Download Setting the Stage for Revolution: Absolute Monarchies

Setting the Stage
for Revolution:
Absolute Monarchies
Warm Up: Define 1. divine right
2. absolute monarch
Growth of Royal Power and
Absolutism
Wealth gained
from Age of
Exploration
Absolute
Monarchs
Decline in
Church’s
power
Definitions
1. Divine Right:
Belief that a ruler’s authority
comes directly from God.
2. Absolute Monarch:
Ruler with complete authority
over the government and
lives of the people he or she
governs.
Absolute Monarchies in
Europe
1550-1800
Spain
France
England
Austria & Prussia
Russia
Absolute Monarchies in Europe
1550-1800
From World History:
Connections to Today
Prentice Hall, 2003
Spain – Philip II
Ruled 1556-1598
• Philip II - Sought to expand Spanish
influence – ruled Spain when the
empire was at its height.
• Devout: tried to strengthen Catholic
church – claimed divine right
• Centralized royal power
• Married Mary I of England – returned
England to Catholicism
• Invaded England with Spanish
Armada against Elizabeth I – He lost
most of the Armada.
France – Louis XIV
Ruled 1643 - 1715
 Called himself the Sun King
 Believed in divine right.
“L’etat, c’est moi.” I am the
state.
 Made French army the
strongest in Europe
 Refused to allow Estates
General to meet
 Kept power of nobles in
check
 France was the wealthiest
country in Europe under
Louis XIV
 Louis XIV spent huge
amounts of money
France – Louis XIV
Versailles
 Expanded from a
hunting lodge in 1669.
 Became the symbol to
European monarchs of
the wealth and power
of the king of France.
 Seat of French
government for nearly
over 100 years.
 Its upkeep consumed
as much as 25% of the
income of France.
Thirty Years’ War 1618-1648
 Continued conflict between Roman Catholic Church and
Protestants
 Holy Roman Empire has broken down into several
Prussian (German) principalities.
 For thirty years, alliances continually changed.
 War led to starvation, famine and disease. Area severely
depopulated – 1/3 of population lost.
 1648: Peace of Westphalia signed. France is clear winner,
gains territory from Spain and Prussia, including Alsace.
 Prussia remains fragmented and Hapsburgs lose much
power (must accept independence of German princes).
From World History:
Connections to Today
Prentice Hall, 2003
Austria – Maria Theresa
ruled 1740 - 1780
 Absolute monarch of Austria
 Fought Frederick II of Prussia
for control of Hungary and
Silesia
 Reorganized the government
 Enlightened Despot
 Eased tax burden on her
people
 Gave more rights to her
subjects
Prussia – Frederick II
Ruled 1740-1786
 Absolute ruler of Prussia
(Germany)
 Increased use of military
 Attacked Austria,
sparking the War of
Austrian Succession
 Unified Prussia, part of
the Holy Roman Empire,
into one nation
Russia – Peter the Great
Ruled 1682-1725
• Peter the Great of Russia
• Goal was to westernize Russia.
Forced powerful boyars (nobles)
to bow to his will.
• Built modern Western city for
Russian capital – St. Petersburg.
• Spread serfdom.
• Studied Western technology.
• Extended Russian territory – to
Pacific Ocean.
• 1700: Fought Sweden for control
of Baltic. Gained several Baltic
ports
Russia – Peter the Great
From World History:
Connections to Today
Prentice Hall, 2003
England - Pathway to
Revolution
1603-1689
• Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) –
Absolute ruler of England.
• Kept Parliament on her
side.
• Stabilized the nation and
expanded British territory.
• Died without an heir.
• Country had to decide
who would replace her.
England – James I
(1603 – 1625)
• James VI of Scotland
• Became James I of England
when Elizabeth I died.
• Believed in Divine Right of
Kings.
• “Kings are called gods
because they sit upon
God’s throne on earth.
• Ran up a huge debt in
England.
• Had Bible translated from
Latin into English
England – Charles I
1625 - 1649
• Charles I of England
• Absolute monarch - had no
problem with putting his
enemies in prison without trial
• Ran up a huge debt
• Dissolved Parliament in 1629
• Touched off a massive
English Civil War between
supporters of Charles and
supporters of Parliament led
by Oliver Cromwell.
• Charles I beheaded in 1649.
England – Oliver Cromwell
1649 - 1658
• Oliver Cromwell: Lord
Protector – England
• Ruled through the army
• Exiled Catholics to Ireland
• Strict Puritan laws passed –
theaters closed, Sunday set
aside for worship, no lewd
dancing, taverns or gambling
• Religious freedom for
everyone else
• When Cromwell died,
Restoration began.
England – Charles II
The Restoration
1660 - 1685
• Charles II - Popular
ruler
• Monarchy restored –
Hence: Restoration
• Bowed to the wishes of
Parliament
• Restored the Church
of England
• Stabilized government
England – James II
1685 - 1688
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•
•
•
•
James II - Absolute Ruler
Antagonized Parliament
Ran up a huge debt
Openly Catholic
Forced from throne in
what came to be called
the Glorious Revolution.
• Glorious Revolution
England – William and Mary
English Bill of Rights
1689 = Limited Monarchy
• William and Mary were given the throne after the
English Bill of Rights was passed.
• Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the
monarchy – had to meet regularly
• Monarchy could neither make nor suspend laws
• Trial by jury reinstated.
• Abolished fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
• Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person can be
held in prison without first being charged with a
specific crime. Due process of laws.
• Laid groundwork for American system of laws.
Absolutism
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Divine Right to rule
Centralized control of government
Control of the powerful nobility
No/few checks on power
Strong military
Mercantilism – more exports to increase
gold/silver reserves