…presented their demands to him in written form as the Magna Carta (Great Charter).

The Magna Carta

• Served as the major source of traditional English respect for individual rights & liberties…

• served as a contract between

the king & nobles of England • It implied the idea that

monarchs had to govern according to common law not divine law

England from 1603-1688

• James I 1603-1625• Charles I 1625-1649• Civil War 1642-1649• Oliver Cromwell 1649-1658• Richard Cromwell 1658-1660• Charles II 1660-1685• James II 1685- 1688• William & Mary 1689

England

• Ultimate victory of Constitutionalism over Absolutism

James I 1603-1625

• Also James VI of Scotland

• Great Grandson of Henry VII

• Divine Right of Kings• “King is from God and the

Law is from the King”• England is the most

prominent example of resistance to Absolute Monarchy and the development of Constitutional Monarchy

James’ Problems

• Clashed with Puritans who wished to “purify” the Anglican Church

• Parliament resented James’ Divine Right philosophy

• Puritans were a powerful group in the Parliament

• Parliament controlled legitimate means to raise taxes

• Trew Law of Free Monarchy

Charles I (1600-1649)• Charles I becomes king after James dies in

1625.• Also believed in divine right monarchy and

just as conservative on religious issues.• Charles I was forced by Parliament to

accept the Petition of Right passed by Parliament in 1628

• The Petition of Right stated that the King could not:– impose cruel and unusual punishments

on prisoners– impose military rule during peacetime– require homeowners to shelter troops

without consent– obtain taxes, gifts, or loans without the

consent of Parliament. 6

Charles I, son of James I

• Believed in Divine Right

• Still squabbled with Parliament and Puritans

• Had financial problems– Demanded forced loans from his subjects– Quartered troops in private homes at owners

expense

Ship Money Tax 1634

Petition cont.

• Charles actually ruled without calling another parliament from 1629-1640

CI’s religious policies were unpopular

• Forced Puritans to conform to the Church of England

• Charles I relaxed restrictions against Roman Catholics

• 1637 Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, tried to force Anglicanism on Scotland

• Charles had to summon Parliament in 1640 to raise money for war preparation against the Scots.

Short Parliament 1640-1640

• Led by John Pym, Parliament refused even to consider funds for war until the King agreed to address Parliament’s grievances.

• The King in response immediately dissolved the Parliament

• When the Scottish army defeated the English at the battle of Newburn, Charles reconvened Parliament.

Long Parliament

• Laud tried and later executed

• No new taxes without consent of Parliament

• Parliament called at least every three years (triennial act)

• December 1641 Parliament presents Charles I with the Grand Remonstrance- a list of grievances against the crown

Civil War

• Puritans vs. Roundheads

• In January 1642, the King invaded Parliament with his soldiers

• Pym and the other leaders had been warned and they escaped

Parliament vs. the King

• Two factors led to Parliaments victory over the King:– Parliaments alliance with Scotland, John Pym

persuaded Parliament to accept the terms of the Solemn League and Covenant. This agreement committed Parliament to a Presbyterian system of Church government.

– The reorganization of the Parliamentary army under Oliver Cromwell-Independent

Victory over the King

• Cromwell’s New Model Army won a decisive victory over the King at the battle of Naesby 1645.

2nd Civil War

• In December 1648, Colonel Thomas Pride of the New Model Army barred the Presbyterians from the Parliament.

• After Pride’s Purge only a rump of 50 Independents remained in Parliament

• After a trial by a special court, the Rump Parliament executed Charles-and abolished the Monarchy, the House of Lords and the Anglican Church

Interregnum

• 1649 Charles and his Cavaliers are defeated by Puritan forces led by Oliver Cromwell

• Beginning of period known as the Interregnum. – Charles is beheaded,

monarchy is abolished, House of Lords is abolished and England is proclaimed to be a republic ruled by Parliament.

16

Republic 1649-1653

• Cromwell ruled a Puritan Republic

• During this time Cromwell’s army conquered Ireland and Scotland

• During this time OC also passed the first Navigation Acts

Protectorate 1653-1660

• In 1653 the HOC considered disbanding Cromwell’s expensive army, Cromwell responded by marching in and disbanding Parliament. He ruled thereafter as Lord Protector.

• Cromwell was as intolerant of Anglicans as Charles had been of Puritans. The English people resented his puritanical laws.

• By 1658 the English were ready to end their Puritan/republican experiment and bring back the monarchy

Cromwell and the Republic

Cromwell soon finds Parliament inconvenient, dispersed it, and created a military dictatorship

• He instituted puritan social policies in England – censored the press, closed the theaters and

outlawed sports. Dancing and drinking were considered socially unacceptable.

• When Cromwell dies in 1658, a majority in England are ready to end the Puritan experiment

• Charles II, son of the slain Charles I, is invited in 1660 to take the throne and return England to monarchy.

19

Restoration

• The restoration of Charles II did not immediately solve problems that had caused the revolution. – Still had to work out state attitude

toward religion and role of Monarch.

• Declaration of Indulgence- suspended laws against non-Anglican worship. 1672.

• Worried Parliament responds in 1673 with the Test Act- Anyone seeking public office must take Anglican sacraments.

20

James II

• 1685 Charles II dies without an heir and the crown passes to brother, James II, – He is Catholic. Parliament is

strongly Protestant. • James II passes Declaration

of Indulgence 1687– Suspended all laws excluding

Catholics and Puritans from office.

• Parliament does nothing.• Why does James’ second

marriage and birth of a son change things?

21

Glorious Revolution

• James II Protestant Daughter Mary is married to William of Orange (Dutch).

• 1688 Group of prominent English noblemen invited them to invade England and take the throne.– James flees and England

has another revolution with almost no bloodshed.

– “Glorious Revolution”

22

Bill of Rights

• 1689 Parliament offered the throne to William and Mary as joint Monarchs on the condition that they accept the Bill of Rights.

• Terms of Bill of Rights– affirmed Parliament’s right to make laws and levy

taxes– standing armies could be raised only with the consent

of parliament– citizens have right to petition government, keep arms,

have a jury trial and not be subject to excessive bail.

23

The Birth of Modern Political Theory

1651-1789

Some basic questions of political philosophy

• What is the origin of government?

• What is the purpose of government?

• What legitimates the power and authority of government?

• What is the best form of government?

Overview & Background: the Experience of England in the 17th

Century• English political tradition

– The Magna Carta (1215)– Parliament– Common Law

• The English Civil War (1642-49)– Charles I vs. Parliament– Influence on Thomas Hobbes– Leviathan (1651)

• The Glorious Revolution (1688)– James II vs. Parliament– Influence on John Locke– Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)

• Wanted to construct a “science of politics” based on an indisputable principle

• This principle must be based on the strongest element in human nature

• The strongest element was passion, not reason

• The strongest passion is fear of violent death

• This fear gives rise to the natural right of self-preservation

• The natural right of self-preservation is the basis of Hobbes’ thought

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)

• In a state of nature there is a war of every man against every man

• “No arts, no letters, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

• To secure peace men make contracts establishing a sovereign power who is not subject to civil law since by its will it creates the law

• Of the three forms of sovereignty (monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy), monarchy is the most effective in securing peace

Leviathan (1651)

Thomas Hobbes (1588 –1679)

• English philosopher• Wrote Leviathan – life

began in a state of nature

• Man is inherently selfish and aggressive

• Left on own, chaos and conflict would rule

• Citizens need law and to follow a sovereign to avoid chaos

John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

• The state of nature is not a state of perpetual war;

• All men are free and equal; no man by nature is sovereign over another man

• The law of nature, revealed by reason, governs the state of nature

• Natural rights include the right to Life, Liberty, and Estate (property)

John Locke (1632-1704)

John Locke (1632 – 1704)

• English philosopher• Believed that over

time people would join together to benefit from cooperation

• Through a Social Contract, sovereignty would remain with the people

John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

• No one ought to harm another in his life, liberty, or property; if anyone does harm another, the one he harms has the right to punish him

• Through a social contract, people create a government to protect their natural rights of life, liberty, and property

• The best form of government to protect natural rights is a government of limited powers (constitutionalism)

• If a government breaks the social contract, the people have the right to dissolve it

Two Treatises of Civil Government (1690)

New Government in England

• Constitutional monarchy- – where laws limited the ruler’s power– King ruling with Parliament

• In 1689 Parliament drafted the Bill of Rights– No suspending of Parliament’s laws– No levying of taxes without a specific grant from

Parliament– No interfering with freedom of speech in Parliament– No penalty for a citizen who petitions the king about

grievances

Challenges in 17th Century

• 17th Century an age of many conflicts and crises

• Many causes:– religious and state-centered warfare– social unrest and widespread peasant revolts.

• Challenge to European governments: – How to maintain order and give the nation sufficient

power to compete internationally?

34

Absolutism

• Most common response of European governments: – seek more power to deal with the problems – strengthen the king.

• European Rulers tried to attain absolute power and build absolutist states.– Monarchs regulated religious sects– Abolished many liberties long held by certain areas, groups or

provinces.– Created new state bureaucracies.– Tried to eliminate control by nobles and traditional representative

bodies, such as parliaments.

• Absolutism meant that monarchs were claiming absolute power; Divine Right of Kings.

35

Road to Louis XIV

• Louis XIV’s consolidation of absolute power was a process that started with grandfather, Henry IV-(ruled 1593-1610)

• Issued Edict of Nantes- granted religious liberties to Catholics and Protestants.

• Protestant king who became Catholic -“Paris is worth a mass.”

• Ended religious wars in France.36

Cardinal Richelieu

• First, punished Huguenots– Tear down fortified walls in their

cities.

• Second, weaken nobles power• Goal: Make France strongest

state in Europe– Hapsburgs would be in his way

(Thirty Years War)– Three Musketeers

Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642 )

• Until Louis XIII comes of age his mother led the government.

• In 1624 she appoints Armand Jean du Plessis (Cardinal Richelieu) to the council of ministers.

• As first minister, Richelieu strengthened the power of the monarch.

38

Richelieu’s Policies

• Oppressive policy toward Huguenots• Moved to reduce the power of the French

nobility. – Large network of spies. – Installed royal commissioners in each district. – Richelieu wanted to destroy the fence of

Hapsburg territories that surrounded France.– Thus, in the thirty Years War Richelieu

supported the Hapsburg’s enemies even though they were largely Protestant.

39

Richilieu’s Legacy

• Laid the foundation for expanded royal authority

• Created strong resentment for the monarchy by the nobility

The Practice of Absolutism: France Under Louis XIV

• The Reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715) most complete fulfillment of the idea of absolute monarchy in 17th Century Europe.

• French policies and wars dominated Europe

• Monarchs elsewhere used Louis as a model.

• Louis proclaimed himself the “Sun King” • Refused to call Estates General• He built magnificent palaces and courts as

symbols of his power and magnificence-Ex.:Versailles.

• Reigned for 72 years (55 in his own right)

41

The Fronde 1649-1652

• Series of widespread Noble rebellions

• Begun by the Parlement of Paris in 1649

• The chaos of the Fronde convinced most French people that the rule of a strong King was preferred

Jean Baptiste Colbert

• Was Louis XIV’s Minister of Finance

• He wanted to make France self-sufficient– Did not want to rely on imports

• High tariffs on imports to discourage.

• Helped make France wealthiest state in Europe.

Colbert Louis XIV finance minister

• Created the economic base that Louis needed to fight his wars

• Mercantilism• Limit imports,

maximize exports• Accumulate gold and

silver

Louis’ personal rule 1661-1715

• Louis did not replace Mazarin after he died in 1661

• Strategies used by Louis to insure his power:– Use of Propaganda “sun King”– Ensured French Nobles would benefit from the growth

of his own authority– Claim Divine Right of Kings– Crush Religious Dissent– Domesticated the Nobility at Versailles

Louis XIV (1643-1713)

• Louis’ legacy;• "Do not follow the bad example which I have set you; I have often

undertaken war too lightly and have sustained it for vanity. Do not imitate me, but be a peaceful prince, and may you apply yourself principally to the alleviation of the burdens of your subjects".

Allegedly these were Louis’ last words to his heirs.

• France emerged from Louis’ reign as the most powerful country in Europe. It was a military and imperial power. It’s economy was based upon manufacturing and trade. France had a rich cultural society in which Louis had patronized art and music.

• However, she was also in debt, had suppressed the rights of most of it’s citizenry, and had many enemies.

Versailles

• Versailles served three functions– Home – Seat of machinery of

government – Palace/court. – Meant that all noble

society was under his roof.

47

Palace at Versailles

• Cost over $2 billion in modern dollars

• 36000 laborers

• 6000 horses

• 15000 acres of gardens, lawns and woods

• 1400 fountains

• Palace itself was 500 yards long

• Small royal city

Louis Consolidates Power

• 1685 Louis revokes the Edict of Nantes.• Forbids Huguenots to leave France, but 200,000

flee to other places in Europe and to America.• This is why we have Huguenot Road and

Huguenot Bridge in the Richmond area. They came here.

• Closes schools, destroys churches.

49

French Expansion

• Louis wanted to expand the boundaries

• 1667 - Invaded the Netherlands– They gained several towns, but nothing else– Many lesser countries joined together to

defeat the French

France at War

• Louis was almost constantly at war. Waged four wars between 1667-1713.

• France most powerful country in Europe. This led other countries to gang up against France to keep France from dominating Europe.

• France had a standing army of 100,000 that expanded to 400,000 in times of war.

• Compare to U.S. Army today.51

The Wars of Louis XIV • The long-range objective of French foreign policy during the

reign of Louis XIV was to achieve what he called the “natural frontiers” of France:the Pyrenees, the alps, and the Rhine river.

• To extend French power to the Rhine involved acquiring territories ruled by German Princes plus the conquest of the Spanish Netherlands and the United Provinces.

• French Foreign Policy from 1648 to 1715• The French attempt to conquer the territories west of the Rhine

involved France in four wars. France was opposed by a different coalition of European states in each war. These coalitions were trying to preserve the Balance of Power in Europe.

The War of Devolution 1667-1668

The war of Devolution 1667-1668Louis XIV contended that the Spanish Netherlands

belonged to his wife by the custom of Devolution.French armies invaded Flanders and Franche-Comte.

England, the United Provinces, and Sweden formed the triple alliance to counterbalance France

 Louis, wishing to avoid a prolonged war against a coalition, arranged a compromise treaty, the Peace of Aix La Chapelle

France received eleven border towns from the Spanish Netherlands but abandoned Franche-Comte

The Dutch war 1672-1678Followed Dutch boasting that they had defeated and humbled Louis.

• Louis first isolated the Dutch diplomatically by bribing the English to leave the triple alliance (Treaty of Dover 1670) and arranging Swedish neutrality by similar means.

• The Dutch were divided internally by the debate over whether the United Provinces should be a decentralized republic or a centralized hereditary monarchy ruled by William of Orange.

• As the Dutch were debating, Louis invaded. The Dutch murdered the proponent of a Republic and entrusted the defense of the country to William of Orange.

• Again the French invaded Flanders and Franche-Comte and again the European powers formed an alliance to check the French.

Dutch war, cont.

• The new alliance included: The Holy Roman Empire, Denmark, Spain, and the Electorate of Brandenburg

• In 1677 William of Orange married Mary, the daughter of King James II of England.

• Louis thought this marriage would draw England into the war against France so peace negotiations were begun.

• Treaty of Nimwegen• France received all of Franche-Comte and more border

towns in the Spanish Netherlands.

The War of the League of Augsburg 1688-1697

• The inexact terminology of earlier peace treaties left the control of various territories in the vicinity of the Rhine in doubt.

• Louis took possession of Alsace and Luxemburg.• This spurred yet another alliance to protect the European

Balance of Power-the League of Augsburg• Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Sweden and several of the

German States. When the English Glorious revolution of 1688 placed William of Orange as the King of England, England and the United Provinces joined the League.

• The French were initially successful, but the French could not match the combined English and Dutch fleets. The league could not muster the strength necessary to invade France. The Peace of Ryswick (1697) resulted from this stalemate.

The war of Spanish Succession 1702-1713

• War fought to determine who would inherit the throne of Spain.

• Charles II would die without an heir• The leading contenders were the Austrian Habsburgs and

the French Bourbons.• When Charles II died in 1700 he left a will giving his throne

to the grandson of Louis XIV who was to become Phillip V of Spain.

• Louis knew that war would follow if his grandson became the King of Spain. If he refused the Crown, however France would be surrounded again by Habsburg power. Louis accepted the will.

• The Pyrenees exist no longer.

Spanish succession, cont.• In this war France had only the slender aid provided by Spain

and Bavaria against the Grand Alliance-put together by William of Orange.

• England, the United Provinces, the Holy roman Empire, the Electorate of Brandenburg, and Portugal

• From 1702-1709 the French suffered one defeat after another, but when Louis asked for peace terms, the allies provisions were so harsh that the French and Spanish carried on. In 1711, Archduke Charles became the Holy roman Emperor Charles VI and the English and French did not want one man to occupy both the imperil and the Spanish thrones as Charles V had done.

• Allied disunity allowed Louis XIV to negotiate an acceptable peace settlement.

The Treaty of Utrecht 1713• The English gained the most:

– Gibraltar, Minorca, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, the Hudson Bay territory and the Asiento

• Austria received the Spanish Netherlands, the Kingdom of Naples, the Duchy of Milan and the island of Sardinia.

• The elector of Brandenburg was recognized as the King in Prussia

• The Duke of Savoy was recognized as the King of Savoy and given the island of Sicily which was exchanged for Sardinia in 1720

Treaty of Utrecht

• Louis is forced to sue for peace. Treaty of Utrecht.– France gives up Nova Scotia,

Newfoundland and area around Hudson bay to English.

– Louis agrees that Spanish and French crown will never be united.

– Austria gets Spanish Netherlands– Spain gives England control of slave

trade from Africa.

• Completes the decline of Spain as a major power in Europe.

• Expands the British Empire.• Marks the end of French

Expansionist policy.

65

• HOP to RAP

• Holy Roman Empire, Ottoman empire, Poland

• Russia, Austria, Prussia

• Sharks and Jelly Fish

• Poland gets “pac manned” 1772-1795

Prussia

Prussia

• Ruling Family: Hohenzollern family• Late 1600s: Hohenzollern family ambitious• In 1640, Frederick William inherited the

titled of elector of Brandenburg– Brandenburg (northern Prussian territory)

• Nickname: “Great Elector”• Lead his family towards absolute monarchy

The Hohenzollerns

• 1640- 1688: Frederick William, the Great Elector (Holy Roman Empire)

King’s of Prussia:

• 1688-1713: Frederick I

• 1713-1740: Frederick William I

• 1740-1768: Frederick II (the Great)

Frederick William

• Raised a great army– Frederick would build it to one of the most

powerful in Eastern Europe– Guides Prussia through the 30 years War

Frederick I

• First King of Prussia• Tried to imitate Louis XIV lavish ways

Frederick William I

• Despised French ways

• Got rid of the luxury of his father.

• Doubled the Prussian Army– Men 6ft-8ft tall – “regiment of giants”

Frederick William I and Frederick II

• Frederick William I worried that his son was not military enough to rule

• Frederick II was a lover of music and poetry– He was once beaten in public and tried to

escape his father with his “friend” Han• Frederick II was imprisoned and forced to watch

his “friend’s” execution• These were attempts to toughen him up.

Frederick II

• Eventually he would follow in his father’s footsteps and become a good military leader

• War of Austrian Succession– Frederick wanted the land of Silesia due to its

natural resources (Silesia east of Saxony)– He felt he could easily defeat Maria Theresa,

Queen of Austria and Bohemia– Austria loses war and ceded Silesia to Prussia

Expansion of Prussia

75

Russia

Russia

• Ivan III helped to free Russia from the Mongols

• Setup a centralized government

Ivan IV

• He became known as “Ivan the Terrible”– He came to the throne at the age of 3

• nobles (known as boyars) would fight over who had control of him

At the age of 16 he seized power and became czar (Caesar)

First Russian ruler to use that term

Ivan the Terrible

• He would marry Anastasia, a member of the Romanov family

• Early rule: Known as the “good period”• Later Rule after Anastasia dies in 1560: “bad period”

– Accused the boyars of poisoning his wife

• Secret police (Oprichniks): hunted traitors to Russia– They dressed in black and rode black horses– They executed many of them and seized their land

Ivan the Terrible

• In 1581 during a argument with his eldest son Ivan killed him– This left his second son to rule– Russia would experience

“times of trouble”

Ivan the Terrible

• Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible; 1533-1584) continued this process.

• Defeated the remnants of Mongol power and declared himself Tsar

• Added vast new territories to Russia in the east

• All nobles had to serve the tsar and thus were under his control.

• Oppressed peasants, tying them to the land as serfs, perpetually bound to the nobles.

81

Times of Trouble

• Many noble families fought for control

• Romanov Family takes control: 1613 – Michael Romanov was chosen (he was the

grand-nephew of Ivan IV)– They would rule Russia until the Russian

Revolution in 1917

Rise of the Romanovs

• After Ivan’s death in 1598 was a period of chaos.

• Nobles were able to regain some power. • 1613 Russian assembly of nobles realized

that the chaos was putting them all at risk from Cossacks

• Appoint Michael Romanov as Tsar, and the Romanov family rules Russia until 1917 when the Communists take over.

83

Peter the Great

• Wanted reform Russian society

• Wanted a warm water port

• He stood more then 6 ft

• By the age of 25 he ventured on a long visit to Western Europe– He wanted to keep his identity secret

• At one time he worked as a ship carpenter for 4 months in the Netherlands

Peter the Great (1672-1725)

• Peter the Great takes the throne in 1682 and transforms Russia, determined to westernize it. Why?– He wanted to import modern military

methods and technology and modern governmental administration in order to make his country more powerful.

– He wanted to adopt mercantilist economic policies in order to strengthen the tax base to support his military,

– This required modernizing manufacturing and production.

– Attempting to catch up with the power and strength of Europe.

85

Window on the West

• In war with Sweden, Peter captures modern Estonia and Latvia from the Swedes,

• Gave Russia a port on the Baltic making it the dominant power in the Baltic.– “window on the west” – Also eases travel between Russia and the rest of

Europe.– Builds St. Petersburg in NW Russia as a symbolic

window on the West, which remains the Russian capital until 1917.

• Peter gained state control of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1721 by abolishing the position of patriarch and placing administration of the church under state control

86

Westernization

• Peter wanted Russia to act more like its counterparts in Western Europe– Took control of the Russian Orthodox Church– Hired European officers to train his soldiers– Beard Tax: “Beards are a ridiculous ornament”– Ordered the nobles to wear Western fashions

• Introduced potatoes to Russia

St. Petersburg

• Would be the seaport Peter wanted

• “window to the west”

• Originally was a swamp: – Along the Neva River (Baltic coast)

• Somewhere from 25,000 to 100,000 people died in the building of the city

Effect of Peter’s Policies

• As a result of Peter’s Policies:– Western ideas and technology flowed into Russia and

Russians were exposed to Western culture.– New class of Russian educated nobility emerged.– Split between the nobility and the average citizen

widened and deepened.– Russia became a major power, moved much closer to

Europe and was much more a factor in European affairs.

89

Catherine the Great

• Ascended to throne in 1762– Husband Peter III

murdered.• Ruthless and strong

ruler• Gained land in the

Baltic• Partitioned Poland:

– Broken up between Russia, Prussia and Austria

Expansion of Russia, 1689 – 17965

Austria

• After 30 years war, Habsburgs began to focus on Austrian Empire rather than Holy Roman Empire.

• Defeated Ottoman Empire in 1697 at the battle of Zenta, gaining Hungary.

• Charles VI –Pragmatic Sanction

• Maria Theresa becomes empress in 1740

• War of Austrian Succession