Dutch Republic • officially existed from 1581-

1795

• the Northern Netherlands became known as the Dutch Republic – also called Holland after its

most influential province

– included cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague

– predominantly Protestant

– became a self-governing republic after declaring their independence from Spain in 1581

• Only recognized by the Spanish in 1609

Dutch Republic • the republic was a

confederation of 8 provinces – Each had their own

governments and were independent

– the two biggest were Holland and Utrecht

– led to the development of constitutionalism as it was a decentralized government

• partly in reaction to the negative views of absolutism of Spain’s Philip II

– parliament was known as the States General

• based in The Hague and consisted of representatives of each of the provinces

Dutch Republic • Became Europe’s center of international trade

– Accessible ports

– Gov’t that supported shipping and trade • operated the largest fleet of merchant ships of any nation in the world

• The Dutch East India Company dominated world trade in the 17th century

– Banking capital of Europe (based in Amsterdam) • the world's first stock exchange – the Dutch East India Company –

formed in 1602

– Economic stability and growth • Everyone paid taxes, including clergy and nobles

– numerous taxes, including income taxes, property taxes, and excise taxes on beer, wine, salt, grain, etc.

• able to field mercenary armies equal in size to the armies of countries with much larger populations, like France and England

• Able to support international trade and colonial desires

– Stable government

– Large colonial empire • possessed one of the strongest navies in the world

• broke the Portuguese sphere of influence on the Indian Ocean and in Asia

Amsterdam

Sailing routes of the Dutch East India Co.

Dominated Indian Ocean trade after Anglo-Spanish War, which included the wars between Spain and the Dutch

Dutch Republic

• Dutch Golden Age

– Jan Vermeer

– Rembrandt van Rijn

ABSOLUT

GOVERNMENT

You are bottled up.

A Constitution

LIMITS GOVERNMENT

Absolutism Constitutionalism Government

Power

Laws

Taxation Representative

Bodies

Sovereignty

Absolute LIMITED

Judges decide by

PRECEDENT

Henry II

Absolutism Constitutionalism Government

Power

Laws

Taxation Representative

Bodies

Sovereignty

Absolute LIMITED

Arbitrary Common

Magna Carta (1215)

The Holy Grail of English Constitutionalism

“Great Charter”

King John Signs the Magna Carta

Who is present? What is the general mood?

A CONTRACT

Photo by One lucky guy

Between the people and their ruler

Photo by One lucky guy

Taxation by CONSENT

Can I tax you?

Can I tax you?

NO!!! NO!!!

Absolutism Constitutionalism Government

Power

Laws

Taxation Representative

Bodies

Sovereignty

Absolute LIMITED

Arbitrary Common

By Decree By Consent

Parliament

Some rights reserved by UK Parliament

Parliament (Bicameral)

Lords Commons

KING

Absolutism Constitutionalism Government

Power

Laws

Taxation Representative

Bodies

Sovereignty

Absolute LIMITED

Arbitrary Common

By Decree By Consent NO YES

Absolutism Constitutionalism Government

Power

Laws

Taxation Representative

Bodies

Sovereignty

Absolute LIMITED

Arbitrary Common

By Decree By Consent NO YES

Monarch People