U N I T O N E / C H . 1 5A P E U R O P E A N H I S T O R Y

CONSTITUTIONALISM IN THE 17TH CENTURY

CONSTITUTIONALISM IN THE 17TH CENTURY

• Limitation of government by law• Two countries:

England & The United Provinces (Netherlands)• Religious division

accentuated political struggles

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

• 17th C = Golden Age of the Netherlands

• Spanish rule (1516) Independence (1648) Prosperity!

• Population boom/Dutch Culture

• Largest merchant marine in Europe Dominated trade

• Amsterdam became commercial & financial center of Europe

THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT

• Confederation of seven provinces = Republic • Holland dominant

province• States General =

Federal Assembly • Stadholder =

Representative of States General in each province

THE DECLINE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

• Could not compete with England & France• Wars with Louis XIV• Economic decline• Cultural decline

ENGLISH ABSOLUTISM – THE STUARTS

• Elizabeth succeeded by James I (James VI of Scotland)• House of Commons

in 17th Century• Power struggle

between King & Parliament• Religious Division• Charles I (r. 1625 –

1649)

THE ROAD TO CIVIL WAR

• 1628 - Petition of Right• 1629 – Charles

dissolves Parliament• 1638 – Scottish

Uprising• 1640 – Charles

convenes Parliament• 1642 – Charles flees

London

THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR (1642 – 1649)

• “Cavaliers” vs. “Roundheads”• Little fighting;

massive propaganda• Oliver Cromwell &

the New Model Army• Rump Parliament &

Charles’ Execution

PURITANICAL ABSOLUTISM: CROMWELL AND THE PROTECTORATE

• Commonwealth Established (1649 – 1653/8)• Rebellion and

dissention• Cromwell dissolved

“Rump Parliament” in 1653 created Protectorate • Some Positive

Developments• 1658 – Cromwell dies,

so does Protectorate

RESTORATION OF THE ENGLISH MONARCHY

• Charles II invited back to England as King (r. 1660 – 1685)• Religious divisions

continued to be a problem• Test Act of 1673• Secret treaty between

Charles II & Louis XIV (1670)• James II becomes king

in 1685

THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

• Seven nobles invite William & Mary to invade England• European politics

favorable to William • William Invades,

Minimal Bloodshed• English Bill of

Rights (1689)

READ ABOUT IT

• Read the excerpt from the English Bill of Rights on p. 478. What rights are considered most important to protect? What does this tell us about the values of the English at this point in history? How are these values/rights still reflected in our society today?