Ch. 21: Absolutism vs.

Democracy in Europe

Background

• 1200 – 1500, formation of modern nation states

– E.g. England, Spain, France, etc.

• Religious conflict throughout Europe

– Protestants vs. Catholics in England, France, Holy Roman Empire

– Spain = devoutly Catholic

Key Concepts:

• Absolutism: – Monarch had complete power over subjects and laws (absolute

monarch)

– Divine right: God approved of the monarchy, King appointed by God

– Found in: Spain & France

– Why did this develop in 1500s? • Borders & nations solidify

• Church loses power

• Nations grow richer from exploration & colonization

• Democratization: – Countries push for increased rights and privileges for citizens

– Found in: Netherlands & England

Spain

• King Charles V & son Philip II ruled absolutely

• “Defender of Catholicism”

– Charles V fought Muslims for control of Spain

– Philip II launched Spanish Armada against Protestant England

• Empire gained wealth from Americas & India

– Gold & silver funded army

– Golden Age of Spanish art (El Greco & Diego Valesquez)

Spain

• Inflation & Taxes: – Money from Americas

lessened value of gold

– Expulsion of Jews & Muslims deprived Spain of artisans & bankers

• Growing power of rivals: – Spain bought most goods from

France, England & Netherlands

– Spain borrowed from Germany and Italy to fund wars

• Dutch Revolt: – Spanish territories in

Netherlands (aka Holland) rebelled against Spanish rule & declared independence

The Netherlands

• Established a republican form of gov’t – Religious toleration

– Ruled by elected governors

• Trading Empire – Extremely successful

traders & merchants

– Healthy middle class

• Dutch art: – Wealthy merchants

invested in art

– Rembrandt & Jan Vermeer

France

• Crisis in France: – Conflict between Huguenots

and Catholics • E.g. St. Bartholomew’s Day

Massacre: slaughter of Huguenots

– King Henry of Navarre issues Edict of Nantes declaring religious tolerance

• Louis XIII: – Weak king aided by strong

minister Cardinal Richelieu

– Richelieu strengthens monarchy:

• Worked against Protestants who could defy Catholic king

• Weakened nobles

• Limited power of rival Hapsburgs

France • Louis XIV becomes most absolute ruler in French

history – “I am the state”, “the Sun King”

– Intendants: agents to collect taxes & administer justice

– Hired Jean Baptiste Colbert to manage finances

– Palace of Versailles

– Control over nobles

• Louis’s fall – Wars against Netherlands, Britain, Austria and Portugal

weaken France

– At death, was vastly unpopular

England

• Kings vs. Parliament – Elizabeth I ruled as absolute monarch

– Parliament fights to limit power of kings

• James I: – Ruled absolutely

– Parliament refused to grant him money for conflicts

• Charles I: – Dissolved Parliament when it withheld money for

wars

– Forced to sign Petition of Right (then ignored it) • Limited power of king

• Granted rights to citizens

– Dissolved Parliament permanently & arrested leaders

• English Civil War: – Supporters of Charles I vs. advocators for

Parliament

England

• Oliver Cromwell: – Puritan general who wins war for

Parliament & takes over

– Executed Charles I

• Charles II: – After Cromwell’s death, his gov’t collapses

– Charles I’s son Charles II asked to rule

• James II: – Offended subjects by flaunting Catholicism

– Dissolved Parliament & bore Catholic son

• Glorious Revolution: – Afraid of having line of Catholic kings,

Parliament overturned James II and put protestant daughter Mary on throne

– Mary & husband William created constitutional monarchy

– Parliament drafted Bill of Rights

Conclusions:

• Spain & France cling to absolute rule, suffer problems

– Charles V & Philip II

– Louis XIV

• Netherlands & England veer toward democracy

– Republic of the Netherlands

– Gradual limiting of English Kings’ power