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THE EIGHTEEN CENTURY: EUROPEAN STATES, INTERNATIONAL WARS, AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Chapter 18 Test Nº 2
WORLD HISTORY Name ______________________
Mrs. Menefee
Western Civilization Date __________ Period _______
Chapter Eighteen

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the Correct Answer.

_______ 1. Which of the following statements is FALSE about the predominate form of government
in the absolutist states of the 18th century?
1. The idea of divine right was rejected in favor of the idea of “enlightened absolutism” justified by
utilitarian arguments throughout Europe.
2. Monarchical absolutism led to a continuing process of centralization in the development of nation-states.
3. Monarchs remained politically a strong basis for government during the eighteenth century.
4. Everywhere in Europe at the beginning of the eighteenth century, the old order remained strong.
5. Demographic, economic and social patterns began to change in reflection to the modern new order.

_________ 2. As a proportion of population and national wealth, two significant aspects about the
rulers of Prussian states were __________ and __________. (Choose all that apply.)
1. parliamentary independence 2. junker loyalty 3. religious toleration
4. large military establishment 5. a strong established church

_______ 3. Which of the following monarchies did the new British dynasty adapt at the beginning of
the eighteenth century?
1. Hereditary Monarchy 2. Elective Monarchy
3. Constitutional Monarchy 4. Absolute Monarchy

_______ 4. Which war do some historians regard as the first world war?
1. War of the Austrian Succession 2. The French and Indian War
3. The Seven Years’ War 4. Queen Anne’s War
5. The Crimean War

_________ 5. Which of the following countries did NOT participate in the partition of Poland?
Choose among the following that apply.
1. Austria 2. Prussia 3. England 4. Russia 5. France
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_______ 6. During the 18th century, the English monarchy was checked by a strong Parliament that was
controlled by the landed aristocracy. Which group(s) governed the British Parliament?
1. Monarchs 2. The Nobles 3. The Anglican Church 4. The wealthy (landowners)
5. 1, 2, and 4 only 6. 2 and 4 only 7. 2 and 3 only 8. 1, 2, and 3 only

_______ 7. What was (were) the fundamental aim(s) of the diplomacy based on the concept of European
balance of power, as it emerged by the end of the eighteenth century?
1. Diplomacy was based on the attempt to prevent one state from dominating the others in Europe.
2. The diplomacy failed to achieve any success in resolving conflicts among international powers.
3. European diplomacy linked the concept of the balance of power with a desire for peace.
4. 1 and 3 only.
5. All of the above.

_______ 8. Which of the following reasons can be attributed largely to Poland’s decline as a major
political entity, leading to its dismemberment in the late eighteenth century?
1. Failure of rival international European states to recognize the authority of the Polish kings.
2. The difficulty of managing Poland’s domains as a result from a limited standing army and a small
bureaucracy of Polish nobles.
3. The absence of a strong, centralized monarchy to defend the absolute elective state in the period.
4. The conquest of the kingdom by European rulers like Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and
Frederick the Great of Prussia.

_______ 9. Of the great European powers in the eighteenth century, which nation was the only one
NOT to possess a standing army?
1. Prussia 2. Austria 3. Russia 4. France 5. Great Britain

TRUE OR FALSE: Write True if the statement is true, or False if it is false.

_______ 10. European warfare (nature of war) in the eighteenth century was driven by ideology
or religious wars and imposed wanton destruction of civilian taxpayers.

_______ 11. In most of Europe, the eighteenth-century agricultural revolution leads to a new world
of industrialization and urbanization that expands economically throughout European states.

_______ 12. Frederick William I, king of Prussia from 1713-1740, built a first-rate army and infused
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Prussian society with military values by establishing the General Directory.

MATCHING: Match the following words and write the letter of the term that matches with their description or
definition.

WORD BANK

A) pocket boroughs B) Louis XVI C) Junkers D) Joseph II

E) natural rights F) cottage industry G) Maria Theresa H) tithes
I) William Pitt the Elder J) Frederick II the Great K) primogeniture L) natural laws

_______ 13. Closely related principles to the Enlightenment idea on the governing
of all human societies during the eighteenth century.

_______ 14. Prussian ruling class who held most army offices and absolute power over
their serfs. Known for supporting the monarchy and serving in the army for social and
military dominance.

_______ 15. Model enlightened despot who dictated that the most important offices
in the government usually went to the members of the nobility.

_______ 16. A system of textile manufacturing in which spinners and weavers worked
at home in their cottages using raw supplied by capitalist entrepreneurs.

_______ 17. In England, a legislative district controlled by one man or one family.

_______ 18. A portion of one’s harvests or income, paid by medieval peasants to the
village church.

_______ 19. Young Habsburg-Austrian empress who led political and fiscal reforms
and whose country was attacked in the War of Austrian Succession.

_______ 20. Austrian emperor who provoked general discontent due to his enlightened
but radical reforms.

_______ 21. Prime minister who furthered British imperial ambitions by acquiring
Canada and India.

_______ 22. French king who had weak leadership and worsening financial debt of
France in the eighteenth century. Appointed as successor when twenty-years old.

_______ 23. An inheritance pattern in which the eldest son receives all or the largest
share of the parents’ estate.
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_______ 24. Enlightenment concept based on the opening paragraph of the American
Declaration of Independence.

Short Answer

25. What is ONE example of a decision made by a(n) eighteenth-century ruler(s) motivated by
maintaining international relationships based on the phrase “balance of power”?

Frederick II the Great from Prussia enlarged the Prussian army from 45,000 men to 200,000 men.
His large army demonstrates his decision of extreme militarism to defend the state’s security and
for offensive purposes such as the War of Austrian Succession (taking of Silesia) to counterbalance
the power of other European states like Austria, who had become one of the greatest European
states by the beginning of the eighteenth century, and prevent them from dominating Prussia.

Complete the Following Sentence: 26. _______________ were the most important product of European
industry in the eighteenth century (75% of Britain’s exports).

Short Answer

27. How and why did the nobility play a dominant role in the social order of European society during
the eighteenth century?

The nobility played a dominant role in the social order of European society because they had much
influence over the government. Many governments made deals that gave special legal privileges to
nobles such as freeing nobles from taxes and judgement by their peers (immunity from severe punishments).
Since involved landowning nobles controlled much of the local government in their districts, they held
important roles in the government by involving themselves in industries and many mercantile ventures or
mining for more profit. Their European status were made mostly as 'natural' military officers, so they were
commanding officers in the social order, leaving boss peasants and middle classes unchecked.

FILL IN THE BLANKS:

Figure 1: A State Built Around a Unifying Force

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28. In the mid-eighteenth century, the area shaded black shown on the map above belonged to

_____________________________________________________.

Figure 2: Territorial Acquisitions Figure 3: Aging Empires of the East

29. The non-shaded areas on the map of early 30. The above map represents the kingdom of
eighteenth century shown above represent _______________________________.
______________________________.

Match the terms given with their corresponding events. Write the pair of letters next to the line by
each number.

________ 31. After a series of conflicts between France

and Britain, France lost Canada to Britain
as a result.

________ 32. Began in 1740 when Frederick II the Great

from Prussia attacked the Habsburg province
of Silesia. WAS. The War of Austrian Succession

________ 33. Saw the greatest conflicts that took place in SYW. The Seven Years’ War
North America, known as the French and
Indian War. FAI. The French and Indian War

________ 34. Causes the “outbreak” of The Seven Years’ GWE. Great War for Empire
War when Austria succeeded in separating
Prussia from its chief ally, France. TDR. The Diplomatic Revolution

________ 35. Results in Prussia’s refusal to return Silesia,

and the guaranteed outcome of another war
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between Prussia and Austria.

________ 36. The Anglo-French struggle that resulted in

the loss of India from France to Britain.

Question for Critical Thinking. Answer the following question thoroughly and with complete accuracy.

37. What were the characteristic of enlightened absolutism and to what extent did the monarchies of the
eighteenth century Prussia, Austria and Russia meet the aims of enlightened absolutism? How and
why did they fall short of employing enlightened ideas?

Enlightened absolutism in the late eighteenth century was characterized based on the Enlightenment ideas of
natural rights, which were inalterable privileges that ought not to be withheld
from any person. Enlightened rulers governed by these characteristics of
enlightened principles through reforms in society which upheld equality GRADING CRITERIA
before the law, freedom of religious worship (religious toleration), freedom Score _______ / 15
of speech and press, and
the right to assemble, hold property, and seek happiness. The extent to which 15 = Thorough & Complete
rulers actually met the aims Response
of enlightened absolutism varied depending on the absolute rulers governing
12 = Acceptable & Accurate
in the period.
Response
9 = Good or Inconsistent
In Prussia, Frederick II the Great of Prussia ruled with Enlightened ideals by
Response
establishing a single code of laws for his territories that limited the use of
torture, granting limited freedom of speech/press, and complete religious 6 = Lacking Idea / Main
toleration except for the Jews. Despite being a model enlightened despot, he Idea Missed
reserved higher government positions for the aristocracy, removing the 3 = Incomplete Details /
equality before the law. Vague Ideas.

In Austria, Joseph II of Austria truly followed Enlightened principles in a 0 = No Response / Answer

sincere effort to reform his domains typical of enlightened rulers by getting
rid of serfdom, the death penalty, establishing equality in court of law, and
complete religious toleration. As a result, provoked general discontent due to his enlightened but radical
reforms.

In Russia, Catherine the Great of Russia’s enlightened legal reforms in her Instruction attempted to get a new
law code passed, and the questioning institution of serfdom, torture, and capital punishment. However, her
enlightened ideas accomplished little due to heavy opposition by aristocracy and were soon forgotten. As a
result, she ended up ended up giving more power to nobles (against equality of the law), leading to a slave
revolt against her policies.

All three rulers associated with the “enlightened” absolutism in the eighteenth century fell short of employing
enlightened ideas since they could never completely overcome the political and social realities of the time. How
these “enlightened rulers” fell short depended on their concern for power and the well-being of their states. Why
these “enlightened rulers” fell short was the justification of pursuing enlightened ideas to make reforms as a
way to strengthen their states because it created more “satisfied” subjects.
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END OF TEST - TURN IN YOUR PAPER

“The Universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.”
- Elizabeth Gilbert