The Golden Age of the Dutch Republic Alternatives to Absolutism AP European History

Dutch Republic Economic wealth: stock market, banking, Amsterdam rises to forefront in trade Economic wealth: stock market, banking, Amsterdam rises to forefront in trade Government: Republic (States-General) – gained independence from Spain in 1648 (P of W); practiced international diplomacy Government: Republic (States-General) – gained independence from Spain in 1648 (P of W); practiced international diplomacy other republics at this time: Swiss cantons, Genoa, Venice and England (for a time, think Cromwell) other republics at this time: Swiss cantons, Genoa, Venice and England (for a time, think Cromwell) Build strong national identity Build strong national identity Great cultural & intellectual achievements Great cultural & intellectual achievements

The Dutch Republic Hooge Moogende heads of seven provinces (who elected the members of the States-General) Hooge Moogende heads of seven provinces (who elected the members of the States-General) no head delegate but several provinces elected the same man as stadholder (leading army & maintaining order) usually head of the house of Orange, William II (d. 1650) no head delegate but several provinces elected the same man as stadholder (leading army & maintaining order) usually head of the house of Orange, William II (d. 1650) House of Orange interested in establishing a hereditary monarchy, attempt to centralize government House of Orange interested in establishing a hereditary monarchy, attempt to centralize government Republic dominates government; affairs generally managed by burghers (merchant class) Republic dominates government; affairs generally managed by burghers (merchant class) 1672: War with England and France = return of house of Orange, William III (r ) 1672: War with England and France = return of house of Orange, William III (r ) 1702: Return of the Republic 1702: Return of the Republic This struggle between States-General and House of Orange continues throughout the 18 th century This struggle between States-General and House of Orange continues throughout the 18 th century

Religious Tolerance Dutch Calvinists divide: Dutch Calvinists divide: Arminian Calvinists: moderate group toned down predestination Arminian Calvinists: moderate group toned down predestination Calvinist Synod 1618 in Dordrecht to denounce Arminian Calvinists; orthodoxy won; Calvinist Synod 1618 in Dordrecht to denounce Arminian Calvinists; orthodoxy won; but by 1632 toleration but by 1632 toleration large Catholic minority large Catholic minority Jews & Mennonites welcome Jews & Mennonites welcome

Commerce & Colonialism major European freight carrier between Spain, France, England, and the Baltic major European freight carrier between Spain, France, England, and the Baltic 1660 = 10,000 ships; throughout 17 th century owned majority of European shipping 1660 = 10,000 ships; throughout 17 th century owned majority of European shipping 1609 – founded the Bank of Amsterdam & established the most sought after currency (gold Dutch guilder) 1609 – founded the Bank of Amsterdam & established the most sought after currency (gold Dutch guilder) Amsterdam financial center of Europe until French Revolution Amsterdam financial center of Europe until French Revolution

Commerce & Colonialism ~1600 – reach Japan, after 1641 Dutch sole Europeans in Japan ~1600 – reach Japan, after 1641 Dutch sole Europeans in Japan 1602 – Dutch East India Company 1602 – Dutch East India Company 1612 – Manhattan Island 1616 – Willem Schouten & Jacob le Maire round Cape Horn (Kaap Hoorn) 1612 – Manhattan Island 1616 – Willem Schouten & Jacob le Maire round Cape Horn (Kaap Hoorn) 1619 – Batavia, Java (Jakarta) 1619 – Batavia, Java (Jakarta) 1621 – Dutch West India Company: Spanish/Portuguese Americas 1621 – Dutch West India Company: Spanish/Portuguese Americas 1652 – captured the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) 1652 – captured the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Dutch Trade Map

Troubled Times for Dutch Republic 1651 – Oliver Cromwell’s England passes the Navigation Act: all goods brought into England must be carried by ships of products origin 1651 – Oliver Cromwell’s England passes the Navigation Act: all goods brought into England must be carried by ships of products origin 3 sea wars btw. England & Dutch sea wars btw. England & Dutch England annexed New Amsterdam – now New York England annexed New Amsterdam – now New York

Troubled Times for Dutch Republic Land wars with France Land wars with France Louis XIV 1667 makes a move for Spanish Netherlands & Franche-Comté Louis XIV 1667 makes a move for Spanish Netherlands & Franche-Comté 1672 Louis XIV tries again and succeeds, also gets 5 of 7 northern provinces 1672 Louis XIV tries again and succeeds, also gets 5 of 7 northern provinces 1672 provinces vote to appoint William III, King of Netherlands 1672 provinces vote to appoint William III, King of Netherlands

William III of Orange Son of William II and Mary Stuart (sister to Charles II and James II of England) Son of William II and Mary Stuart (sister to Charles II and James II of England) Born 1650 Born 1650 Grave and learned (Dutch, German English, French/ Italian, Spanish & Latin) Grave and learned (Dutch, German English, French/ Italian, Spanish & Latin) Dutch Calvinist, extremely pious Dutch Calvinist, extremely pious Hated Louis XIV Hated Louis XIV Married Mary Stuart II (England) in 1677 Married Mary Stuart II (England) in 1677 Became King of England, 1689 Became King of England, 1689

Stuart Family Tree

William III: The House of Orange returns desired absolute monarchy, he attempted to: desired absolute monarchy, he attempted to: centralized/consolidated government centralized/consolidated government revoked feudal liberties revoked feudal liberties freed himself of constitutional checks freed himself of constitutional checks BUT ultimately failed! Dutch Republic remained strong until 1795 BUT ultimately failed! Dutch Republic remained strong until 1795

William III: French Threat and English Victory What to do about Louis XIV? What to do about Louis XIV? build alliance with Brandenburg (Germany), Denmark, Austrian & Spanish Habsburgs build alliance with Brandenburg (Germany), Denmark, Austrian & Spanish Habsburgs Success! Treaty of Nimwegen 1678 Success! Treaty of Nimwegen 1678 Louis XIV gets Franche-Comté and towns in Flanders but not the Dutch Republic Louis XIV gets Franche-Comté and towns in Flanders but not the Dutch Republic 1689 William becomes king of England 1689 William becomes king of England England becomes part of continental European affairs England becomes part of continental European affairs

Cultural Advances International law: Hugo Grotius Law of War and Peace International law: Hugo Grotius Law of War and Peace " I saw in the whole Christian world a license of fighting at which even barbarous nations might blush. Wars were begun on trifling pretexts or none at all, and carried on without any reference of law, Divine or human.“ " I saw in the whole Christian world a license of fighting at which even barbarous nations might blush. Wars were begun on trifling pretexts or none at all, and carried on without any reference of law, Divine or human.“ Philosophy: Spinoza (pantheism) Philosophy: Spinoza (pantheism) Scientists: Leeuwenhoek & Swammerdam – microscopic world, biology; Huyghens – physics & mathematics, telescopic improvements, wave theory of light, pendulum clock Scientists: Leeuwenhoek & Swammerdam – microscopic world, biology; Huyghens – physics & mathematics, telescopic improvements, wave theory of light, pendulum clock

Cultural Advances Scholarly writing: Bekker World Bewitched debunked witchcraft myth; Anna Maria van Schurman The Learned Maid or Whether a Maid May Be Called a Scholar Scholarly writing: Bekker World Bewitched debunked witchcraft myth; Anna Maria van Schurman The Learned Maid or Whether a Maid May Be Called a Scholar Dutch Realism: Frans Hal, Jan Vermeer, Rembrandt Dutch Realism: Frans Hal, Jan Vermeer, Rembrandt

Discussion Question How do the illustrations on following slide demonstrate (a) Dutch artistic achievements, (b) Dutch intellectual, commercial, and colonial activities? How do the illustrations on following slide demonstrate (a) Dutch artistic achievements, (b) Dutch intellectual, commercial, and colonial activities?

Hals Vermeer Rembrandt Rubens