Absolutism Notes

Absolute Monarchy/absolutism: A king or queen who has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society Divine Right: The idea that monarchs are God’s representatives on earth and are therefore answerable only to God

Rulers of Europe through the years.

Causes of Absolutism Long Term Causes: Decline of feudalism Rise of cities and growth of middle class Exploration and colonies Growth of national kingdoms Loss of Church authority(Protestant Reformation) Immediate Causes: Religious and territorial conflicts Buildup of national armies Need for increased taxes Revolts by peasants or nobles

Effects of Absolutism Immediate Effects: Regulation of religion and society Larger courts Huge building projects(i.e. Palace of Versailles) New government bureaucracies Loss of power by nobility and legislatures Long Term Effects Revolution in France Western influence on Russia English political reforms that influenced United States democracy

Main Ideas: Monarchs acted to establish absolute power Monarchs used the divine right theory and similar ideas to justify their power Parliament and the Puritans in England resisted absolutism A limited monarchy was established in England

Absolutism in Europe Absolute Monarchs: Kings or Queens who believe that all power within their state’s boundaries rests in their hands Their goal was to control every aspect of society Believed in Divine Right: the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on earth

Phillip II Country: Spain Years: 1556-1598 Achievements: Hard-working ruler who ushered in the Golden age of Spain – the most powerful nation. He also Helped the Catholic Church persecute Protestants during the Counter-Reformation. Downfalls: Spanish armada defeated by England. After Philip II Spanish power slowly declined as rulers taxed people too much and spent money on overseas wars.

Louis XIV Country: France Years: 1643-1715 Achievements: Called himself the “Sun King” and said “I am the state.” Strengthened the monarchy, expanded bureaucracy, built palace of Versailles, strongest army in Europe, made France a wealthy cultural center. Downfalls: He used the wealth for his own benefit, peasants starved, numerous wars, never called Estates General(France’s legislative body). The French monarchy did not survive long after Louis’ death.

Louis XIV At his height, he had a standing army of 400,000 men. Wanted to ensure the domination of his Bourbon dynasty Waged 4 wars between 1667-1713 Many European nations formed coalitions against Louis to prevent French domination in Europe

Versailles - Louis XIV House

Versailles - Louis XIV House

Ivan the Terrible Country: Russia Years: 1533-1584 Achievements: Introduced extreme absolute power, expanded Russian lands, made Russia more religious. Downfalls: Set up the first Russian secret police, the Oprichniki, who murdered thousands for him. He killed many nobles and destroyed many towns, and even killed his own son in a fit of rage.

Peter the Great Country: Russia Years: 1682-1725 Achievements: He expanded Russia into a much larger empire that became a major European power, led a cultural revolution that replaced some of the traditional systems with ones that were modern, scientific, and “Westernised” Downfall: Died from infection in 1725, he was the first of the Romanov family that would rule until 1917

Absolutism in England While other nations turned to absolutism in the 1500s and 1600s, England’s Parliament resisted the throne. Constitutional Monarchy: government in which a legislative body limits the power of the monarch Parliament: Legislative(law making) body of English government

James I Country: England Years: 1603-1625 Achievements: Translated the bible, the famous King James version. Continued the Golden Age of Literature in England with authors like Shakespeare rising to fame under his rule” Downfalls: Had difficulties with Parliament – he needed money for his wars and extravagant lifestyle. He eventually dissolved Parliament and imposed his own taxes. Fought with the Puritans, who were seeking to purify the Church of England.

Charles I Country: England Years: 1625- 1649 Achievements: Strong army, seized other nations. Downfalls: He put his enemies in prison without trials, high taxes, angered Puritans, he dissolved Parliament and had to call them back because he needed the money. This led to the English Civil War. He was put on trial and beheaded by Parliament in 1649. Oliver Cromwell Achievement: Cromwell was the skilled military commander who won the civil war and captured Charles I. Charles I was the first king ever to be tried and executed by his own subjects. This event shocked other European monarchies and signified that absolutism would not be tolerated in England.

English Bill of Rights English Bill of Rights – a set of acts passed by Parliament to ensure its superiority over the monarchy. It stated: King must work with Parliament House of Commons has financial control Abolished excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishment Affirmed habeas corpus – no person could be held in jail without first being charged with a crime. **Instituted under King James II (1685-1688) in which James II tried to reinstitute absolutist policies, but was overthrown in a bloodless overthrow known as the Glorious Revolution