The Age of Absolutism and Revolution The Emergence of Modern Governments

The Age of Absolutism  Begins with the reign of Louis XIV of France  Enlightenment ideas challenge absolutism  Ends 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  Centralized government  Controls all decisions, taxes, religion, laws  Fights wars to expand territory  High taxes allow them to build fancy palaces 3. 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  Prohibits Japanese travel 3. 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 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 L’etat c’est moi

Louis XIV France 1. Limits the power of the nobles, forces them to live at Versailles 2. Ends religious tolerance  Cancels the Edict of Nantes  Huguenots were forced to convert or leave 3. 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  Expands trade and industry  Lavish spending puts France in major debt  Montreal  Illinois  New Orleans  Martinique

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: Modernize Russia  How?

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 service- Feudalism  Changes social customs  Western clothing  Outlaws beards  Women could be seen in public Peter the Great Russia

Absolutism Stay tuned for more fun!

England  England’s monarch was not Absolute  Why?

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, education, and laws corrupt them  Popular sovereignty  Government by the people  Opposed strong government  Mary Wollstonecraft  Equality & women’s rights