Eli’s Mind

(1) “Enlightened absolutism” was a political theory that emerged during the 18th century in Europe, particularly associated with rulers such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria. It advocated for monarchs to embrace Enlightenment ideas of rationality, progress, and tolerance while maintaining absolute authority over their realms. These enlightened monarchs aimed to implement reforms to improve the welfare of their subjects, promote education, and enhance the efficiency of government administration. However, despite their efforts to modernize and rationalize governance, they retained ultimate power and authority, often limiting the extent of political freedoms and maintaining strict control over their subjects.

(2) The constitutional dispute between the colonists and the British government that led to the American Revolution primarily revolved around issues of taxation without representation and infringements on colonial self-governance. One notable example of this dispute was the Stamp Act of 1765, which imposed direct taxes on a wide range of paper goods in the American colonies without their consent. This act sparked widespread protests and resistance among the colonists, who argued that it violated their rights as English subjects to be taxed only by their own elected representatives. The slogan “No taxation without representation” encapsulated their grievances and became a rallying cry for colonial resistance against British authority. This dispute intensified with subsequent acts, such as the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act, leading to escalating tensions and eventually culminating in the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.