Political Decision Making History 10
Concepts of Political Paradigm and
Sovereignty
Political Paradigm: A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes
(makes up) a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them.
Sovereignty: Supreme and unrestricted power.
Questions to consider:
 Should a specific individual or specific group within society possess greater control over the
society’s decision-making process than other individuals?
 Should there be limitations to the powers and the use of those powers given to society’s
leadersip?
Regent for the
Young Louis XIV
The Nobility
The Huguenots
The Merchants
Matt
Taylor
Cali
Christen
Zakhar
John
Jaden
Aaron
David
Kaelyn
Ivy
Lily
Shanelle
Bernadette
Gabby
Nathan
Ji-su
Sandy
Regent: a person selected to govern in place of a minority who is absent, disabled, or too young. King
Louis VIV (called the Sun King) was only four when he became king. His mother, Anne of Austria, and
Cardinal Mazarin served as the regent(s) for the young king.
Nobility: landowners whose land was worked by serfs and vassals. They held the highest social standing.
They were often knights who participated in war and in competitions. They were not always
respectable.
Huguenots: French protestants.
Merchants: business people who participated in commerce (banking) and trade. They would travel to
other places to purchase items they could sell to the nobility (the rich class). They were not highly
respected; however, their social standing was much higher than that of peasants.
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Political Decision Making History 10
Activity One
In your groups, read over the following handouts:
1. Feudal Political Paradigms
2. Cardinal Richelieu’s Political Paradigm
 Read these political paradigms and organize the information into a suitable graphic organizer: a
table (t-chart) or a Venn diagram.
 Based on your assigned role, decide which of these paradigms will support. Provide at least three
reasons why you (your assigned role) choose that particular paradigm.
 Share with the class which paradigm you have aligned with.
Feudal Political Paradigm
Cardinal Richelieu Political Paradigm
 Power held by Nobility & Monarchy.
 Majority of people held no power.
 Nobility (feudal lords) (a.) collect
taxes, (b.) handling court and
justice, and (c.) military.
 Monarch didn’t actually have that
much power. They didn’t have their
own army.
 Power held by Nobility Only.
 Even less people had power.
 Viewed the nobility, the Huguenots, and the
Parlements as threats that needed to be handled
(or neutralized).
 Divided France into 32 districts with an intendant
representing each. The intendant collected taxes,
recruited soldiers, and regulated business.
Activity Two
Once you have established your paradigm, review the following historical events/situations and prepare
responses to each of these events/situations. Write at least three ways that you would respond to the
situation.
1. Religious Difference in France
2. France’s Eighteenth-Century Tax Crisis
3. Historical Record of the Events of the Fronde
Note: a “fronde” is a sling (as in a toy sling shot). The Fronde refers to a series of civil wars in France
between 1648 and 1653.
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Political Decision Making History 10
Regent for King Louis IX
Religious difference in
France
Promote the position of
the crown. Strengthen
the Catholic ChurchMonarch tie. Stamp out
the religion of the
protestants.
France’s 18th century
tax crisis
Get control of the taxcollectors. Consider
making compromises
with the First Fronde.
Cease the practice of
passing down state
offices.
Refuse to pay taxes and
threaten rebellion if the
monarch demands it.
Support the Fronde;
support reform!
Threaten a revolution if
the Monarch doesn’t
relinquish some power.
Nobility
Strengthen the power
of the Protestants to
oppose the supreme
power of the monarchy
(using the Church)
Huguenots
Stand our ground.
Resist the gov’t’s
attempts to use the
Catholic Church. Try to
stay under the radar.
Support the First
Fronde. Ally with the
nobility to diminish the
power of the Monarch.
Pray.
Merchants
Side with the
Huguenots, but not too
much because we don’t
want to alienate the
nobility consumers. Try
to maintain neutral and
focused on business.
Try to stay neutral so
that we can sell to
Monarch and to
Nobility. Support the
First Fronde because a
constitutional
monarchy would be
preferable.
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Historical record of the
events of the Fronde
Refuse the demands of
the parlement. Kill the
rebel lords. Get the
people turned against
each other so they can’t
unite and revolt.
We’re split between
rebel lords and patriotic
rulers. Some of us will
continue to push for a
revolution, getting the
people fired up to rebel.
Others will ally with the
king and resist the
rebels.
Support the rebels if
they have our interests
in their sights. If the
Hapsburg rule would
give us greater freedom
then appeal to them. Or
support the Queen if
amnesty will grant us
freedom of religion.
Resist the rebels
because they are
creating conflict.
Political Decision Making History 10
Activity Three
 Machiavelli developed a paradigm which was shaped by his experiences/involvement in Italian
politics of the 16th century.
 Read over the Machiavelli handout.
 Re-examine the political values of the Iroquois (handout).
 Compare the Iroquois political paradigm with Machiavelli’s political paradigm and with what you
know (think you know) about the Bible’s political paradigm (from New Testament). You can
makes some guesses regarding the Bible’s position because you may not know exactly. Use the
following table on the following page to gather your information.
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Political Decision Making History 10
Issues
The nature of
humans
The existence of
distinct classes in
society
The powers given to
society’s leaders
The methods used
to resolve disputes
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Machiavelli
Iroquois
All people are good. Everyone is
an important part of society and
their participation is necessary
for harmony.
People are sinful.
Humans are selfish, self-serving,
basically immoral.
There are five nations. There are
clans made up of a mixture of
nations. All people have the right
to voice their opinions and to be
taken seriously. Everyone can
weigh in on decisions to some
degree.
All people are created equal.
There are power relationships
(government, police, teachers)
The prince has complete power
and his goal is to increase his
power.
The clan mothers have the
power to choose the sachems
(male) and counselors. They had
final approval/disapproval of all
decisions.
God is sovereign. God institutes
systems of power/government
on earth that people need to
submit to.
Government is encouraged to
use cruelty, execution, and
domination.
Collaboration. Consensus.
Submitting to the will of the
Creator.
Submit to the laws of the land.
Refer to wisdom of Scripture to
guide decisions and justice. Pray.
Women are inferior. Everyone is
subject to the monarch.
Bible