ch. 21: absolutism vs. democracy in europe vs_ democracy.pdfch. 21: absolutism vs. democracy in...
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Ch. 21: Absolutism vs.
Democracy in Europe
Background
• 1200 – 1500, formation of modern nation states
– E.g. England, Spain, France, etc.
• Religious conflict throughout Europe
– Protestants vs. Catholics in England, France, Holy Roman Empire
– Spain = devoutly Catholic
Key Concepts:
• Absolutism: – Monarch had complete power over subjects and laws (absolute
monarch)
– Divine right: God approved of the monarchy, King appointed by God
– Found in: Spain & France
– Why did this develop in 1500s? • Borders & nations solidify
• Church loses power
• Nations grow richer from exploration & colonization
• Democratization: – Countries push for increased rights and privileges for citizens
– Found in: Netherlands & England
Spain
• King Charles V & son Philip II ruled absolutely
• “Defender of Catholicism”
– Charles V fought Muslims for control of Spain
– Philip II launched Spanish Armada against Protestant England
• Empire gained wealth from Americas & India
– Gold & silver funded army
– Golden Age of Spanish art (El Greco & Diego Valesquez)
Spain
• Inflation & Taxes: – Money from Americas
lessened value of gold
– Expulsion of Jews & Muslims deprived Spain of artisans & bankers
• Growing power of rivals: – Spain bought most goods from
France, England & Netherlands
– Spain borrowed from Germany and Italy to fund wars
• Dutch Revolt: – Spanish territories in
Netherlands (aka Holland) rebelled against Spanish rule & declared independence
The Netherlands
• Established a republican form of gov’t – Religious toleration
– Ruled by elected governors
• Trading Empire – Extremely successful
traders & merchants
– Healthy middle class
• Dutch art: – Wealthy merchants
invested in art
– Rembrandt & Jan Vermeer
France
• Crisis in France: – Conflict between Huguenots
and Catholics • E.g. St. Bartholomew’s Day
Massacre: slaughter of Huguenots
– King Henry of Navarre issues Edict of Nantes declaring religious tolerance
• Louis XIII: – Weak king aided by strong
minister Cardinal Richelieu
– Richelieu strengthens monarchy:
• Worked against Protestants who could defy Catholic king
• Weakened nobles
• Limited power of rival Hapsburgs
France • Louis XIV becomes most absolute ruler in French
history – “I am the state”, “the Sun King”
– Intendants: agents to collect taxes & administer justice
– Hired Jean Baptiste Colbert to manage finances
– Palace of Versailles
– Control over nobles
• Louis’s fall – Wars against Netherlands, Britain, Austria and Portugal
weaken France
– At death, was vastly unpopular
England
• Kings vs. Parliament – Elizabeth I ruled as absolute monarch
– Parliament fights to limit power of kings
• James I: – Ruled absolutely
– Parliament refused to grant him money for conflicts
• Charles I: – Dissolved Parliament when it withheld money for
wars
– Forced to sign Petition of Right (then ignored it) • Limited power of king
• Granted rights to citizens
– Dissolved Parliament permanently & arrested leaders
• English Civil War: – Supporters of Charles I vs. advocators for
Parliament
England
• Oliver Cromwell: – Puritan general who wins war for
Parliament & takes over
– Executed Charles I
• Charles II: – After Cromwell’s death, his gov’t collapses
– Charles I’s son Charles II asked to rule
• James II: – Offended subjects by flaunting Catholicism
– Dissolved Parliament & bore Catholic son
• Glorious Revolution: – Afraid of having line of Catholic kings,
Parliament overturned James II and put protestant daughter Mary on throne
– Mary & husband William created constitutional monarchy
– Parliament drafted Bill of Rights
Conclusions:
• Spain & France cling to absolute rule, suffer problems
– Charles V & Philip II
– Louis XIV
• Netherlands & England veer toward democracy
– Republic of the Netherlands
– Gradual limiting of English Kings’ power