Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Terms to Know Absolutism-a political

system in which a ruler holds total power

Divine Right of Kings- the belief that kings receive their power from God and are responsible only to God

Wars of Religion- French Catholic French kings persecuted

Protestants Huguenots- French protestants

Henry of Navarre (Henry IV of the Bourbon dynasty)- Protestant, but converted to Catholicism (“Paris is worth a mass”)

Edict of Nantes- recognized Catholicism as the official religion of France, but gave religious freedom to the Huguenots

Wars of Religion- Spanish King Philip II- Catholic

supporter Insisted on Catholicism in his

kingdom (Spain, Netherlands, & possessions in Italy and the Americas)

In the Netherlands, William the Silent (Prince of Orange) revolted & split from Spain (United Provinces of Netherland became Protestant)

William

Philip

Wars of Religion- English Elizabeth Tudor (Elizabeth I)

Act of Supremacy- named her “the only supreme governor” of both church & state

Protestant ruler, but tolerant of Catholics

1588, Philip II of Spain ordered the Spanish Armada to attack England failed miserably- beaten by the

English Navy & storms

English Revolution 1603- Elizabeth

died (no heir) King James I

(cousin in Scotland) becomes King of England

Protestant

fought with Parliament all the time over power He returned

Catholicism back to England

Charles I

English Civil War 1642- Civil War

Cavaliers/Royalists- supported the king

Roundheads- parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell

Roundheads won Charles I executed Cromwell dissolved the

monarchy, declared England a republic (commonwealth) & became a military dictator (“Lord Protector”)

The Restoration 1658- Cromwell died Parliament restored the monarchy

under Charles II (son of Charles I) Charles II supported Catholicism

& dismissed Parliament many times (dies)

Charles II

James II (Charles II’s brother) James II Catholic, had a son Parliament felt a long

Catholic monarchy was

coming

The Glorious Revolution Parliament invited William of Orange &

Mary (James II’s daughter) to raise an army and depose James II

James II escapes to France & an almost bloodless overthrow was complete

William & Mary forced to accept the Bill of Rights and establish a constitutional monarchy

James II

Sorry for taking your throne Dad!

Louis XIV *the Sun King* Best example of the

practice of absolutism in the 17th century (1600s)

Only 4 yrs. old when he becomes King of France (France ruled by Cardinal Mazarin) Louis XIV (23 yrs old)

took control

NICE LEGS!

Versailles Personal

household of the king

Chief offices of the state located here (Louis could watch over them)

Powerful subjects came to find favors & offices for themselves

Frederick the Great

Ruler of Prussia (later part of Germany)

Built up Prussia’s army to be one of the biggest & best

Peter the Great Of the Romanov dynasty Became czar (Russian word for caesar)

in 1689 Attempted to westernize Russia

Reorganized his army Divided Russia into provinces Ordered Western manners be taught Changed the clothing of those at

court St. Petersburg constructed in 1703

& was Russia’s capital until 1918

Thomas Hobbes Wrote Leviathan- work on

political thought Before society was organized,

human life was “poor, nasty, & short”.

To save themselves from destroying one another, people made a “social contract” & agreed to form a state People in the state agreed to be

governed by an absolute ruler (needed to preserve order in society)

John Locke The mind was a blank slate- a

tabula rasa Wrote Two Treatises of

Government Believed humans lived in a state

of equality & freedom (had certain natural rights- life, liberty, & property)

Govt. would protect those rights, but the people had the right to overthrow that govt. if it wasn’t doing its job