Summary of Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism (AP Euro)

Summary: Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism (AP Euro)

This lecture explores the differences between absolutism and constitutionalism, focusing primarily on the history of English constitutionalism and its development over time.

Main Ideas and Concepts

• Absolutism:
  • Government power is absolute and centralized, typically embodied by monarchs like Louis XIV and Peter the Great.
  • Monarchs rule by divine right or force.
  • Subjects have no political power or rights; they are not citizens.
  • Laws and taxation are arbitrary, decided solely by the monarch.
• Constitutionalism:
  • Government power is limited by a constitution.
  • The government is accountable to the people, who have political rights.
  • Laws are based on common law and precedent, not arbitrary decisions.
  • Taxation requires consent, typically through representative bodies like Parliament.
  • Sovereignty ultimately resides with the people, exercised through representatives.

Detailed Points and Methodology

• Common Law in England:
  • Established by Henry II and other medieval kings.
  • Judges use precedent to decide cases, ensuring laws are consistent and not arbitrary.
  • This system contrasts with the arbitrary justice common in absolutist states.
• Magna Carta (1215):
  • Signed by King John under pressure from the Church and nobility.
  • Represents a contract limiting the king’s power, especially regarding taxation.
  • Introduced the principle of "taxation by consent" — the king cannot tax without approval.
  • Seen as a foundational document of English constitutionalism.
• Taxation and Parliament:
  • In absolutist states, taxation is decreed by the monarch.
  • In constitutional states, taxation requires consent from representative bodies.
  • Parliament evolved from meetings of nobles and clergy to include the Commons (landed gentry).
  • Parliament holds the "power of the purse," controlling government spending.
  • The king must negotiate with Parliament to raise taxes, leading to a balance of power.
• English Constitution:
  • Not a single written document but a collection of laws, traditions, and institutions.
  • Parliament is bicameral: House of Lords (nobility and clergy) and House of Commons (landed gentry).
  • Representative bodies are a hallmark of constitutionalism, giving people a voice.
  • Absolutist states lack representative bodies as these would limit monarch power.
• Sovereignty:
  • Absolutism: Sovereignty resides solely in the monarch.
  • Constitutionalism: Sovereignty resides in the people, exercised through representatives.

Summary of Key Differences

Aspect	Absolutism	Constitutionalism
Power	Absolute, held by monarch	Limited, constrained by constitution
Law	Arbitrary, based on monarch’s will	Based on common law and precedent
Taxation	By monarch’s decree	Requires consent from Parliament
Representation	None	Representative bodies (Parliament)
Sovereignty	Monarch	The people

Speakers / Sources Featured

• Primary Speaker: Unnamed lecturer (likely a history teacher or AP European History instructor)
• Historical Figures Mentioned:
  • Louis XIV (Absolutist monarch)
  • Peter the Great (Absolutist monarch)
  • Henry II (Established common law)
  • King John (Signed Magna Carta)
  • Edmund Burke (Referenced regarding English Constitution)
• Pop Culture References:
  • George and Judy Jetson (used as an analogy for power of the purse)

This video is part one of a series, with part two focusing on the Stuart dynasty.

Category

Educational

Video