Unit 5 The Atlantic World &
the Age of Absolutism
Spread of Christianity
Means of diffusion of Christianity
•Migration of colonists to new lands
•Influence of Catholics and Protestants, who carried their
faith, language, and cultures to new lands
•Conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity
Legacy
of
Europeans
in
the
Americas
•Expansion of overseas territorial claims and European emigration to North and South America
•Demise of Aztec, Maya, and Inca Empires
•Legacy of a rigid class system based on race and dictatorial rule in Latin America
•Forced migration of some Africans into slavery
•Colonies’ imitation of the culture and social patterns of their parent country
Columbian Exchange
Columbian Exchange-the exchange of goods, crops, diseases and ideas between the
Western and Eastern Hemispheres
•Western Hemisphere agricultural products such as corn, potatoes, and tobacco
changed European lifestyles.
•European horses and cattle changed the lifestyles of American Indians
•European diseases like smallpox killed many American Indians
Triangle Trade
The triangular trade linked Europe,Africa, and the Americas. Slaves, sugar, and rum
were traded.
Triangle Trade
African imports
African exports
•Slaves (triangular trade) •Manufactured goods from Europe,
•Raw materials (ivory, Asia, and the Americas
•New food products (corn,
gold)
peanuts)
Triangle Trade
Africa
•European trading posts along the coast
•Trade in slaves, gold, and other products
New Wealth in the Americas led to the Commercial Revolution
•European maritime nations competed for overseas
markets, colonies, and resources.
•A new economic system emerged.
•New money and banking systems were created.
•Economic practices such as mercantilism evolved.
•Colonial economies were limited by the economic needs
of the mother country.
•Mercantilism: An economic practice adopted by
European colonial powers in an effort to
become self-sufficient; based on the theory
that colonies existed for the benefit of the
mother country
Commercial Revolution
Commercial Revolution
Characteristics of absolute monarchies
•Centralization of power-growing wealth of the
monarchs helped them take power from the other
nobles in the kingdom. Monarchs gained wealth from
the discoveries in the New World as they controlled all
resources found in the New World; with the exception
of England
•Concept of rule by divine right- the idea that God had
chosen the ruling family to be in charge. Anyone who
went against the monarch was going against God.
Absolute Monarchs in Europe
Louis XIV—France, Palace of Versailles as a symbol of royal power
Absolute Monarchs in Europe
Frederick the Great—Prussia, emphasis on military power
Absolute Monarchs in Europe
Peter the Great—Russia, westernization of Russia
He took power away from the boyars-Russian nobles to give it to
himself.
War of Spanish Succession
• The monarchs and nobles of
Europe believed in the idea of a
“balance of power”
• This was a practice that split up
the continent equally and tried to
limit one family, one monarch, or
one country from gaining too
much power.
War of Spanish Succession
• When Charles II of Spain died (1700) without an heir, he
gave his throne to Phillip-Louis XIV of France’s grandson.
Louis refused to remove Phillip from his line of succession.
• This meant that Phillip could one day unite France and
Spain into one huge European Empire
Charles II
Phillip V
War of Spanish Succession
• The other powers of Europe joined to go to war
with France and Spain to prevent Phillip and
Louis from dominating Europe
• Eventually the Peace of Utrecht (1714) ended
the war when Phillip V renounced his claim to
the French throne and decided to stay on as the
Spanish king
• The Balance of Power in Europe was restored
Background-”Absolutism” in England
• King Henry II
• Jury trials established
• “Common Law”: a single legal system “common” to
the whole country
Queen Elizabeth
• Had frequent conflicts
with Parliament
• Parliament: lawmaking
body in charge of
handing out the money
for the government
**Rulers saw Parliament’s
financial power as an
obstacle to becoming an
absolute monarch**
Path to Democracy
King James I
• Ruled after Elizabeth
• James believed he had
absolute authority to rule
and did not need the
consent of Parliament
• Parliament was reluctant
to pay for James’
expensive court and
foreign wars
• Died in 1625 and his son
Charles I came to the
throne
The Reign of James I
•Believed in divine right
•Did not support Puritans who wanted to
“purify” the Church of England
•Mother was the Catholic Mary, Queen of
Scots
• Charles I
• Always needed more
money for wars
against Spain and
France
• Several times
Parliament refused
to give him money
• As a result,
Charles got rid of
Parliament
The Reign of Charles I
• Signed the Petition of Right in 1628 giving
rights to Parliament
• He would not imprison subjects without
cause
• He would not levy taxes without the consent
of Parliament
• He would not house soldiers in private homes
• Charles ultimately ignored this document
• Dissolved Parliament when they did not give
him money
• Charles’ popularity went way down, and the country erupted into
Civil War
The Reign of Charles I
• Parliament called back because Charles needed
money
• Parliament refused to consent to new taxes unless
Charles agreed to share power with Parliament
• Charles once again dissolves Parliament (uses
soldiers!!!!) and tries to arrest its leaders
End of Absolute Monarchy
•Civil War (1642-1649) between
Cavaliers and Roundheads
•By 1644—no one was winning,
until the Puritans named Oliver
Cromwell as a new general
•Parliamentary forces under Oliver
Cromwell defeat forces loyal to
Charles
End of Absolute Monarchy
• Charles is tried for treason for making war
against his own people
• 1649 - Charles I executed
• The first time a king was tried and executed in
public
• No English monarch would again claim absolute
power
English Civil War
• From 1642-1649–
supporters and
opponents of King
Charles fought
• Supporters=Royalis
ts or Cavaliers
• Opponents=Purita
ns (loyal to
Parliament)
• Oliver Cromwell
• At first—Cromwell abolished the monarchy and
established a republican form of government
Oliver Cromwell (1653-1658)
• Rump Parliament - ineffective and
corrupt
• Cromwell dissolved the Rump
Parliament (used soldiers!!)
• Became “Lord Protector” (NOT
KING!!!!)
• Established Puritan dictatorship
Oliver Cromwell
Dies in 1658
His son, Richard, unable to hold onto power
1660 – A new Parliament restores the monarchy
under Charles I’s son, Charles II
Called “The Restoration”
Charles II
1660 - 1685
The Reign of Charles II
Religion
•Passed Clarendon Code which limited
the rights of Catholics
•Vowed never to convert to Catholicism
The Reign of Charles II
Relationship with Parliament
•Constitutional Monarchy - monarch’s
power limited by a constitution
•Act of Habeas Corpus - established
guaranteed legal rights of individuals
First political parties begin
• Charles had no son, so there was a fight
over who would rule next
• The Tories supported Charles’ brother,
James
• The Whigs opposed James
• These were the first two political
parties
James II
1685 - 1688
The Reign of James II
•He believed in the “divine right” of kings
(like his father and grandfather)
•He was Charles II’s brother
The Reign of James II
Religion
• Appointed Catholics to government and
university positions
• Converted to Catholicism and pledged his son
would also rule as a Catholic monarch
The Reign of James II
Glorious Revolution
• Parliament encourages
William of Orange and
his wife Mary II to
invade England (both
were also Protestant)
The Reign of James II
James fled
without a
fight
Glorious Revolution
• Because there
was no bloodshed
between the
change of rulers
this is known as
the Glorious
Revolution when
William & Mary
take the throne
POLITICAL CHANGES
• William and Mary recognized
Parliament’s power, creating a
constitutional monarchy, where laws
limit the power of the monarchy
• 1689: Bill of Rights signed to help
define the limits placed on royal
power
• No suspending of Parliament
or its laws
• No levying taxes without
Parliament’s permission
• Free Speech
More Political Changes…
• Cabinet system developed
• To avoid a standstill
between Parliament and
the monarch, a third
branch of government
was created
• Cabinet: in charge of
policymaking and is
headed by the Prime
Minister