Absolutism of Western Europe

Chapter 13

Witchcraft

Throughout Europe100,000 ProsecutedMostly PoorSell ointments, herbsWomen-”scum of humanity”Result of Th. Yr. War

TolerationEducation

Absolute?

Sovereign power (ultimate authority) rests with a monarch claiming divine right

Sovereignty -power to make lawstaxadminister justice control foreign policy

Divine Right

Bishop Jacques Bossuet (1627-1704)

God established kings to control all people

Responsible to no one but God

Absolutism in France

Cardinal RichelieuLouis XIII chief

advisor 1624 – 1642Eliminates the

Huguenots power

Richelieu

Get rid of noblesDeveloped network of spies to uncover

noble plots

Intendants

Royal officials -enforce gov’t policyCollect taxesSuccessful – increase power of the crownTax system -corruptWealthy-get richFrance-Debt begins to mount under

Richelieu

Cardinal Mazarin

Regent (advisor) to young Louis XIV, 1642 – 1661

Followed in Richelieu footsteps

Most important event…

The Fronde (Revolution) 1648-1652

Nobles resent the monarchy Tired of taxes Thirty Years’ WarGet rid of Mazarin Here come Louis XIV

Louis XIV (r.1643 -1715)

Set standard for Absolute monarchs

He got involved in the day-to-day activities of the court

Administration of GovernmentLouis controls details“Keep your friends close and your

enemies even closer.”keeps policy-makers close-”input on big’ issueswar, religion, taxesLet local authorities control small things

Religious policy

Louis Catholic“One king, one law, one faith”October 1685 – Edict of Fontainebleau

Revokes the Edict of Nantesdestroys Protestant schools and churches

Many skilled artisans leave France – hurts economy

Financial Issues

Big issue for Louis – Versailles, many wars

Jean-Baptiste Colbert – Finance Minister

Follows the ideas of mercantilism

Mercantilism

Government regulation of the economyDecrease importsincrease exportsColbert -increase the quantity and quality

of French manufactured goods

Not sure how much these policies helpedRegulations evadedHigh tariffs lead to retaliation by other

countriesMore money – More Louis spent

Versailles-King’s Palace

Symbol of power Residence for the kingOffice Home for Royal officialsKeeps everyone close to himSymbolism-big for LouisNobles do very demeaning task

Access to powerKeeps them busy-he runs things

Louis XIV’s Wars

Louis studies history – wants military gloryFrance develop a huge army 100,000 in peace400,000 during warsLouis obsessed with military

War #1 & 21667 – Louis invades Spanish

NetherlandsSN with English and Swedes defeat LouisWar #2 – Dutch War – 1672

Louis attacks NetherlandsLouis gains little

War #3 –War of the League of Augsburg 1689 -1697

L. of A. – alliance btw Spain, Sweden, England

Pointless wareconomic disaster in FranceLouis gives up most of his lands in

Germany

War #4 – War of Spanish Succession 1702-1713

Spanish ruler leaves his throne to Louis’s grandson – Philip V

Many afraid that Spain and France would unite

maintain a balance of powerEngland, Austria, vs. France and SpainWar fought in Europe and U.S. colonies

Louis is defeatedTreaty of Utrecht – 1713Philip V -king of SpainOnly if France and Spain remain separateBig winner – EnglandFrench land in CanadaBritish Columbia

Louis dies two years later“Try to remain at peace with your

neighbors. I loved war to much. Do not follow me in that or overspending. Take advice in everything…Lighten your people’s burden.”

LOUIS SUCC.

HARD WORK-FOCUSED“INTENDANTS”MINISTERS- “COLBERT”BUILDING PROJECTS

ROADSCANALSREFORM

MILITARY

FAILURES

LOVED HIS BLINGREIGNED TO LONG – 60 YRSUPSET NOBLES-GOT THEM MADTOOK BACK EDICT OF NANTESNO EXIT PLANLOUIX XV-WEAKTAX PROBLEMS

Constitutionalism in England

Elizabeth I dies 1603 – no heir End of House of Tudor – start of House of

StuartJames I (1603-1625) takes over; ScottishFirmly believes in divine right

James I speech to the House of Commons

I am surprised that my ancestors should ever be permitted such an institution to come into existence. I am a stranger, and found it here when I arrived, so that I am obliged to put up with what I cannot get rid of!

James knew nothing of the English traditions and laws

Not well liked

Religious Policy

Puritans wanted James I to change Church of EnglandCurrent – Episcopal – bishops hold powerReform – Presbyterian – ministers, elders have

power

James I refuses – large political power source

Angers much of the gentry – well to do land owners

Charles I (r. 1625-1649)

1628 – Petition of RightNo taxation without Parl.

consentCharles acceptsthen renegeshe cannot work with

Parliament refuses to call for them

to meet-1629 - 1640

Charles becomes hated

Charles must collect taxes He marries a CatholicTries to make the Scots Anglican

(English)Scots rise up Charles can’t afford to fight backMust call Parliament

“Long Parliament” 1640-1660Severe limitations on

royal authorityTriennial Act –

Parliament to meet every three years, with or without king’s consent

Radical groups want change

Charles has them arrested

Leads to…

English Civil War 1642 - 1649

Royalists(Cavaliers)Royalists(Cavaliers)

Parliamentarians (Roundheads)

Parliamentarians (Roundheads)

• House of Lords• N & W England• Aristocracy• Large landowners• Church officials• More rural, less prosperous

• House of Commons• S & E England• Puritans• Merchants• Townspeople• More urban , more prosperous

Roundhead Leader

Oliver CromwellPuritans small-

powerfulLead the armyInspired by sermons,

prayers and psalmsBecame unbeatable

King Charles I captured

During trial Charles plots his return to power

Found GuiltyOff with his head!

Cromwell’s New Governments

Commonwealth (1649 – 1653) – Cromwell has power

House of Commons Cromwell crushes uprisings in Ireland and

ScotlandRadical groups want

freedom of speechreligious tolerationuniversal manhood suffrage

Cromwell destroys them

Cromwell in Ireland

The Protectorate

Cromwell became Lord Protector (executive)

Dissolves Parliament and institutes military rule

Cromwell dies 1658Military cannot hold the country together

The Restoration

Charles II (r. 1660 -1685) is invited back

‘I never knew I was so popular in England”

Charles II tries to regain power of the monarchy

Stifled by Parliament

Political Groups

Two main groups developWhigs – those who support Parliament Tories – those who support the king

James II (r. 1685 – 1688)

He a… Catholic!!! Oh no!!!

Starts putting Catholics in very high positions

At first many did not worry because he was old

Then he has a son…

1688

A group of nobles finds James’s daughter Mary and her husband William

They are asked to invade EnglandJames II quickly flees – almost no

bloodshed“Glorious Revolution”Destroys the idea of divine right – people

must participate

English Bill of Rights - 1689

Parliament makes the laws and levy’s taxes

Standing armies only with Parliament’s OK

Right to petition the gov’tRight to bear armsRight to trial by juryNo excessive bail

1689 – Toleration ActReligious freedom – except for Catholics