Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Europe

1. Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Europe

2. Main Ideas • 16th-18th centuries (1550-1715) • - Protestants and Catholics fight forreligious and political control • - European rulers attempt to extend their power both at home and overseas (colonization) • - Ideas about Constitutionalism and Democracy are developing in an era of absolute monarchs

3. Spanish Empire • At this point, Spain is the most powerful country in the world • Why? Land, wealth (339000 pounds of gold by 1600, 1600 tons of silver between1550 and 1650), and military power • They are also ultra-Catholic: Ex: Inquisition, Reconquista, Lepanto

4. Spanish Wars of Religion • Greatest supporter of militant Catholicism is King Philip II, son of Charles V • He saw himself and Spain as chosen by God to save Catholic Christianity from Protestant heretics • Philip tried to crush Calvinism in the Spanish Netherlands. But nobles, led by William the Silent, resisted and gained a truce, thus becoming the United Provinces of the Netherlands- core of the modern Dutch state. • By the end of Philip’s reign in 1598, Spain is the world’s most populous empire & appears to be a superpower. BUT……. $ spent on wars and expansion is bankrupting the empire.

5. Philip II of Spain

6. Decline of Spain • Factors in Spanish decline: • inflation • lack of middle class • expulsion of Jews and Muslims • Dutch revolt • defeat of Spanish Armada

7. ELIZABETH I • daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn • Elizabeth’s half sister Mary rules from 1553-1558. She is not popular. Why? • Elizabeth inherits the throne in 1558 • She restores Protestantism in the form of the Church of England • Elizabeth faced many threats Ex: Mary Queen of Scots • Perhaps the greatest threat was the Spanish Armada

8. Elizabeth I Of England

9. Tilbury Speech My loving people, we have been persuaded by some that we are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes for fear of treachery; but, I do assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself, that under God I have placed my chiefs' strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects; and, therefore, I am come amongst you as you see at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of battle, to live or die amongst you all – to lay down for my God, and for my kingdoms, and for my people, my honour and my blood even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king – and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I myself will take up arms – I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarded of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness, you have deserved rewards and crowns, and, we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. For the meantime, my Lieutenant-General Leicester shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my General, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom and of my people.

10. Spanish Armada

11. Spanish Armada • 130 Ships, 8000 sailors, 19,000 infantrymen • Fire-ships broke up the Spanish formation • English ships were smaller but better armed and more maneuverable. • Storms and navigational errors plagued the Spanish after the battle • Barely half of the original Armada returned to port • Result: England begins its rise to power, Spanish navy never recovers

12. Absolutism • A ruler holds ultimate power • Seventeenth century crises cause citizens to seek stability= increased power for monarchs • people appeared to be willing to give up natural rights for stability • “Divine Right” theory and Thomas Hobbes are intellectual foundation

13. Thomas Hobbes • author of Leviathan (1651) • Man is by nature selfish, sinful, and evil • Life is “nasty, brutish, and short” and a war of “all against all” • To keep from destroying itself, man must submit to social order in a social contract; i.e. man must agree to be governed by an absolute ruler with complete power • Only the state can preserve order

14. French Wars of religion • 1562-1598 • Calvinism vs Catholicism • - both become militant • - Huguenots= French Protestants (7% of population but 40% of the nobility) • Henry of Navarre (Henry IV), a Huguenot, attains throne in 1589 • Henry converts to Catholicism and issues “Edict of Nantes”, which establishes Catholicism as France’s official religion. BUT Huguenots have the right to worship freely

15. LOUIS XIII AND RICHELIEU • Henry is stabbed to death • his son Louis XIII is not a very good ruler, and the govt. is controlled by Cardinal Richelieu • Richelieu involves France in the 30 Years War and took steps to weaken the Huguenots

16. Cardinal Richelieu

17. France Under Louis XIV • Best example of 17th century absolutism • Came to throne at age 4, so Cardinal Mazarin ran the government. Louis becomes King at age 23 in 1661. • Louis controlled every facet of government. He wanted to be seen as the “Sun King”- a source of light for all his people • Established his royal court at Versailles • Expanded French culture and influence throughout Europe and gained land through 4 wars • Died in 1715, leaving France in debt and surrounded by enemies

18. Louis XIV

20. WARS OF LOUIS XIV • Louis’ foreign policy was always aggressive • 1667- Louis invades Netherlands but is stopped because they literally open the floodgates and flood the countryside • other European nations form alliances to stop Louis • War of the Spanish Succession- Louis’ grandson is about to become king of Spain, so England, Austria, the Dutch, and several German and Italian states declared war. What was the result?

21. Economic and Social Crisis • Inflation-rising prices-due to influx of gold from Americas & demand for land • Population actually declined. Reasons= war, famine, disease • Paranoia concerning witchcraft led to inquisitions that led to thousands of trials and sometimes executions

22. Thirty Years War (1618-1648) • Peace of Augsburg did not recognize Calvinism • War began in Holy Roman Empire (1618) as a fight between Hapsburg emperors and Protestant nobles in Bohemia • Germany was ravaged. 15 to 20% of the civilian population dies • Richelieu and Mazarin fear the Hapsburgs so France (which was Catholic) joins the Protestant side! • War ended in 1648 with Peace of Westphalia- as a result, German states could choose their own religion. The Holy Roman Empire disbanded & Germany would not reunite for 200 years.

23. Gustavus Adolphus

24. English Civil War • Puritans want Church of England to be more Protestant • Charles I believes in the divine right of kings. Parliament does not. Also, Charles tries to add more ritual to the Church. Puritans consider this a return to Catholicism. • 1628- Petition of Rights- King can not pass taxes without consent of Parliament. Charles accepts and then changes his mind. • 1642- Civil war breaks out. King’s supporters= Cavaliers; Parliament’s supporters= Roundheads • Oliver Cromwell and his “new model army” lead Parliament to victory

25. Oliver Cromwell

26. English Civil War contd’ • Cromwell, purges Parliament of anyone who does not support him and has Charles I executed. This is a BIG deal. Why? • Cromwell abolished the monarchy and House of Lords and declares England a republic or commonwealth. However, he rules as a military dictator and dissolves Parliament. • Monarchy is restored. Charles II becomes king • Charles has no children. His brother James becomes King and he’s Catholic.

27. Glorious Revolution • William and Mary are invited to invade England • 1689- William and Mary accept throne, but Parliament is given the right to make laws and levy taxes via the English Bill of Rights • English Bill of Rights • - King cannot raise an army without Parliament’s consent • - Right of citizens to bear arms • - Trial by jury if accused of a crime • The EBoR laid the foundation for a limited or constitutional monarchy

28. JAMES II WILLIAM OF ORANGE

29. Central and Eastern European Absolutism • Prussia and Austria emerge as powers • Frederick William laid basis for the Prussian state • Hapsburgs create Austrian empire Frederick William

30. Central and Eastern European Absolutism • What was the problem the Hapsburgs faced? • Maria Theresa becomes Empress and has to face years of war beginning with the War of the Austrian Succession • Seven Years War= the real 1st World War?; territory doesn’t change MARIA THERESA

31. Central and Eastern European Absolutism • Hohenzollern family build up the German state of Prussia • Prussia was a rigidly controlled military society; standing army that was the best in Europe • Frederick the Great made reforms but was extremely aggressive in foreign affairs Frederick the Great

32. Peter the Great and Russia • Ivan the Terrible expands Russian power but his son was too weak to rule. Romanov family takes over. • Peter the Great Westernized Russia (made it more like Europe w/ Western culture and etiquette) • Created Navy and drafted peasants for 25 year stints in the army • Needed a sea port so he fought with Sweden and gained land where he built St. Petersburg.

33. Peter the Great

34. Golden Age of Literature • Writing reaches new heights between 1580 -1640 • William Shakespeare- genius who combined extraordinary language skills with deep insight into human psychology. Often considered the greatest writer in the English language. • Miguel de Cervantes- wrote Don Quixote, which is viewed by many as the first true novel

35. Shakespeare Cervantes