AP European History Flashcards: Enlightened and Other Approaches to Power
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What was a significant political gain for Jewish populations in some European states by 1800?
Reflecting Enlightenment ideals of toleration, some states granted civil equality to their Jewish populations by 1800.
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What was a significant political gain for Jewish populations in some European states by 1800?
Reflecting Enlightenment ideals of toleration, some states granted civil equality to their Jewish populations by 1800.
How did political developments after 1648 challenge the idea of a unified Europe?
The rise of powerful, competing states like Prussia and the shifting focus of the Habsburgs reinforced a balance-of-power system over the older concept of a unified, singular empire.
Describe the state of religious toleration in western and central Europe by 1800.
By 1800, most governments had extended toleration to Christian minorities, and some states had also granted civil equality to Jews.
Which Austrian ruler is provided as an example of an enlightened absolutist?
Joseph II of Austria is cited as a key example of a monarch who experimented with enlightened absolutism.
What was enlightened absolutism?
A form of 18th-century monarchy where rulers experimented with Enlightenment-inspired reforms in areas like law and education while maintaining absolute authority.
Which state rose to power as a direct result of the Holy Roman Empire's limitation of sovereignty after the Peace of Westphalia?
Prussia rose to power following the limitation of the Holy Roman Empire's sovereignty in the Peace of Westphalia.
How did the Peace of Westphalia affect the balance of power in Central Europe?
It limited the sovereignty of the Holy Roman Empire, which directly contributed to the rise of Prussia as a major power.
Identify two prominent rulers who experimented with enlightened absolutism.
Frederick II of Prussia and Joseph II of Austria were two key monarchs who experimented with enlightened absolutism.
How did Enlightenment thought influence forms of political power from 1648 to 1815?
Enlightenment thought influenced rulers to adopt policies of religious toleration and legal reform, leading to models of governance like enlightened absolutism.
What was the strategic response of the Habsburgs after the Peace of Westphalia limited their power?
The Habsburgs, centered in Austria, responded by shifting their empire and focus eastward.