European State Consolidation in
the 17th & 18th Century
AP EURO- Chapter 13
Age of Absolutism &
Constitutionalism in Western Europe
Absolutism
• What are the Key characteristics of
Absolutism?
• How does Absolutism differ from earlier
rule by Kings?
• Is Absolutism similar to Totalitarianism?
Where the power of Kings comes
from
• In the Middle Ages the
law held that as a
consequences of their
coronation and anointment
with sacred oil, Kings
ruled by the grace of God.
– Law was given by God,
Kings had the law revealed
to them, and Kings obeyed
the law
• In the Absolutist State,
Kings claimed to rule by
“Divine Right” meaning
that they made the law and
were responsible only to
God for the law.
– Kings became legislators,
made laws, and because
they made the law
sovereignty was embodied
in the person of the King.
How did we get here?
• A. The problem of political disintegration
in 16-17th Centuries.
• France - Wars of Religon
• England - the English Revolution
• Holy Roman Empire (Germany and
Austria) - 30 Years War.
• B. Causes of disintegration
• -Competition between the aristocracy and
the Monarchy
• -often mainspring behind the religious wars.
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C. Ways of Uniting States
Two alternatives evolved
Constitutionalism and
Absolutism
- we will be looking mainly at both.
• Absolutism formed the immediate background
to the French Revolution, but constitutionalism
provided many of the ideas.
Definition of Constitutionalism
• Constitutionalism does not require a written
constitution, but does require a set of rules
about government which government
respects - it is not arbitrary.
• It also implies a balance in power between
the government and its subjects - this was
provided in Britain by power of subjects in
Parliament.
Definition of Absolutism
• In contrast to Constitutionalism, Sovereignty, the
power and right to rule, resides exclusively with the
King and not the nobles nor any assembly.
• -Represents a change from medieval reality
• -The importance of the idea of Divine Right in this
context.
• -Note that in this period Government did not
impinge on many areas at all, for instance social
welfare to any great degree. Absolute Monarchs
were limited in actual power and were not
totalitarian.
How did the Absolutes Rule
• They tried to control competing interest, institutions, or
interest groups in their lands.
– They regulated religion
– They abolished civil liberties
– They secured the cooperation of the nobility, which was
historically the greatest threat to the Monarchy, and the rising
Middle Class by appointing them to important positions in the new
bureaucracies which directed economic life in the powerful new
states.
– They established permanent armies, recruited and paid by the
Monarchy, which could be deployed inside or outside of the
country to protect their interest.
– They used secret police forces to monitor the private lives of their
subjects
How does Absolutism fit into the
development of Government
• The Word Absolutism was not coined until the
1830’s and was used to describe the stage of
governmental evolution from the Feudal State to
Modern Governments.
– Many scholars prefer to use the term administrative
monarchy to describe this type of government.
• They say that because the bureaucracy greatly expanded and
power became centralized in the Capital cities, such as Paris,
there is an appearance of the Kings power becoming absolute.
• They say that while this administrative monarchy may have
interfered with peoples daily lives, did not have the consent of
the governed, and lacked the idea of the rule of law it was still
held in check by traditional interpretations of a Kings power.
• The Rule of Absolute Monarchs was not all
powerful because it lacked the ability to
become totalitarian.
– It could not control or shape the entire culture
of a country or regulate every aspect of life
• Reasons for this included:
– The need for technologies that could shape public opinion
– The need for control of the money supply
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 Decline18th century
Art During the Dutch Golden
Age – Johannes Vermeer
Art During the Dutch Golden
Age
• Johannes Vermeer
“Girl with a Pearl
Earring”- 1665-1666
th
17
•
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•
•
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&
th
18
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
• 2. Political
Monarchy:
Absolutism:
• England
• France
• Parliament & Monarch • Monarch should have
work together
unlimited power
• Parliament is
summoned by King
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: 16601685)
• “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 antiCatholic 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
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•
•
•
•
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 MonarchyEngland
• 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 16761708
• 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
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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
Essay Prompt—Formal Grade!
• The title of Chapter 5 is: European State
Consolidation in the Seventeenth and
Eighteenth Centuries. Explain why this is an
appropriate title and thoroughly summarize
each section explaining how it demonstrates
the main concept of the chapter.
– ALL sections must be discussed
– ALL Key Terms from the chapter must be
discussed
– At least 3 documents must be referenced.
– DUE WEDNESDAY, December 10th, 2014