified.