Absolutism and the Enlightenment The Age of Revolutions Mr. Mark Gonzalez Grace Christian Academy of MD

The Intellectual Revolution (The Enlightenment)began in the The Intellectual Revolution (also called the Enlightenment) stressed that reason, intellectual thought and the power of individuals to solve problems without the need for the help of God People are all born to be free, so they should live under a government that allows them to be free Ideas of the enlightened thinkers led many people to question the absolute authority of the Divine Right of Kings and Queens.

Absolutism and the Divine Right Theory of Kings Absolutism (autocratic rule)- when one person holds complete, absolute power; the common people have no say in government Napoleon, Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Trujillo, Castro and Kim Jong Il are more modern examples of dictators with absolute power

The Divine Right of Kings and Queens Divine Right Theory- the kings and queens of Europe for over 1,000 years believed they were given absolute authority to rule by God and that God rules through them Therefore the people they rule over should not question them and must obey If you disobey the king, you disobey God- “off with your head!!!!”

The Great and Famous Absolute Monarchs of the Age of Absolutism 1500-1800

King Louis XIV of France Bourbon Family Became king at age 4 strongest king of his time 1643-1715 “L’etat c’est moi” (I am the state) The “Sun King” Built the Palace at Versailles (12 miles from Paris) Controlled the rich nobles by keeping them at his palace Taxed the poor heavily and spent a lot of money on Wars Persecuted Protestant Huguenots

Central Europe 2 German-speaking families tried to fill the vacuum as absolute rulers: The Hohenzollerns and Hapsburgs

Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-80) From the Hapsburg family Holy Roman Empire Her father Charles tried to unite many different people (Czechs, Polish, Hungarians, Germans, etc.) all those people became ruled by his daughter Maria Theresa Made peasants lives more easier-less work Built schools and made gave vaccines to the people

Czar Peter the Great of Russia (1672-1725)

3 Views on Government in the 1600s and 1700s The Tommy Hobbes (School) Wrote Leviathan Horrors of a civil war in England convinced him that all humans are selfish and evil Without strong governments with a powerful, strict leader than people would go crazy A ruler needs total power to keep citizens under control like the leviathan sea monster (absolute monarchy)

3 Views on Government in the 1600s and 1700s 2. The John Locke/Rousseau School John Locke (England): believed that the regular people should govern - supported democracy; did not believe in the divine right of the kings and queens John Locke- humans are good, must rebel against any government if fails to protect right to life, liberty and property Jean Jacques Rousseau(French)- all people are equal; get rid of nobility and kings and have a direct democracy

3. The Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet) School Voltaire (French)- believed that the best form of government was when you have enlightened despots (monarchs) use power to benefit the people and respect their rights “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it” Sent to prison twice for his beliefs

Voltaire Quotes

Locke, Rousseau and Montesqueu

Women in the Enlightenment

Mary Wollstonecraft Wrote Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) Women as well as men need education to become virtuous and useful Women should enter medicine and politics

Debate: 2 Questions to consider Should the people be trusted to govern (democracy) or one ruler with Absolute power???? What is the best form of government and why????

The Players of the Debate

Queen Elizabeth I of England Absolute Ruler Most powerful woman monarch in world history

King Louis XIV The “Sun King” The most powerful French King of all history Absolute Power

John Locke English His ideas influenced the Declaration of Independence of the USA and modern Dominican government

Maria Theresa Empress of the HRE Hapsburg A absolute ruler should rule to benefit the people-an Enlightened Despot

Jean Jacques Rousseau French All men are born free and naturally good Ideas influenced the French Revolution

Mary Wollstonecraft British Women need education to make informed decisions in government

Baron de Montesquieu French We Need 3 Branches of government- no need for 1 ruler

Thomas Hobbes English Believed a ruler should be like a sea monster-the leviathan