Question

Write two or three details that support your claim. The details will become the support for your argument about whether the concept of absolute monarchy was doomed.

Answer 1

Here are three details that support the argument that the concept of absolute monarchy was doomed:

1. **Enlightenment Ideas**: The Enlightenment era introduced new ideas about governance, individual rights, and the role of the state. Thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu argued for concepts such as the separation of powers and the social contract, challenging the notion of divine right and absolute rule. Their philosophies laid the groundwork for modern democracy and constitutional governments, undermining the legitimacy of absolute monarchies.

2. **Rising Middle Class and Economic Changes**: The growth of the middle class, particularly in the late 17th and 18th centuries, shifted power dynamics in society. As commerce and industry flourished, this new class sought more political influence and representation, demanding a say in governance that ran counter to absolute monarchic rule. The success of revolutions, such as the American and French Revolutions, reflected this rising demand for participatory governance and ultimately led to the decline of absolute monarchies.

3. **Revolutions and Rebellions**: Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, numerous revolutions challenged and overthrew absolute monarchies. The French Revolution (1789) is a prominent example, where the monarchy was dismantled in favor of republican ideals. Similar uprisings across Europe and Latin America demonstrated that people were willing to fight for a system that provided them with rights and freedoms, indicating that absolute monarchy could no longer maintain the allegiance of the populace in the face of rising revolutionary sentiment.