Final answer:
Challenging a monarch's actions historically led to either severe personal consequences or societal changes such as revolutions. Key events like the Glorious Revolution and American Revolutionary War show the impact of questioning monarchical power, and activists, though facing repression, influenced significant shifts in governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who dared to question a monarch's actions often faced dire consequences, especially under the rule of absolute monarchs. Historical examples, such as the events preceding the Glorious Revolution and during the reign of King George III, show that criticizing monarchical power could lead to punitive measures. For instance, during the Glorious Revolution, there was widespread fear that James II would impose absolutism, and his attempts to sideline parliamentary authority by suspending laws caused alarm across England. The removal of royal governors in the colonies and eventual developments like the American Revolutionary War illustrate the consequences and changes that could arise when people challenged monarchical authority.
Activism against the entrenched power structure, like the actions of the Suffragettes, was often met with brutality and legal indifference. John Locke's political theories, asserting the right of the people to judge the actions of their rulers, influenced revolutionary thinkers and provided philosophical backing to those who resisted the tyranny of monarchs. Ultimately, the risk taken by those who challenged royal authority could lead to societal changes, as evidenced by revolutions and shifts in governance, but it also often led to personal harm and societal turmoil.