Constitutionalism in 17 th Century Europe

1. AP European History Ms. Tully Constitutionalism in 17th Century Europe

2. Limitation of government by law – balance between authority and power of gov’t & rights and liberties of the subjects • Binding force for gov’t actions • Political authority rests in hands of electorate • Not a democratic gov’t Constitutionalism

3. The Dutch Republic • Independence from Spanish rule in 16thC – Republic of United Provinces of the Netherlands • Confirmed by Treaty of Westphalia, 1648 • “Golden Age of Netherlands” – cultural and economic achievement • Influential in shaping new worldview

4. Provinces governed autonomously by oligarchy of “regents” – wealthy merchants • Resisted centralization • States General – federal assembly that handled foreign affairs (war) • Stadholder – Representative of States General in each province • Highest executive in province – resp. for maintaining order • Holland dominated States General and republic • Wealthy, large navy • Controlled by wealthy merchants & financiers – middle class values • Political success result of economic prosperity & religious toleration Government Structure

5. Largest merchant marine in Europe • Fluyt – large capacity ship • 16,000 merchant ships in 1650 • Amsterdam became commercial & financial center of Europe • Bank of Amsterdam • Stock Exchange • Purchase of raw materials, transformation to manufactured goods • Dutch East India Company & Dutch West India Company • Dominant trading companies of Europe Commercial Success

6. Dutch Culture • Commercial success brought wealth to all levels of society • Higher wages, better diet, higher standard of living • Calvinist – work ethic, cleanliness, order • Flourishing of literary and artistic culture

7. English Absolutism – James I • Elizabeth I succeeded by James I (James VI of Scotland), r. 1603-1625 • James claimed divine right of monarchy – alienated Parliament • Conflict with House of Commons – controlled state purse strings

8. Made up of gentry – enriched landowners • Capitalist – growing upper middle class • Better educated, more articulate • Justices & sheriffs • Wanted measure of sovereignty • Mostly Puritan House of Commons in 17thC

9. Charles I • Religious conflict with Parliament • Henrietta Maria – Cathoilc wife • William Laud – Archbishop of Canterbury • Political conflict with Parliament • Petition of Right, 1628 – prohibited taxation w/o Parliament’s consent • Put limitation on royal power – frustrated Charles

10. 1629 – Charles dissolves Parliament • No Parliament from 1629-1640 • Financed gov’t through new taxations – “ship money” • Scottish uprising • Resistance to Laud’s reforms in Scotland • Charles forced to call Parliament to finance army • Parliamentary Reaction • Did not trust Charles with army • Passed legislation to limit monarchical power • Triennial Act – Parliament required to meet at least once every 3 years • Impeached Laud • Charles attempted to have radical members of Parliament arrested • Aggravated conflict

11. Charles fled to north to recruit army • Parliament developed New Model Army • Led by Oliver Cromwell • Puritan army • New Model Army defeated Charles in 1647 at Battles of Naseby and Langport • Cromwell dismissed dissenters in Parliament, creating “Rump Parliament” of 53 men • Charles accused of treason – beheaded in 1649 Civil War in England (1642-1649)

12. Monarchy and House of Lords abolished – Commonwealth established (1649-1653) • Rebellion and dissention • Irish rebellion – brutally crushed by Cromwell • Levellers – advocated for social reform in England – crushed by Cromwell • Cromwell dissolved “Rump Parliament” in 1653 – created Protectorate (military dictatorship) • Lord Protector – sole executive power • England divided into military districts – governed by major general • Navigation Act (1651) • Development of English merchant marine • Competition with Dutch • Cromwell died in 1658, and so did the Protectorate Puritanical Absolutism: Cromwell and the Protectorate

13. Charles II invited back to England as king (r. 1660-1685) • Parliament retained much of its power • Religious divisions continued to be a problem • Test Act of 1673 • Prevented Catholics from holding office • Secret arrangement between Charles II and Louis XIV • Louis XIV funded Charles II • Charles II would support Catholics in England Restoration of English Monarchy

14. Anti-Catholic hysteria in England • James II became king in 1685 • Catholic brother of Charles • Violated Test Act – appointed Catholics to gov’t and military offices • Absolutist tendencies • Birth of James’ son in 1688 ensured a Catholic dynasty • James II & family flee England for France

15. Mary (James II Protestant daughter) & her husband, William of Orange (Netherlands) were invited to rule England • “Glorious Revolution” b/c of minimal bloodshed • William & Mary recognized supremacy of Parliament • King ruled with consent of the governed • English Bill of Rights became cornerstone of English constitution • Direct response to Stuart absolutism The Glorious Revolution