Absolutism and Constitutionalism

1. Absolutism and Constitutionalism Europe’s political world in the 16th-18th century

2. 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

5. Political Response to Crisis • Large problems—large government. • Frequent wars—larger armies • Larger armies—larger bureaucracy • Power centered in divine right rulers: Absolutists

6. 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

7. 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

8. The Fronde • An uprising of nobles against these rigid political policies. • Many opposed centralization and new taxes

9. 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

10. 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

11. Baroque Art

34. England’s Path to a Constitutional Monarchy 16th and 17th Century

35. Elizabeth I • Excercised great personal power. • Victory over the Armada • Shakespeare • Sole weakness? Succession

36. 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

37. 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!

38. Charles I • Problems with “Puritans” • Puritan dominance in Parliament • “No Bishop No King” James I • Illegal levies without Parliamentary consent • Represented French style Abolutism

39. Long Parliament • Need for Charles to call Parliament and act. • “The Long Parliament 1640-1660” • Rebellion in Ireland 1641 • Parliament unwilling to grant funds

40. 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.

41. Interregnum • Separation of two monarchal periods • Changes in power of Parliament • “Republican” government of Cromwell • Lord Protectorate

43. 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

44. James II • Openly catholic • James II bears a son • Catholic Dynasty?

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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.

48. Consequences? • Formation of a Cabinet form of government • Crafting of the English Constitution • Clarification of Sovereignty • Robert Walpole first “Prime Minister”

49. The Enlightenment in World History

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