Absolutism, Capitalism, Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment

1. Absolutism, Capitalism, Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment Beginning of Modern Europe 1500-1750

2. Consolidation of Sovereign States • Attempted revival of the Holy Roman Empire • Charles V • Imperial fragmentation as a result of the Reformation • Foreign challenges • Henry VIII • Louis XI • Ferdinand and Isabella

3. Struggle for Sovereignty • Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) – Internal struggle between Catholics and Protestants. • Peace of Westphalia (1648) – Introduced the idea that individual states were sovereign and equal. They also had the right to run their domestic affairs. • Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) – First global war.

4. Struggle for Sovereignty • These wars produced the idea in Europe of a “balance of power.” This was to ensure that no nation became stronger than the others. • However, these wars actually caused an increase in technology. • They also caused the countries in Europe to follow two distinct political paths: absolutism and constitutionalism.

5. Absolutism • Absolutism is based upon the divine right of the monarch. • Under absolutism, the monarch had absolute authority over all affairs in the country. • The monarch determined and made the law and his authority was above question. • The most successful absolute monarchy was in France.

6. France • The architect of absolutism in France was Cardinal Richelieu. • He worked to undermine the authority of the nobility and strengthen the power of the King.

7. Absolutism “L’etat c’est moi” • After the civil-political wars in France, Louis XIV assumes the throne as the first absolute monarch in France. • Louis faced no political, legal, social, or religious opposition to his rule.

8. Louis XIV-”The Sun King” • Louis ruled from his palace at Versailles. • His authority was based on divine right. • There was no position of power for the common citizen or the nobles under his rule. • Nobles were moved into apartments at Versailles and required to attend court functions.

9. Rule under the Sun King • Maintained a large standing army. • Promoted new economic growth by encouraging new industries. • Built and improved roads, canals, and other public buildings. • Abolished internal tariffs. • Encouraged exports. • Expanded French territories.

10. Absolutism outside of France • Spain – Philip II established an absolute monarch in the 16th century. Hapsburg heirs attempted to continue the rule however, their spending exceeded their revenues. • Austria, Russia, and Prussia all modeled themselves after France’s government. • Prussia and Russia will play major roles in Europe from the 18th century onward.

11. Constitutionalism • As France and others followed absolutism, the nobility of England and the Netherlands attempted to limit the power of the monarchs. • In England, constitutionalism could be traced back to 1215 and the signing of the Magna Carta by King John. • One of the provisions was that the king consult with a group of nobles before enacting laws and taxes. This would evolve into Parliament.

12. England • By the 1600’s, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I had consolidated their power. Although there was a Parliament, it could not meet unless called by the king. • In 1603, James I succeeded Elizabeth as King of England. James was a divine right monarch. • This brought him into almost immediate conflict with Parliament.

13. James I • In 1608, he ended a long standing conflict with the Spanish, much to the dismay of the English people. • He also ended foreign involvement. • The group that was most vehement in their protest of the king’s policies were the Puritans. • In 1625, James was succeeded by his son, Charles I.

14. Charles I (1625-1649) • Charles immediately comes into conflict with the Puritan controlled Parliament. • Charles needs Parliament support to raise taxes and when they refuse, he begins to sell off common lands. • He also begins to imprison people who speak out against him. • Parliament reacts by sending the king the Petition of Rights (1628).

15. Charles I • Charles reacts to the Petition of Rights by disbanding Parliament. • From 1629 to 1640, Charles rules without Parliament. • In 1640, Charles is forced to reconvene Parliament because of a threat from Scotland (Short Parliament-3 weeks). • Charles needs to call Parliament back into session (Long Parliament – 20 years). • Parliament attempts to take control of the government.

16. Conflict with Parliament • Parliament enacts a law that prohibits the king from dissolving Parliament. • In 1642, Charles attempts to take control f Parliament by force. • He orders the arrest of several Puritans leaders in the House of Commons. • The members of Parliament that react by charging Charles with treason.

17. Chucky versus Oly

18. English Civil War • 1642-1649, England is involved in a civil war that is both political and religious in nature. • The supporters of the monarchy are called cavaliers. • The supporters of Parliament and the Puritans are called roundheads. • The leader of the Parliamentary armies is Oliver Cromwell.

19. English Civil War • In 1649, Charles is beheaded by Parliament and Oliver Cromwell becomes “The Lord Protector” and establishes a commonwealth in England. • The Parliament had little power as Cromwell had effectively established a military dictatorship in England. (Rump Parliament). • In 1653, Cromwell disband the Parliament.

20. English Commonwealth • Cromwell writes “The Instrument of Government” which is England’s first constitution. • Extensive powers were given to Cromwell • Lord Protector for Life • The office of Lord Protector was hereditary. • Parliament had limited power to tax and make laws. • By 1655, Cromwell had established an absolute hold on power.

21. Restoration of the Monarchy • When Cromwell dies in 1658, Parliament calls for elections for a new Parliament. • In 1660, Parliament asks Charles II to return from France and resume the throne. • Charles agrees to Parliamentary controls over the monarchy and returns as king in 1661.

22. Cromwell’s Head

23. Constitutional Monarchy • With the return of Charles II (Merry Monarch) from France, he agrees to follow Parliament and the restriction of certain rights. • Clarendon Code – restores the Church of England as the state religion. This results in a loss of power for the Puritans. • When Charles dies, there is a controversy about his successor, James II.

24. Glorious Revolution • James II, brother of Charles was a Catholic and believed in divine right. • 1679 – Exclusion Act attempts to bar Catholics from becoming monarch of England. (Whigs v Tories - Defeated) • A royal birth sparked Parliament into action. • William and Mary become the co-rulers of England. • In 1689, James tries to regain power with the help of Irish Catholics. It fails. • 1701 – Act of Settlement barring Catholics from the throne passes Parliament.

25. Political Parties and the Formation of the Cabinet • Whigs • Tories • Prime Minister (Sir Robert Walpole) • George I – German • Act of Union (1707) joins England and Scotland together. Great Britain.

26. European States System • Peace of Westphalia did not end conflict in Europe. • There were numerous conflicts to extend or recapture territory. • The Europeans attempted to end these conflicts by diplomacy. This diplomacy was to establish a balance of power between the rival countries. • This lead to a military arms race in Europe

27. Early Capitalism • Population Growth and Urbanization • Introduction of crops from the Americas led to better nutrition and an increase in the population of Europe. • People became more resistant to the old diseases that had plagued Europe in early centuries. • Urbanization resulted as governments began to establish their capitals in cities.

28. Capitalism • Economic system that developed as a result of private citizens providing goods and services to others. • Supply and demand. • Joint Stock companies (BEIC and VOC) – spread the risk of doing business among many. • Adam Smith “The invisible hand” and “laissez faire” way of doing business

29. Protoindustrialization • “Putting Out” system – piece work by rural workers. • This avoided the guilds and the power they had over business and profit. • Rural workers would produce goods that were sold by the business people. Cheap labor of the rural workers = huge profits for the business people in the city. • This was also referred to as the cottage system of production.

30. Changes in Society • Nuclear family – increased in importance. • Business ethics. • Individual wealth as opposed to the welfare of the community. • Hostility towards women. Why?

31. Scientific Revolution • Ptolemaic Universe – Earth centered universe. • Planetary movements • Copernican Universe – Earth was just another planet. • Copernicus will influence others to question and use observations to collect data. • Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton • Works of these scientists will spark a revolution in anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, botany, etc

32. Enlightenment • From the scientists questioning the early scientifc works of the Greeks, others began to question the philsophies of the Greeks. • As the scientific revolution was tied to natural laws, philosophers began to believe that there were natural laws that governed human society. • The center of the movement was France.

33. Enlightenment Philosophers • Most rejected religion. (Deism) • Freedom and equality for all (exception: women, peasants, laborers, slaves, or people of color). • Demands for freedom of religion. • Demands for freedom of speech. • Had a global impact.

34. Thomas Hobbs In his book, Leviathan, Hobbs supported the absolute monarchy by writing that people should give up some rights if the monarch supports and protects them. John Locke In the Theory of Contractual Government, Locke argues the authority in government comes from the consent of the people and that all people are entitled to life, liberty, and property. Thomas Hobbs and John Locke

35. Montesquieu (Spirit of Laws) – Principles of political liberty within a prosperous state. Believed in the rights of the individual. Concept of the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Rousseau (The Social Contract) – “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” Hewrote that the government rules by the consent of the people and condemned the legal and social privileges of the aristocracy. He believed that people were naturally good but corrupted by society. People would give up some individual rights to the “general good.” Montesquieu and Rousseau

36. Voltaire (1694-1778) • Attacked any institution in France that was intolerant and oppressive. • “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!” • Voltaire was exiled to England and came to admire the English freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

37. Women and the Enlightenment • Although the Enlightenment advocated equality and freedom, the movement did not apply to women or minorities in society. • However, middle and upper class women in Paris would often sponsor salons where the Enlightened philosophers would come and speak. • As a result of the Enlightenment, some women began to call for equal rights. A Vindication of the Rights of Women written by Mary Wollstonecraft called for the education of women.

38. Enlightened Despots • Catherine the Great – Russia • Frederick the Great – Prussia • Maria Theresa – Austria • All of these monarchs attempted some enlightened principles in ruling their respective countries.

39. Effects of Absolutism, Capitalism, Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment • Industrial Revolution • American Revolution • French Revolution • Slave Revolt in the New World • And on and on and on………