Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Terms to Know  Absolutism-a political system in which a ruler holds total power  Divine Right of Kings- the belief that kings receive their power from God and are responsible only to God

Wars of Religion- French  Catholic French kings persecuted Protestants Huguenots- French protestants  Henry of Navarre (Henry IV of the Bourbon dynasty)- Protestant, but converted to Catholicism (“Paris is worth a mass”)  Edict of Nantes- recognized Catholicism as the official religion of France, but gave religious freedom to the Huguenots

Wars of Religion- Spanish  King Philip II- Catholic supporter  Insisted on Catholicism in his kingdom (Spain, Netherlands, & possessions in Italy and the Americas)  In the Netherlands, William the Silent (Prince of Orange) revolted & split from Spain (United Provinces of Netherland became Protestant) William Philip

Wars of Religion- English  Elizabeth Tudor (Elizabeth I) Act of Supremacy- named her “the only supreme governor” of both church & state Protestant ruler, but tolerant of Catholics 1588, Philip II of Spain ordered the Spanish Armada to attack England  failed miserably- beaten by the English Navy & storms

English Revolution  Elizabeth died (no heir)  King James I (cousin in Scotland) becomes King of England  Protestant

 fought with Parliament all the time over power He returned Catholicism back to England Charles I

English Civil War Civil War  Cavaliers/Royalists- supported the king  Roundheads- parliamentary forces led by Oliver Cromwell  Roundheads won  Charles I executed  Cromwell dissolved the monarchy, declared England a republic (commonwealth) & became a military dictator (“Lord Protector”)

The Restoration  Cromwell died  Parliament restored the monarchy under Charles II (son of Charles I)  Charles II supported Catholicism & dismissed Parliament many times (dies) Charles II

James II (Charles II’s brother)  James II  Catholic, had a son  Parliament felt a long Catholic monarchy was coming

The Glorious Revolution  Parliament invited William of Orange & Mary (James II’s daughter) to raise an army and depose James II  James II escapes to France & an almost bloodless overthrow was complete  William & Mary forced to accept the Bill of Rights and establish a constitutional monarchy James II Sorry for taking your throne Dad!

Louis XIV *the Sun King*  Best example of the practice of absolutism in the 17 th century (1600s)  Only 4 yrs. old when he becomes King of France (France ruled by Cardinal Mazarin) Louis XIV (23 yrs old) took control NICE LEGS!

Versailles  Personal household of the king  Chief offices of the state located here (Louis could watch over them)  Powerful subjects came to find favors & offices for themselves

Frederick the Great  Ruler of Prussia (later part of Germany)  Built up Prussia’s army to be one of the biggest & best

Peter the Great  Of the Romanov dynasty  Became czar ( Russian word for caesar ) in 1689  Attempted to westernize Russia Reorganized his army Divided Russia into provinces Ordered Western manners be taught Changed the clothing of those at court St. Petersburg constructed in 1703 & was Russia’s capital until 1918

Thomas Hobbes  Wrote Leviathan- work on political thought Before society was organized, human life was “poor, nasty, & short”. To save themselves from destroying one another, people made a “social contract” & agreed to form a state  People in the state agreed to be governed by an absolute ruler (needed to preserve order in society)

John Locke  The mind was a blank slate- a tabula rasa  Wrote Two Treatises of Government Believed humans lived in a state of equality & freedom (had certain natural rights- life, liberty, & property) Govt. would protect those rights, but the people had the right to overthrow that govt. if it wasn’t doing its job