1. Political Organization Within Traditional French Society: Environmental and Social Change

2. The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries underwent a series of crises: The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries underwent a series of crises: Bad weather and disease Bad weather and disease Warfare Warfare Religious Schism Religious Schism Crime Crime Social Unrest Social Unrest Feudal society was unable to respond to the various crises and so a new society generally called the Renaissance evolved. Feudal society was unable to respond to the various crises and so a new society generally called the Renaissance evolved.

3. Renaissance society was engaged in establishing a centralized sovereignty which would change the power relationships from the more personal relationships based on homage and independence of feudal society to more impersonal ones based on competition, centralization, and order. Renaissance society was engaged in establishing a centralized sovereignty which would change the power relationships from the more personal relationships based on homage and independence of feudal society to more impersonal ones based on competition, centralization, and order. Sovereignty is the power to make and enforce decisions about any matter that is recognized to be within a defined jurisdiction. Sovereignty is the power to make and enforce decisions about any matter that is recognized to be within a defined jurisdiction.

4. Theoretical View of Political and Social Relationships The Renaissance perspective as laid out by Machiavelli (1469-1527): The Renaissance perspective as laid out by Machiavelli (1469-1527):

5. Machiavelli (cont.) Human beings are selfish and interested only in advancing their own interests Human beings are selfish and interested only in advancing their own interests Because society is basically immoral, a prince may find it necessary to be immoral for the good of the whole community Because society is basically immoral, a prince may find it necessary to be immoral for the good of the whole community The sole test of good government was whether it was effective, whether the ruler increased his power. Gaining and preserving power was the most significant goal a prince representing a state can aspire to. The sole test of good government was whether it was effective, whether the ruler increased his power. Gaining and preserving power was the most significant goal a prince representing a state can aspire to.

6. Machiavelli (cont.) "A prince, therefore, should not mind,,, cruelty, for a few displays of severity, will really be more merciful than to allow, by an excess of clemency disorders to occur which... result in rapine and murder; for these unsure a whole community, whilst the executions ordered by the price fall only upon a few individuals... It is much more safe to be feared than to be loved... For it may be said about men that they are ungrateful and fickle..." "A prince, therefore, should not mind,,, cruelty, for a few displays of severity, will really be more merciful than to allow, by an excess of clemency disorders to occur which... result in rapine and murder; for these unsure a whole community, whilst the executions ordered by the price fall only upon a few individuals... It is much more safe to be feared than to be loved... For it may be said about men that they are ungrateful and fickle..."

7. The Practical Realities of Political Decision Making Rulers in the fifteenth century accelerated the process of building strong, centralized monarchies which were sovereign within the state. Their objectives were to: Rulers in the fifteenth century accelerated the process of building strong, centralized monarchies which were sovereign within the state. Their objectives were to: Reduce violence in society Reduce violence in society Curb unruly nobles and other dissension; Curb unruly nobles and other dissension; Establish domestic order Establish domestic order Control all competing jurisdictions, organizations, or interest groups in their territories Control all competing jurisdictions, organizations, or interest groups in their territories

8. France: The Centralization of Power In France, the centralization of power by the monarchy was facilitated by the activities of Louis XIII;s chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu. In France, the centralization of power by the monarchy was facilitated by the activities of Louis XIII;s chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu.Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu Richelieu was willing to use extreme measures to strengthen the king's absolute power. He executed nobles who opposed the king and allied Catholic France with various Protestant states to counter the strength of the Hapsburgs. Richelieu was willing to use extreme measures to strengthen the king's absolute power. He executed nobles who opposed the king and allied Catholic France with various Protestant states to counter the strength of the Hapsburgs. Richelieu's policy was the subordination of all groups and class to the French monarchy. Richelieu's policy was the subordination of all groups and class to the French monarchy.

9. The Practical Realities of Political Decision Making in Seventeenth Century France Louis XIV was to personify the absolute monarch. During his reign he centralized power and once proclaimed that "I am the state." Louis XIV was to personify the absolute monarch. During his reign he centralized power and once proclaimed that "I am the state." All power was held by the king with the nobility excluded from the ancient right of advising the king. All power was held by the king with the nobility excluded from the ancient right of advising the king. Middle class bureaucrats were selected to administer the government because they were no threat to the king. Middle class bureaucrats were selected to administer the government because they were no threat to the king.

10. Louis XIV (cont.) The Estates General was never called. The Estates General was never called. A powerful, centralized bureaucracy, secret police, and a system of informers were created to maintain control of society. A powerful, centralized bureaucracy, secret police, and a system of informers were created to maintain control of society.

11. Flaws in Louis XIV's System of Government Inability to raise money to support the government because of: Inability to raise money to support the government because of: the reliance on tax farming the reliance on tax farming the agreement not to tax the nobility in return for non-interference in government the agreement not to tax the nobility in return for non-interference in government The inability to accept religious differences which culminated with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The inability to accept religious differences which culminated with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

12. Flaws (cont.) The expense and extravagance of Louis XIV's government as exemplified by: The expense and extravagance of Louis XIV's government as exemplified by: his wars his wars the palace at Versailles the palace at Versailles

13. Theoretical Viewpoints on the Allocation of Sovereignty In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries philosophers began to offer new paradigms for dealing with organization and control of society In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries philosophers began to offer new paradigms for dealing with organization and control of society Result: The Age of Enlightenment Result: The Age of Enlightenment

14. Hobbes: Humans are born with both passion and reason. Humans are born with both passion and reason. Human passion leads to a state of war within society that leads to anarchy, chaos, violence, and destruction. The life of man in nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Human passion leads to a state of war within society that leads to anarchy, chaos, violence, and destruction. The life of man in nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. Reason suggests that peace is a better way of life. Reason suggests that peace is a better way of life. Peace can only be maintained if every person agrees to give up the right to govern themselves and to give absolute power to an individual (or group) who will legislate peace and security using force if necessary. Peace can only be maintained if every person agrees to give up the right to govern themselves and to give absolute power to an individual (or group) who will legislate peace and security using force if necessary. People must promise complete obedience in return for order and security. People must promise complete obedience in return for order and security. The choice for society is between absolute power or complete anarchy. The choice for society is between absolute power or complete anarchy.

15. Montesquieu: Focused on the conditions that promote liberty and prevent tyranny. Focused on the conditions that promote liberty and prevent tyranny. Despotism could be avoided by dividing and sharing political power among a diversity of classes and groups. Despotism could be avoided by dividing and sharing political power among a diversity of classes and groups. A strong independent upper class was especially important to prevent the abuse of power. A strong independent upper class was especially important to prevent the abuse of power. In order to prevent the abuse of power, "it is necessary that by the arrangement of things, power checks power." In order to prevent the abuse of power, "it is necessary that by the arrangement of things, power checks power."

16. Locke: The human mind is like a bland tablet at birth The human mind is like a bland tablet at birth Human development is determined by education and social organizations, for good or evil. Human development is determined by education and social organizations, for good or evil. The purpose of government is to protect the 'natural rights' of life, liberty, and property. The purpose of government is to protect the 'natural rights' of life, liberty, and property. Citizens have the natural right to rebel against a government which does not respect the rights of its citizens. Citizens have the natural right to rebel against a government which does not respect the rights of its citizens. Since all humans are born with minds that have no learning and must be taught, there can be no unborn cultural differences between people especially men and women. Since all humans are born with minds that have no learning and must be taught, there can be no unborn cultural differences between people especially men and women.

17. Voltaire: Believed that the best humanity could hope for was a good monarch. Believed that the best humanity could hope for was a good monarch. Did not believe in social equality. Women (as everyone) should be treated well in a civilized society, but it should also be recognized that women have special attributes which fit them for special roles. Did not believe in social equality. Women (as everyone) should be treated well in a civilized society, but it should also be recognized that women have special attributes which fit them for special roles. The only feasible equality would be based on that "by which the citizen only depends on the laws which protect the freedom of the feeble against the ambition of the strong." The only feasible equality would be based on that "by which the citizen only depends on the laws which protect the freedom of the feeble against the ambition of the strong."

18. Rousseau: Was passionately committed to individual freedom. Was passionately committed to individual freedom. Believed the human mind is like a blank tablet at birth. Believed the human mind is like a blank tablet at birth. Saw reason and civilization as destroying rather than freeing the individual. Saw reason and civilization as destroying rather than freeing the individual. Believed that any society would generate a general will which was sacred and absolute and which reflected the common interests of the people and to which interests were subordinate. Believed that any society would generate a general will which was sacred and absolute and which reflected the common interests of the people and to which interests were subordinate. Believed that women having a responsibility to society for child rearing should be education to be good mothers. Believed that women having a responsibility to society for child rearing should be education to be good mothers.