Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Europe’s political world in the 16th-18th century

The Seventeenth Century World: Europe in Crisis

Religious Wars (Thirty Years War

Agricultural decline Rampant poverty Crisis for peasants Reoccurrence of

Plague Cottage industry in

decline Food riots were

common

Political Response to Crisis

Large problems—large government.

Frequent wars—larger armies

Larger armies—larger bureaucracy

Power centered in divine right rulers: Absolutists

Absolutism defined

A political theory holding that all power should be vested in one ruler or other authority.

A forerunner to modern totalitarianism

Has its roots in France

Cardinal Richelieu

Absolutism in action

Subordination of all groups and institutions in France

Leveled castles Abolished local

institutions Limited rights of

nobility Mandatory military

service Revocation of the

Edict of Nantes

The Fronde

An uprising of nobles against these rigid political policies.

Many opposed centralization and new taxes

Louis XIV

Rose at age five Fronde story Use of art to glorify Versailles “Cult of personality” Mercantilist

economic policy: favorable balance of trade, acquisition of gold

The Wars of Louis XIV

33 of 54 years of reign were at war.

Modern army Louis XIV took personal

command Expansionist policy Looked to expand West War of Spanish

Succession Seven Years War Many losses-French

Bankruptcy

Baroque Art

ENGLAND’S PATH TO A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

16th and 17th Century

Elizabeth I

Excercised great personal power.

Victory over the Armada

Shakespeare Sole weakness?

Succession

James VI—James I

Cousin of Elizabeth I

Well educated with the 35 years of Monarchal experience.

“Breeches” Scotish

Accent/Lack of majesty

Belief in Divine Right of Kings

Role of Commons

Power of the purse

Exertion of strength

Desire to be sovereign from king James I.

Charles I—attempts to govern without it!

Charles I

Problems with “Puritans”

Puritan dominance in Parliament

“No Bishop No King” James I

Illegal levies without Parliamentary consent

Represented French style Abolutism

Long Parliament

Need for Charles to call Parliament and act.

“The Long Parliament 1640-1660”

Rebellion in Ireland 1641

Parliament unwilling to grant funds

Civil War!

English Civil War: 1642-9

Roundheads v. Cavaliers

Cromwell’s New Model Army

Where does power lie?

King Charles tried and executed for Treason.

Interregnum

Separation of two monarchal periods

Changes in power of Parliament

“Republican” government of Cromwell

Lord Protectorate

Restoration

Invitation by Parliament for Charles II (son) to come back from exile and rule.

Parliament was restored

Good relationships between Charles II and Parliament

Secret deal with Louis XIV

James II

Openly catholic James II bears a

son Catholic Dynasty?

Glorious Revolution

Replacement of a king without blood

Destruction of Divine Right of Kings

William and Mary Sovereignty in

England is equally divided

Declaration of Rights: cornerstone of the British Constitution

Declaration of Rights

Law was to be made in Parliament

Couldn’t be suspended by crown

Parliament had to be summoned tri-annually.

Judicial independence

Rights of citizens

John Locke

Defender of the Glorious Revolution

People set up governments to protect inalienable rights

Those Gov’t’s that don’t protect these rights are tyrannical.

People have a natural right to rebel under a tyranny.

Consequences?

Formation of a Cabinet form of government

Crafting of the English Constitution

Clarification of Sovereignty

Robert Walpole first “Prime Minister”

The Enlightenment in World History

DefinedAn intellectual and

cultural movement that tied together certain key ideas and acted as a link between the scientific revolution and political and cultural life.

Key IdeasNatural Science can

explain all aspects of life

The scientific method can be applied to laws of society

Progress the creation of better societies and better people—is possible.

CausesEmergence of

scientific genius and method to scientific inquiry

Political developments in Absolutism leading philosophers to question the most effective methods of governance.

Prominent AchievementsDiderot’s EncyclopediaLocke’s treatise on

Civil Government.Rousseau’s view on

Social ContractAdam Smith’s

formulation of Capitalism.

Locke’s “Tabula Rosa”Montesquie’s political

works.

Personalities: VoltaireChallenged Catholic

theology and exhibited a characteristic philopohy in a distant God who let human affairs take its course.

Opposed legal injustice and legal inequality—which he indentified with France.

Madame du ChateletSkeptical of economic

equalityCandideTravelsFrederick the Great

Personalities: LockeForemost Political

Philosopher in history?Narrated English

government during the Glorious Revolution

Advocated democracy as the highest form of governance

“Wherever Law ends, tyranny begins”

Tabula Rosa

Personalities: MontesquieuPersian Letters a

satire of religion, morals, and French society.

Traveled like VoltaireThe Spirit of the

LawsImpact on future

governmentsSeparation of PowersChecks and Balances

Personalities: David HumeSkepticism his

primary belief.Atheist—skepticism.Achievements:

Expanded DescartesCondemning attacks

on organized religion of the day. “Religion grows of out of hope or fear”.

Personalities: Jean-Jacques RousseauGreat work: The

Social ContractPhilosophized about

education and politicsHis version of a social

contract Formulated an

enlightened view of “Republican” government.

“General Will”

Impacts of the EnlightenmentGreat political influence

long term in the west—intially in the short term the influence was in the East.

Legal modificationEducational reformReligious tolerationScience of economicsOffered a new vision for

future societiesMeasures of gender and

social equality