3º SESSION: THE USA. ABSOLUTISM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Where was Absolutism firstly challenged?
In England, as early as the beginning of the XIII century with the Magna Charta. Then, in the XVIIth century, a revolution and a war ended absolutism.

2. In England, which institution confronted the Kings?
Parliament, the seat of many burghers.

3. Name two examples showing that Parliament finally triumphed. Since then, England became the first Parliamentary monarchy. SEE IMAGES IN P. 14. SEE IMG P. 4 UP AND DOWN.
The Habeas Corpus Act which prevented the king from ordering ilegal detentions. The Bill of Rights, which definitely ended absolutism.

4. How did Enlightment influence Absolutism?
Some absolute kings ackknowledged the importance of the new ideas. Their moto was “Everything for the people, but without the people”

5. Name examples of these Enlightened Despots and state why did they fail in the end. READ TEXT IN P. 15.
Tsarina Catherine II of Russia, Frederick II of Prussia, emperor Joseph II, Charles III of Spain. They failed because they wanted to change economy and further educate people, without changing the unfair nature of privilege in the states society. All that led to revolution.

6. Enlightened influence in North America brought about two historical innovations. Which?
The first republic and Federalism.

7. There were two complaints and a political consequence. Who did complain, against whom, how did it all start and what came out of it. WATCH IMAGE IN P. 16, MAP AND TEXT IN P. 17. WATCH IMG 4 CENTER.
Colonists resented England´s monopoly of trade and having to pay taxes when they were not heard in the Parliament.

8. Why is the constitution of the USA historically significant?
It was the first written constitution in History.

9. Name an example of the influence of Enlightment.
Division of Powers (Montesquieu), monarchy is substituted for republic, a more democratic system (Rousseau). Declaration of Rights. Religious tolerance (Voltaire).

10. How did all this influence Europe. WATCH GRAPHIC IN P. 17
All these winds of freedom reinforced opposition to Absolutism.

11. Government in the USA was designed to be decentralized. There are two types of decentralization, we call them federal and confederal. Having read the book, can you guess the difference?
Federalism implies a stronger central government and control.

12. Which sort of decentralization do you think was designed for our spanish democratic state?
Open answer. It is more similar to federalism though it is the will of certain regional political groups to draw it closer to condederalism, reducing central control over important issues such as employment policies, etc…