The Age of
Absolutism and
Revolution
The Emergence of Modern
Governments
The Age of Absolutism
1650 - 1789
 Begins
France
with the reign of Louis XIV of
 Enlightenment
absolutism
 Ends
ideas challenge
with Revolution
What is Absolutism?
A
purposeful attempt by rulers to
control all aspects of life in the lands
they ruled.
 Based
on the Divine right of kings
 God appointed all monarchs to
rule therefore they can rule as
they see fit
Characteristics of Absolutism
1.
Divine Right of Kings
2.
Unlimited power and control
3.

Centralized government

Controls all decisions, taxes, religion, laws

Fights wars to expand territory

High taxes allow them to build fancy palaces
Stable government
Tokugawa Ieyesu Japan
 Came
to power by defeating other
daimyo
1. Forces them to live part time in Tokyo to
limit power and prevent alliances
2. Closes Japan to foreigners

3.
Prohibits Japanese travel
Stops foreign trade

Encourages internal trade and
manufacturing
Tokugawa Ieyesu Japan
 Japan
is isolated for 250 years
 Americans
force Japan to open
ports
 Japan modernizes with the help of
Europeans and Americans
Louis XIV France
1643
“The
•
•
•
L’etat c’est moi
•
•
Sun King”
Becomes king at
age four
Rules 72 years
France becomes
the most powerful
country in Europe
Builds the Palace of
Versailles
All European rulers
want to be like
Louis
Louis XIV France
1.
2.
Limits the power of the nobles, forces
them to live at Versailles
Ends religious tolerance


3.
Cancels the Edict of Nantes
Huguenots were forced to convert or leave
Most powerful military


Fights the Thirty Years’ War
Weakens his rival, the Holy Roman Empire
 Bankrupts
France
Louis XIV
Everyone wants
to be like Louis
Louis XIV France
Expands French
territory
 Creates colonies in
North America and
the Caribbean
Montreal

Expands trade and
industry
New

Lavish spending puts
France in major debt
Martinique

Illinois
Orleans
Versailles Palace France
Peter the Great Russia
 Becomes
Czar age 10
 Wants
to be like Louis XIV/France
 Travels
to Europe to study shipbuilding,
government and trade
 Goal:
 How?
Modernize Russia
Peter the Great Russia
1.
Modernizes the army and navy, fights
wars to expand territory
2.
Adds ports on the Baltic Sea (north) and
Black Sea in the south.
3.
Creates a new capital – St. Petersburg
Peter’s Palace
Peter Rules Absolutely
1.
Forces the nobles to live in St. Petersburg
2.
Reforms the government
3.
Changes social customs and clothing

Nobility are
given land in
exchange for
serviceFeudalism
 Changes
customs



social
Western clothing
Outlaws beards
Women could
be seen in
public
Peter the Great
Russia
Absolutism
Stay tuned for more
fun!
England
England’s
Absolute
Why?
monarch was not
England
 Magna

Carta 1215
Limited the king’s
power
 1629
Parliament
gains more power
 How?
Parliament
Creates the Petition of Right
 The king could not:
1. Tax without permission
2. Declare martial law
3. Board soldiers in private homes
during peacetime
4. Imprison without trial
England’s Civil War
 Charles
I
 Fights with Parliament over limits
on power, religion
 English Civil War 1642
• Royalists –v- Roundheads (Puritans)
 Puritans win
 Puritan leaders accuse Charles I of treason and
execute him 1649
 Oliver Cromwell loses support over king’s
beheading

cannot create a stable government
 England
returns to a monarchy 1660
England

Parliament wins the power to choose the king,
no longer hereditary

1700’s Constitutional Government

Parliament gains most power

Limits king’s powers

Landowners elect government leaders

Government is led by the Prime Minister
The Enlightenment
 An
intellectual movement centered in
France and England
 Truth based on logical thinking
 Criticize society

Attack the Church, the slave trade,
government, taxes and war.
 Believe
in natural law
 Powers of the government should be
shared by the people
The Enlightenment England
 Thomas
Hobbes - England
 Social contract theory
 People
are selfish and greedy
 give
up their rights in return for safety
 Only
government can create a peaceful,
orderly society
The Enlightenment England
 John



Locke
People have natural rights
Government exists to protect your rights
NEVER give up your natural rights:
 Life,
Liberty, and Property
 Rulers cannot limit natural rights

People have the right to overthrow their
government if it does not protect their rights
The Enlightenment France
 Baron
de Montesquieu

Checks and balances

Separation of powers strengthened England’s
government

His ideas are found in the U.S. Constitution
The Enlightenment France
•
Voltaire

Against intolerance by the Catholic
Church

Supported individual liberty, free speech,
thought, religion

Attacked superstition, prejudice, bigotry,
oppressive government
The Enlightenment
 Rousseau

People are born naturally good
 Environment,
them

Popular sovereignty
 Government
 Opposed
 Mary

education, and laws corrupt
by the people
strong government
Wollstonecraft
Equality & women’s rights