ABSOLUTISM ABSOLUTISM

Despot- a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power Absolute monarchy : (Louis XIV of France)

An Absolute Monarchy is a king or queen who has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society.

Absolute Monarchies inspired Enlightened Philosophes who developed ideas of a social contract, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights.

Not all monarchs in Europe were absolute rulers Not all monarchs in Europe were absolute rulers. Some were a Limited monarchy or Constitutional monarchy and laws limited the power of the ruler. (ex: England after the Glorious Revolution) The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688 or Bloodless Revolution , in English history, the events of 1688–89 that resulted in the deposition of James II and the accession of his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III, prince of Orange and stadholder of the Netherlands.After the accession of James II in 1685, his overt Roman Catholicism alienated the majority of the population. Seven eminent Englishmen wrote inviting William of Orange (Netherlands) to come over with an army to redress the nation’s grievances. William’s wife, Mary, was heir apparent to the English crown. William accepted their invitation and landed his army in England and descended upon London. In response, James II fled. William and Mary were offered the crown jointly by the English Parliament. The revolution permanently established Parliament as the ruling power of England.

Other European monarchs adopted Enlightened ideas Other European monarchs adopted Enlightened ideas. They practiced what is known as Enlightened absolutism, also known as enlightened despotism. Enlightened monarchs embraced rationality.

Objective: We will identify the characteristics of an absolute, limited, and Enlightened monarchy. Closing Task: I will read profiles of various European monarchs and distinguish them as Enlightened or Absolute despots. Essential Question(s): What are the general characteristics of Enlightened Despotism? Which of the enlightened despots appears to be the most attuned to the spirit of the Enlightenment?