comparing two powerful monarchs that reigned between the 16th and 18th centuries?
In this activity, you will be comparing two powerful monarchs that reigned between the 16th and 18th centuries. You will then create a magazine cover and write a feature article about their leadership.
Step 1: Choose Two Monarchs
You will compare an absolute monarch with a constitutional monarch. Select one from each list:
Absolute Monarchs
- Philip II (Spain)
- Louis XIV (France)
- Louis XVI (France)
- Ivan the Terrible (Russia)
- Peter the Great (Russia)
- Catherine the Great (Russia)
- Joseph II (Holy Roman Empire)
- Frederick the Great (Holy Roman Empire)
Constitutional Monarchs
- Charles I (England)
- Charles II (England)
- James I (England)
- James II (England)
- William and Mary (England)
Step 2: Design your Magazine Cover
Now you are ready to design your magazine cover. Use the magazine template to design your magazine cover and write your article.
Your magazine cover must:
- include one main title for the magazine issue that communicates the general theme or topic of the issue
- include one image of each of your two monarchs with a one sentence caption for each
- include one article title or ‘headline’ that compares the two monarchs you chose
Magazine Template:
Put your magazine issue’s main title here! |
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| Insert the image of your Absolute Monarch here! | Insert the image of your Constitutional Monarch here! |
| Add the caption for your absolute monarch below the image. | Add the caption for your constitutional monarch below the image. |
WRITE YOUR ARTICLE TITLE OR HEADLINE HERE. |
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| Use these guiding questions to help you write your article text. Replace the questions with your article.
Paragraph One – Who is this person and why is he or she described as an absolute monarch? How did the person rise to power? What did the person accomplish as ruler? What challenges did he or she face as ruler? How did the person influence the nation? Paragraph Two – Who is this person and why is he or she described as a constitutional monarch? How did the person rise to power? What did the person accomplish as ruler? What challenges did he or she face as ruler? How did the person influence the nation? Paragraph Three – How were these rulers similar? How did they differ? Did one have more power than the other? How did the type of monarch each was affect their nation? |
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Step 3: Write your Article
Use the article headline you created in Step 2 as your title.
Your article must:
- include the article or headline title
- be at least three paragraphs in length
- contain one paragraph for each monarch to describe his or her accomplishments, challenges, rise to power, and influence
- contain one paragraph to compare the power and rule of the absolute monarch with the constitutional monarch
- cite sources outside the course, if used
Solution Preview
Absolute versus Constitutional Monarchs: King Louis XVI versus Charles II
| Public Support for Absolute and Constitutional Monarchs | |
| The last French Monarch. | England’s Beloved. |
| Differences in support for King louis xvi and king charles ii. | |
| King Louis XVI was an absolute monarch of the French Ancien Regime. He had complete authority over policies in the country, which made him especially powerful in determining the local and foreign policy by the country. Notably, he assumed power following the death of his father, alluding to the hereditary nature of the monarchy. However, he was not as pleasant to the public, since he often sought to serve the interests of the leadership as opposed to public interests. One of the most notable activities of his reign was the growth in dissent of the monarchy among the citizens, which ultimately led him to become the last king of the French monarch prior to the French Revolution. Under his leadership, the prices of basic needs such as bread increased significantly, and the monarchy’s middle and low-income families slid deeper into poverty. | |
(530 words)