European State Consolidation in the 17th & 18th Century

AP EURO- Chapter 13

Age of Absolutism & Constitutionalism in Western Europe

The Netherlands (The Dutch Republic)

• The Dutch Republic emerged as an independent nation in the mid 1500’s

The Netherlands (The Dutch Republic 17th & 18th Centuries)

• Political organization:

• 1. Not governed by absolute monarch

• 2. Political power in hands of wealthy merchants

• 3. 7 Independent provinces negotiated with Central government

The Dutch Republic

• Europe’s leading commercial power during the 17th century

• 1. Dutch fleet largest in the world

• 2. Overseas commercial empire

• 3. Large urban population

Dutch Republic – Commercial Exports

• 1. Farming (beef, fish, dairy, tulips)

• 2. Ship building• 3. Textile production• Johannes Vermeer-

“the Lacemaker”-1669

Economic Prosperity in the Netherlands (Dutch Republic)

• Dutch replaced the Italians as the “bankers” of Europe

• Amsterdam Exchange Bank established 1609

• Johannes Vermeer- “Lady with her Maidservant” ->

• Economic Decline- 18th century

Art During the Dutch Golden Age – Johannes Vermeer

Art During the Dutch Golden Age

• Johannes Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring”- 1665-1666

17th & 18th Century

• England, France, Austria, Prussia, Russia Established/Maintained:

• 1. Strong Monarchies• 2. Standing armies• 3.Efficient tax structures• 4. Large Bureaucracies (appointed govt.

officials)• 5. the Loyalty of their nobility

2 Models of Government Emerged:

• 1. Parliamentary Monarchy:

• England• Parliament & Monarch

work together • Parliament is

summoned by King

• 2. Political Absolutism:

• France• Monarch should have

unlimited power

In England,

• Political model: Parliamentary Monarchy

• Parliament was dominated by landowners & nobles

• 17th & 18th century “Age of Aristocracy”

1. James I (ruled:1603-1625)

• Believed in the “Divine Right of Kings”

• And Rarely called on Parliament

King James I of England

• “ Kings are not only God’s lieutenants upon earth, and sit on God’s throne, but even by God himself they are called gods.”

• - King James I

The Duke Of Buckingham

• James I’s Favorite noble

• Sold noble titles to highest bidders

• The Nobility was outraged!

James I

• Negotiated Peace with Spain in 1604

• Parliament not happy• 1624 England went to

war with Spain (again)• Needed $ for war…

Charles I ( Ruled 1625-1649)

• Son of James I - Became King 1625

• Raised taxes without Parliament permission

• “Forced Loan” tax imposed on English property owners

• Imprisoned those who refused to pay

Parliament’s Response 1628:

• Willing to approve $ for king ONLY if he agreed to the

• Petition of Right:• 1. No forced loans

–”without consent by act of Parliament”

• 2. No imprisonment w/o due cause

• 3. No quartering of troops in private homes

King Charles I

• Agreed to petition…• But then dissolved the

Parliament in 1629

The Short Parliament

• King Charles forced to call on Parliament in 1640 (April – May)

• Because he Needed $ for war against Scotland

Parliament

• Refused to give funds until King Charles I addressed a long list of grievances

• As a result…

• King Charles I dissolved Parliament again!

Long Parliament (1640-1660)

• Scots defeated English (summer 1640)

• King Charles I was forced to call on Parliament

• How will members of Parliament react to the king?

English Civil War Began When… (1642-1646)

• Parliament overthrew King Charles I

• King’s Supporters = Cavaliers

• Parliamentary Opposition = roundheads

Parliament Victorious

• 1. Formed an Alliance w/ Scotland to overthrow King Charles I

• 2. Oliver Cromwell led Parliament army

Charles I Was Defeated!

• and Executed in 1649• 1619-1660 England

became :• A Puritan Republic• <- Oliver Cromwell

emerged as political ruler / new military dictator

Oliver Cromwell

• Conquered Scotland & Ireland

• Disbanded Parliament• Proclaimed himself

“Lord Protector”• Supported by army

Oliver Cromwell’s Strict Puritanical Moral Code:

• Prohibited:• Dancing, gambling,

theatre going, alcohol, sports, freedom of the press

• People disliked Cromwell’s strict, harsh, Puritanical rule

Oliver Cromwell died in 1658

• English people restored the monarchy

• Charles II became King 1660 _

• His Father was Charles I

King Charles II (ruled: 1660-1685)

• “Stuart Restoration”• Leaned lessons from

past Kings- don’t mess with Parliament!

• Tolerant of religious groups,but favored Catholicism

The Popish Plot, 1678

• Titus Oates swore before a court…

• That Jesuits were planning to kill King Charles II!!

• And replace him with his Catholic Brother, James !

Accusation A Lie, However…

• 1. Stirred up anti-Catholic sentiments

• 2. Parliament believed Oates

• 3. Innocent people tried & executed for treason

As A Result,

• Catholics were banned from Parliament in1678

• Ironically, Charles II converted to Catholicism on his deathbed (1685)

James II (R. 1685-1688)

• Brother of Charles II• Unpopular monarch• 1. Catholic =

controversial• Why?• 2. Absolute ruler

James II Repealed the

• Test Act – required all civil & military officials of the crown to swear an oath against the doctrine of Transubstantiation

Monarch vs. Parliament (again)

• Parliament was upset, so…

• James II dissolved Parliament!!

• Appointed Catholics to high positions in court, army.

English People Fed Up With Political Instability

• People wanted James II ‘s Protestant Daughter Mary to succeed him…

• But then James II HAD A SON…

The End of James II’S Reign

• An army was sent to depose him…

• James II forced to flee -to France

• 1689 Parliament Proclaimed :

• Mary II & William III King & Queen

• “Glorious Revolution” – a bloodless event.

Parliamentary Monarchy- England

• Power struggles between King & Parliament 17TH Century.

• 1. James I (1603), Charles I (1625)

• 2. Oliver Cromwell ‘s Puritan Republic (deviation from Monarchy (1619-1660)

• 3. Charles II (1660), James II (1685)

• 4. “Glorious Revolution” – William & Mary, 1689

William & Mary Established

• Bill of Rights• 1. Limited powers of

monarchy• 2. Guaranteed civil

liberties for privileged• 3. Monarchs subject to law• 4. Monarchs would rule by

consent of parliament• 5. Prohibited Catholics

from occupying English Throne

Making Connections…

• College of William & Mary

• Founded 1693 in Williamsburg, Virginia (U.S.A.)

• Second oldest University in U.S.A

• Educated 3 Future Presidents :Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler & James Monroe

College of William & Mary

• • • •

•

In France…

• French culture & political power dominated Europe in the 18th century

Political Absolutism in France

• King had absolute power

• “French Absolutism”

Louis XIV of France

• Became King of France 1643

• At age 4!• Mother Anne of

Austria served as regent

Anne of Austria Relied On…

• Italian Cardinal Jules Mazarin to lead govt.

• Until Louis was old enough to rule

• Both seen as “outsiders” by French

In 1648 Nobles protested

• rising taxes• Rebelled against the

crown• Broke into 9 year old

Louis’ bedroom!• Revolt = The Fronde• The FRONDE meant to

limit the power of the monarch, not overthrow

Louis XIV - 1661

• Became King (officially) at age 23

• Ruled through Councils

• Favored “new nobles”• “new nobles” owed

him the favor, and were loyal

“The Sun King”- Louis XIV

• “L’etat Ces’t Moi!”• “I am the State”• Demonstrated his

wealth, power, and authority

Versailles Palace

• Louis XVI ‘s grand display of Kingship

• Built between 1676-1708

• In Outskirts of Paris• King Louis XIV

understood the impact of visual imagery & public image

Versailles

• Largest secular structure in Europe

• Wanted to create the grandest, most luxurious Palace in all of Europe

Versailles Gardens

•

Hall of Mirrors

•

Inside Versailles

•

Opulence, Luxury

•

                                                                                     

                            

                                                           

Political Control…

• Versailles Housed thousands of Nobles

• They paid “rent” to live at palace

• Elaborate “court” etiquette evolved

• “the place to be & be seen”

A Day at Court of Versailles…

• 8:30am King awakens• 10:00am King leads

procession to Mass• 11:00am Council Meeting• 1:00pm Dinner• 2:00pm Hunting or

Promenade• 6:00pm Social Gathering• 10:00pm Supper• 11:30 King Retires

King Louis XIV’s Economic Policies

• Appointed Jean Baptiste Colbert as Controller General of Finances:

• 1.Promoted silk & tapestry industry

• 2. Areas free of internal tariff (tax)to enhance trade

• 3.Expanded the military• 4.Improved roads/canals• 5. Supported French Trade

in North America

Religious Policies

• Considered religious unity a necessity

• “One King, One Faith, One Law”

• Revoked the Edict of Nantes• Campaigned against

Huguenots -Many left France

• As a result , France lost skilled laborers, business leaders

French Arts & Sciences

• King Louis XIV Supported writers such as

• 1. Racine = tragedies

• 2. Moliere= comedies

• Established academies

• Employed artists, artisans, etc. during the construction of Versailles

Absolutism in Eastern Europe

• Austria, Prussia, Russia gained prestige

• Characteristics Eastern Europe:

• 1. Fewer towns

• 2. Almost no middle class

• 3. Economy mostly agrarian (serfs)

• 4. Monarchs had to work around landed aristocracy

Russia

• Seen as “backward” • Culturally isolated

form rest of Europe• located on periphery • Did not send

ambassadors to Western Europe prior to 1673

Peter the Great (ruled:1682-1725)

• 1682 ascended to the throne at age 10

• He and brother Ivan V named

• “co-rulers”

Peter the Great’s

sister Sophia (yes, that’s really her)

• Was named “regent”• Wanted to rule Russia

and was Overthrown in 1689

Peter the Great

• Became King in1689 at age 17

• He was 7ft. Tall!• “Shared” crown with

Ivan (his brother) until he died 1696

Modernization

• Peter became obsessed with Western Europe

• They considered him “crude”, “Backwards”

• Peter determined to “modernize” Russia

Peter’s The Great

• Traveled extensively throughout Western Europe and learned form what he saw

• Inspected shipyards, docks, in England & Netherlands

• Decided to built his version of a “modern city”

Established St. Petersburg

• A “modern” city in Russia 1703

• Built under “horrible conditions” -“the city of bones”

• Became a Major sea port• With Access to Baltic

sea/trade• 1712 became Russian

capital

St. Petersburg

•

Menshikov Palace

• Inspired by • Western European

architecture & art

Peter the Great Urged

• The Boyars – old nobility who supported traditional culture

• To adopt “Western European Dress”

• And to do away with “old ways”

• Example: beards!

“Western Policies”

• 1. Conscription- drafted 130,000 soldiers• 2. Developed Navy – constructed Baltic fleet• 3. Established:• School of Navigation & Math, School of

Medicine, School of Engineering, School of Science

• 4. Re-organized government• 5. Established St. Petersburg, “Modern City”

Peter’s Son Aleksei

• Peter was jealous of his own son!

• He was convinced his son wanted to overthrow him!

• Personally interrogated Aleksei

• Aleksei condemned to death

• Son “mysteriously died” 1718

Peter and the Russian Orthodox Church

• Abolished position of Patriarch (head of church)

• Establishes Holy Synod -several bishops led by…

• Procurator General

Peter the Great

• Died 1725

• Left no clear line of succession

• 30 year power struggle began…

Absolutism in Austria

• 1. The Habsburg Family Empire

• Ruled by title of King, archduke, duke

• Ruled since the 1400’s• Domains

geographically, ethnically diverse

• Traditionally Catholic

Absolutism in Prussia

• 2. The Hohenzollerns family

• Ruled Brandenberg –Prussia since 1417

• Diverse population and geographically seperated