The Liberal State English Politics and the Right to Revolution Any single man must judge for himself whether circumstances warrant obedience or resistance to the commands of the civil magistrate; we are all qualified, entitled, and morally obliged to evaluate the conduct of our rulers. - John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 1689

Paradox… Absolute rulers and rationalism helped early modern societies to negotiate fundamental social and economic change… …but that same rationalism would be the source of Absolutism’s strongest critics.

I. Enlightened Despots A well conducted government must have an underlying concept so well integrated that it could be likened to a system of philosophy…All financial, political and military matters must flow towards one goal…the strengthening of the state and the furthering of its power. - Frederick II “The Great” d. 1786

A. Science and the state 1. R & D - Académie des Sciences Royal Academy 1660 Christopher Wren. d. 1723

B. The Sun King Louis XIV 1.“I am the state” dismissed assemblies direct rule / appointments professional army Gallicanism Edict of Fontainebleau 1685 Jansenism

2. “I have loved war too much” Natural borders Alliances Habsburgs War of the League of Augsburg War of Spanish Succession

C. Czar of all the Russias 1. Peter I “The Great” Westernization - Eastern expansion - state service - serfdom Romanovs

2. Catherine “the Great” r un-Enlightenment Wild, wild East

D. Germany stirs 1.HRE? Westphalia 1648 Siege of Vienna 1683 Leopold I r

2. Austrian Habsburg Dynasty Maria Teresa Joseph II

3. Hohenzollerns (Prussia) - militarism / state service - Frederick the Great

II. The Rights (and Wrongs) of Englishmen For the king, turning to the gentleman that touched the axe said "Hurt not the axe that may hurt me.“ - Bulstrode Whitelock

A. Constitutionalism (sort of) 1.Norman Conquest Magna Carta 1215

B. Tudor Family Values 1. There’s something about Mary Henry VIII “Bloody Mary” Elizabeth I r r

C. The Ghost of John Calvin 1. Roundheads - anti-hierarchical - “middle” class

D. Stuart Kings 1. James I “Divine Right” / Absolutism King James Bible (1611)

III. English Revolutions,

A. Royal Authoritarian 1.Charles I Short Parliament 1640

B. English Civil War Culture Wars King v. Parliament Anglican (Catholic) v. Puritan Old v. New “Money” Oliver Cromwell

2. Execution of Charles I 1649 Liberty at risk

D. Commonwealth ( ) & Restoration ( ) 1.Theocracy 2. Charles II

IV. Modern Liberalism Limited Government Natural Law Personal Liberty Positive Humanism

A. The Glorious Revolution 1. James II 1685

2. Dual Monarchy William & Mary

3. Checks & Balances Rise of Parliament Toleration Act 1688 Declaration of Rights 1689

B. Justification 1. Remembering Hobbes John Locke

Two Treatises of Government natural rights An Essay Concerning Human Understanding tabula rasa