1. The eighteenth century European state system was a constant state of alliance and rivalry that played a heavy role in the balance of power within Europe. The dynastic and national struggles that these nations dealt with during this time heavily contributed to the modern geographical structure of the world today.
2. When wars broke out over in the colonies, conflicts in powers of mainland Europe were heavily affected. Mercantilism, the idea that there are only so many resources in the world, perpetuated European powers' conflicts as they squabbled over the American land-grab.
3. Because of the Act of Succession, passed by the House of Commons in 1701, no Catholic Stuart was allowed inheritance to the throne of England. The only protestant relative to Queen Anne was out of the Hanoverian dynasty, which heavily, but unavoidably, conflicted with England's policy against international heirs.
4. The Seven Years War was the first war in European history that affected the entire geographical and economic globe. The war involved so many nations that held such vast amount of lands, there was few corners of the world that the war did not involve.
5. Edmund Burke, an Irish-born political theorist of the late 18th century, called Britain's functioning constitution during his time "mixed" because it catered to the desires of the monarchy, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons evenly to neutralise the imbalance of power apparent at that time.
6. The British Empire was not only a means of British prosperity, but also of identity. The widespread effects of British imperialism globe-wide gave Britain an authoritative position internationally. Their position also provided its citizens with a sense of nationalism and a cause to which they were serving.
7. Robert Warpole (1676-1745) begun as chancellor of the exchequer in 1721. In this position, he made several economic reforms that worked to eliminate international debt. However, his methods for ridding of debt included colonial taxation that eventually called for his resignation in Parliament.
8. The House of Commons rapidly absorbed monarchical powers during the 18th century. Decisions such as declaring peace or war, calling Parliament, and the appointment of other officials slowly came to the House of Commons responsibility. The House of Commons represented a wider class range and protected the British constitution more adamantly than other representatives.
9. John Wilkes is famous for a newspaper publication in 1763 through North Briton which criticized British government. He was imprisoned, then released due to 'parliamentary immunity', but faced consistent threat from his treasonous publication. Britain as a nation saw this as a clear threat to their constitutional rights and their freedom of speech. The term "Wilkes and Liberty" frequently emerged as an exemplary threat to freedom.
10. France saw Britain's struggles with her American colonies provided excellent diplomatic and economic opportunities. An independent America would give France the ability to ally and reap economic gains from the colonies, something that would not have been possible with Britain's influence. In February of 1778, France allied with the American colonies which included a series of gold loans, territorial divisions, and corruption of British trade routes.
11. Absolute rule in France had achieved a quite permanent connonatation linked with decades of tyrannical nobility hovering over the laborious peasantry. Alongside this cynicism in France came a European-wide cynicism against absolute rulers in general. Enlightenment ideas heavily conflicted with the assumptions of absolute rule that the popularity of these ideas soon had its turn on French politics.
12. The Ottoman Empire received heavy politcal and diplomatic blows internally and externally which eventually lead to its decline. While the Ottoman Empire functioned similarly to the absolute monarchs of Europe, Ottoman's lacked a hereditary aristocracy that established a clean line of heirs to the throne.
13. Poland's passive behavior in European politics among some of the three most militaristic and imperialistic Empires of Europe did not do it any good. Poland through a series of alliances and squabbles was divided into three portions controlled by Austria, Russia, and Prussia respectively.
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