Quiz 1

1. This question focused on the generic discussion of absolutism in McKay, p. 531-532. It requires an understanding of the word sovereignty as defined onpage 531 and asks you to understand where sovereignty rests under absolutism, How this was different under feudal monarchies and what institutions and techniques were used to accomplish this? It also asks you to distinguish between absolute and totalitarian as explained on page 532. .
2. This question focused on the generic discussion of constitutionalism in McKay, p- 548-549. How is it defined. What does it imply? Of what may a constitution consist? What forms of government are possible under a constitution? Is a constitutional government necessarily democratic? Why or why not?
3. This question asserts that the governmental structure of the Netherlands was a reflection of the process by which the country won its independence. How did the Dutch achieve their independence and from whom? What kind of government did the Netherlands develop in the seventeenth century? Why is this logical given how independence was achieved? What was the Dutch practice with regard to religion? Why is this logical given the nature of the process by which the Netherlands achieved their independence? Where did sovereignty reside? Was it centralized in a strong state, was it an absolute monarchy, was it a federal republic? See McKay, pp. 554-557.
4. This question focused on the Dutch economy in the 17^th century. What influence did the Dutch practice of religion have? What was the cornerstone of the economy and what were logical developments of this? What was initial purpose of the Dutch East India Company and to what did its success lead? What impact did these economic developments have on the standard of living, particularlz of the poor. See McKay, 556-557.
5. This question deals with the significance of Henry IV. How did the religous, civil wars of the 16th century lay the foundations for the the acomplishments of Henry IV and later political developments? What were Henry's policies regarding Protestantism and Catholicism? Might the reign of Henry IV be seen as reactionary or progressive? Why? See McKay, pp. 532-534.
6. This question asked you to determine which was false among four statements identifying the major aspects of the policy of Cardinal Richelieu. What were they? May he be seen as a religious reformer? See McKay, 534-536..
7. This question asks you Jean Bodin's perception of the nature of monarchical government. In his view, where does sovereignty rest and what was the responsibility of the person(s) exercising sovereignty? Does he see a role for the feudal aristocracy, the people governed, God or custom in this? Explain. See W-R-W,46-47.
8. What does Bishop Jacques Bossuet have to say about the source of the power of the monarch? Did it stem from the governed, from custom, from the feudal aristocracy, fear, from God? See W-R-W, 47-48.
9. This question asked you to find the false statement regarding why Louis XIV took up court at Versailles? What were the wars of the Fronde and what was their significance in this? Who did he insist should attend court and why? What was the impact of residence at court on the political power of those who attended? See, W-R-W, 49-53 and McKay, 537-539
10. This question was based entirely on the visual documents in W-R-W 54-61. Look at documents 9 and particularly 13. Answer the questions posed for sources 8, 9 and 13 on p. 62-63. Look at source 11. What does this picture of the King's bedchamber tell you about its place in the "staging of absolutism"? Is there a relationship between the decorative motifs in the art and architecture of the palace and the theory of power described by Bossuet? What political purpose did the palace serve with regard to the foreign ambassadors who were received there?