Chapter 18: Conflict and Absolutism

1. Chapter 18: Conflict and Absolutism Europe in Crisis

2. Spain’s Conflicts • Militant Catholicism • King Philip II “The Most Catholic King” • 1500: Spain expelled all Jews and Muslims • Claimed Spain as Catholic Kingdom • Nation chosen by God to save Catholic faith • The Netherlands • Calvinists and others resented the control of Philip II • 1566-1609: War breaks out • William the Silent led the Catholics • Eventual truce was reached for 12 year period • Netherlands created own identity and established Republic

3. Protestantism in England • 1558: Elizabeth Tudor becomes Queen • Leader of a Protestant movement once again in England • Established new “Act of Supremacy” • Only supreme governor of church and state • Politically tried to please everyone • Moderately Protestant • Always sided with the weaker country in the battle between France and Spain • 1588: Spanish Armada sent to invade England • Completely unprepared and defeated • Led to the downfall of Spanish control • Country eventually went bankrupt

4. French Wars of Religion (1562-1598) • The Huguenots • French protestants • 7% of population but 40-50% of nobility • Seen as a threat to the Crown • Henry IV (Huguenot leader) becomes king • Converts to Catholicism (Why?) • 1598: Edict of Nantes • Made Catholicism official religion of France • Huguenots will be allowed to worship and enjoy political privileges

5. Crises in Europe • Inflation: Rapid Increase in prices • Brought about by demand for land and food • Economic Crises • Spain • Depended primarily on silver from mines • Mines were depleted • Italy • Decline from time of Renaissance

6. Crises in Europe • Witchcraft Trials • Witchcraft culturally relevant for centuries • Inquisition brought about fear of it • Religiously different and frightening • 100,000 brought to trial • Usually single women over the age of 50 • Thirty Years’ War (Treat of Westphalia) • Began with Calvinists wanting recognition • Motive • Religion: Catholics vs Calvinists • Political and Territorial • Wanted to defeat and carve up Holy Roman Empire

7. Conflict and Absolutism in Europe War and Revolution in England

8. The Stuart Dynasty • James I (King of Scotland) • Believed in divine right of kings; Parliament did not • Religion • Pushed the motives of the Anglican Church • Puritans (Protestant-Calvinists) wanted church to be more Protestant • Number of nobles turned Puritan • Threatens his power

9. The Stuart Dynasty • Charles I (Son of James) • Took a similar stance as his father • Parliament passes Petition of Rights • Limits King’s ability to tax, imprison, etc. • Charles ignores it • Imposed more Anglican rituals • Puritans move to America • Disregard for people led to war

10. The Civil War • Cavaliers (Royalists) vs. Roundheads (Parliament) • Roundheads would eventually win thanks to Cromwell • Oliver Cromwell • Leader of New Model Army; Military genius • NMA: made up of Extreme Puritans • Cromwell purges Parliament of all Royalists (Rump Parliament) • Executes Charles I in 1649 • Commonwealth is born from it

11. The Commonwealth • Cromwell eventually abolishes the monarchy and the House of Lords (Upper House) • Declares England a Commonwealth • Over time, forced to destroy all of Parliament • Creates military dictatorship • Dies in 1658

12. The Restoration • Charles II • Brought to throne to continue Stuart Dynasty • Parliament kept most of the power though • Religion • Sympathetic towards Catholics • Suspended all laws against Catholics and Puritans • Parliament passes Test Act • Anglicans only for major offices • Converts to Catholicism on deathbed

13. The Restoration • James II (Brother of Charles II) • A devout Catholic • Gives many high ranking offices to Catholics • Why did Parliament allow him to do so? • Heir to throne a Protestant so things would go back to normal when James died • James marries a Catholic and has male heir • Threatens Catholic Dynasty • Leads to an overthrow of the dynasty

14. Glorious Revolution • Nobles ask William or Orange and Mary (James daughter) to come take over England • Why called the Glorious Revolution? • Almost no bloodshed • James’ men desert before battle • William and Mary become king and queen • Changes to England • Toleration Act: Puritans public worship • Destroyed idea of divine right • People could have trial by jury and guns

15. Chapter 18: Conflict and Absolutism Absolutism in Europe

16. What is Absolutism? • Absolutism • Ruler holds total power of government • Associated with divine rights of king • Seen in use in France, Spain, Prussia, and Russia • France and Louis XIV is the greatest example

17. France before Louis XIV • France in a period of struggle over power • Both Louis XIII and Louis XIV children when given the throne • Both had ministers run the country until they were of age to run the country • Louis XIII had Cardinal Richelieu • Louis XIV had Cardinal Mazarin

18. France before Louis XIV • Cardinal Richelieu • Royal minister under Louis XIII • Strengthened the power of monarchy • Huguenots became a threat in society • Had political and military rights removed • Allowed them to keep religious rights • Set up a spy network to keep track of coups • Executed anyone conspiring against the throne

19. Louis XIV in Power • Age 23: Desires to be real king (Bourbon Dynasty) • Known as a fun loving person • Not taken seriously • Claimed to be Sun King • Source of light for all of France • Key to Power • Total control of central policymaking

20. Louis XIV in Power • Versailles • Establishes Royal Court • Serves 3 purposes • 1. Personal household of king • 2. Chief offices of state • 3. Place where powerful people came looking for favors

21. Louis XIV in Power • Greatest Danger to Louis XIV • Nobles and Royal Princes • Felt like they should play role in government • Louis felt otherwise • Removed them from royal council • Gave them court jobs that kept them busy while not allowing them to make policies

22. Louis XIV in Power • What kind of control did Louis XIV actually have? • In charge of: • Foreign Policy • The Church (Catholicism) • Taxes • Not in charge of: • Local level policies • Different cities had different laws • Bribed officials to get more local power

23. Louis XIV in Power • Religion • Devout Catholic • Wanted to maintain Catholic presence • Anti-Protestant policy • Destroyed Huguenot churches • Closed Huguenot schools • 200,000 fled France because of it

24. Louis XIV in Power • Jean Baptiste Colbert • Controller general of finances • Kept France financially sound • Increased wealth through mercantilism • Decreased the number of imports (Tariffs on imports) • Subsidized new industries • Built roads and canals for transportation

25. Louis XIV in Power • Military • Standing Army of 400,000 • Conducted wars during most of reign in Europe • Put member of his family in charge in Spain

26. Legacy of Louis XIV • How did his reign affect France? • Left country surrounded by enemies • Majority of France in poverty • Even though he maintained power, the common people suffered • Looking down the road, this is the beginning of the movement towards the French Revolution

27. Emergence of Prussia • Frederick William the Great Elector • Established the Prussian state • With limited natural boundaries, established large army • Created General War Commissariat • Created taxes to support army • Overseer of the military • Junkers (aristocrats) served as officers in the army

29. Austrian Empire • Austrian Hapsburgs • Created empire covering Austria, Hungary, and Czech Republic • Had issues become an absolutist state • Never had centralized government • Too many different groups of people • Only thing tying everyone together is service to Hapsburgs

31. Russia • Ivan IV • Became the first czar of Russia • Better known as Ivan the Terrible • Did many horrible deeds to expand country • Peter the Great • The most prominent member of Romanov family • Took reign in 1689 • Wanted to Westernize Russia

32. Russia • Peter the Great • Westernization • Modernized the army and navy • Peasants drafted for 25 year stints into army • Created army of 210,000 • Ordered a book of etiquette for Russia • How men and women should act and dress • Wanted to have port access to the West (Baltic Sea) • Government • Divided country into provinces • Wanted to create a “police state” • People did not have the same feeling about service