1. ABSOLUTISM

2.  Define absolutism and evaluate its impact on society, government and the economy

3. Scenario #1 – Your child is throwing a temper tantrum in the store with you and your husband/wife because he wants ice cream. YOU DECIDE TO: A. Spank him and take him to the car. To think that he thinks he can be part of your decision making at the grocery…the nerve!!! B. Sit him down and tell him that he can decide to behave and you and your husband/wife will vote to see if he eventually gets some ice cream.

4. Scenario #2 – You are the captain of the soccer team. You have to make a decision about what you will wear to school the next game day. A. Make a decision yourself. It is easier than hearing everyone’s opinion. B. Take a vote to see what everyone would like to wear and go with the majority decision.

5. Scenario 3: You decide you want to go out on a Friday night. Two of your friends decide to go with you. A. You decide that you are going to go to dinner and a movie. Your friends will have to be okay with that decision. B. You call both your friend to see what they would like to do.

6. YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE If you chose CHOICE A most of the time, you lead like an ABSOLUTE MONARCH, making all decisions on your own. If you chose CHOICE B most of the time, you lead like a DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, allowing the majority vote to rule your actions.

7. Warm-up  Why do celebrities have a lot of power?

8. What is an absolute monarch? (absolutism)  A leader with power unlimited by law  Commonly associated with the time period 1500-1800 and Europe

9. ABSOLUTE MONARCH Power that is absolute and unquestionable A king or queen 9

10. How is an absolute monarch different from a totalitarian leader?  Totalitarian rulers seek to direct all facets of state culture (art, education, religion, the economy, politics) in the interests of the state (total regulation)  Absolutist rule directs the state in the interest of the monarch but cannot control all aspects as it lacks the financial, technological, and military resources to do so

11. Why did absolute leaders emerge during this time?  Absolute monarchs are common during this time period because:  Leaders want to be celebrated for their individual contribution. (Renaissance)  They no longer need the financial support of the nobles (i.e. land owners) because of their new found wealth from practicing mercantilism.(Exploration)  Widespread practice of secularism and practice of Protestantism means political leaders are free from the Church’s grasp. (Protestant Reformation)

12. What are the characteristics of an absolute monarch? Characteristics: 1. Claim their rule is by divine right (God-given) 2. They are source of law, but not subject to it 3. Have unlimited power over all aspects of state government 4. Populace owes direct loyalty to monarch 5. Noble classes are subject to monarch, sometimes forming a parliament (but with no real power) 6. Dominates cultural life by patronage of art OR strict censorship 7. Large standing state armies are loyal to monarch 8. Organized state civil service and economy are under direct control of monarch

14. Which characteristic of an absolute monarchy was being displayed when Catherine de Medici ordered all noble French Huguenots (Protestants) of Paris be killed, an event later known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre? A. Claim their rule is given by divine right. B. Claim unlimited power over all aspects of state government C. Claim the economy is under their direct control D. Claim dominance over cultural life

15. Which characteristic of an absolute monarchy was being displayed when Catherine de Medici ordered all noble French Huguenots (Protestants) of Paris be killed, an event later known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre? A. Claim their rule is given by divine right. B. Claim unlimited power over all aspects of state government C. Claim the economy is under their direct control D. Claim dominance over cultural life

16. Which of the following is the best example of a characteristic of an absolute monarch? A. Catherine I established educational reforms. B. Charles I signed the Petition of Right (limiting his power). C. Elizabeth I met with foreign dignitaries to keep England from getting into a war. D. Ivan IV killed his son and continued to rule.

17. Which of the following is the best example of a characteristic of an absolute monarch? A. Catherine I established educational reforms. B. Charles I signed the Petition of Right. C. Elizabeth I met with foreign dignitaries to keep England from getting into a war. D. Ivan IV killed his son and continued to rule ( They are source of law, but not subject to it)

18. The Spanish Armada (Spanish navy) is the an example of which of the following characteristics of an absolute monarch? A. Claim their rule is by divine right (God-given) B. They are source of law, but not subject to it C. Have unlimited power over all aspects of state government D. Large standing state armies are loyal to monarch

19. The Spanish Armada is the best example of which of the following characteristics of an absolute monarch? A. Claim their rule is by divine right (God-given) B. They are source of law, but not subject to it C. Have unlimited power over all aspects of state government D. Large standing state armies are loyal to monarch

20. Activity 1 - Conversations  There are 8 characteristics of absolute monarchs.  These are circulating around the room accompanied by questions.  In your group, you will answer the 2 questions for each characteristic

21. 1. Claim their rule is by divine right (God- given) Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why do you think that monarchs wanted the people to believe their rule was by divine right (god-given)? How is this different in the US?

22. 2. They are source of law, but not subject to it (don’t have to follow it) Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why do you think that monarchs did not want to follow the laws? How is this different in the US?

23. 3. Have unlimited power over all aspects of state government Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why would they want complete control of all aspects of government? How is this different in the US?

24. 4. Populace (Population) owes direct loyalty to monarch Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why do monarchs want the people to believe that they have to be loyal to them? How is this different in the US?

25. 5. Noble classes are subject to monarch, sometimes forming a parliament (but with no real power) Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why do you think that the monarchs do not want to share their power with a Parliament (this is like the Senate)? What do you think the punishment would have been if Parliament did not agree with the monarch? How is this different in the US?

26. 6. Dominates cultural life by patronage of art OR strict censorship Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why do you think that the monarch would censor (withhold) certain information from the people How is this different in the US?

27. 7. Large standing state armies are loyal to monarch Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why is it important to have an army to protect the monarch? How is this different in the US?

28. 8. Organized state civil service and economy are under direct control of monarch Why do you agree or disagree with this characteristic? Why would the monarch want to control the economy (trade, jobs etc.) How is this different in the US?

29. Student Hypothesis  Take a second to answer this question:  How was King Louis XIV able to maintain absolute power in France?

30. You will now look at some data sets that show you how the sun king kept his power.

31. Exit Slip  How was Louis XIV able to maintain his power over France. Justify your answer using at least three specific characteristics of an absolute monarch and back them up with evidence from your data sets. 

32. DON’T USE THESE SLIDES THEY WERE FOR LDC LAST YEAR!!!

35. Evidence of Absolutism Walking around the room with a small group of 2-3, look at each piece of evidence. Answer the questions provided Determine which absolute monarchy characteristic it displays 3. Have unlimited power over all aspects of state government This image represents the insignia Louis XIV chose as his personal symbol which decorated much of Versailles. Reflect on Louis’s reasons for this choice in reading his explanation: “The symbol that I have adopted and that you see all around you represents the duties of a Prince…I chose for an emblem the Sun…”

36. The frequent fetes (parties), the private promenades (sidewalks) at Versailles, the journey, were means on which the King seized in order to distinguish or mortify (embarrass) the courtiers (nobles), and thus render them more assiduous (attentive) in pleasing him…Louis XIV took great pains to be well-informed of all that passed everywhere; in the public places, in the private houses, in society and familiar intercourse (interactions). His spies and tell-tattlers were infinite…all these letters were seen by him alone, and always before everything else…these unknown means ruined an infinite number of people of all classes, who never could discover the cause; often ruined them very unjustly; for the King, once prejudiced, never altered his opinion. At 8 o-clock the chief valet…awoke the king…At the quarter (of the hour)…the grandes entrees(nobles) were called for...(who were required to follow him around for the majority of the day). The chamberlain drew back the curtains…and presented the holy water (to the king)…(Later he ate breakfast)…I have seen, but very rarely, even his sons standing at their dinners, the King not offering them a seat. I have often seen there also even the heir to the throne give the King his napkin and remain standing…(Later after dinner ) He said good night with an inclination of the head…everyone one left except the specially privileged…they did not leave until he got into bed (well after 11 o-clock). CITATION: De Rouvroy, Louis. (1755). The Memoirs of the Duke of Saint-Simon on the Reign of Louis XIV [r. 1643-1715] and the Regency. In M. Wiesner et al., Discovering the Western Past: A Look at the Evidence (49-53). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

37. (In a letter to his son about ruling) I commanded the four secretaries of state not to sign anything at all any longer without discussing it with me, the superintendant likewise, and for nothing to be transacted at the finances without being registered in a little book that was to remain with me, where I could always see at a glance, briefly summarized, the current balance and the expenditures made or pending. CITATION: Louis XIV (1970). Louis XIV: Mémoires for the Instruction of the Dauphin (Paul Sonnino Trans.). New York: The Free Press. (Original work published 1755).

46. Exit SlipCitation List two ways Louis XIV communicated his absolute power in actions, List two ways Louis XIV communicated his absolute power in art List two ways Louis XIV communicated his absolute power in architecture. Cite the document you’ve found each answer in: (Author/Artist,Year) Example: Louis XIV commissioned (paid for and controlled) art of himself that used his dress and positioning to display power (Rigaud, 1701).