1. CH 16: Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe (1589-1715)
AP Euro
The Culture of Absolutism and Constitutionalism

2. Questions to Consider
How did the influence of absolute monarchs affect culture?
Or did the cultural influences of the time create the notion of an absolute monarch?
How did the monarchs of England lose their power?

3. The Culture of Absolutism
Chapter 16: Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe ( )

4. Baroque Art and Music
Rome and the Catholic Church played a key role in development of baroque style
Most fully developed in Catholic countries
Peter Paul Rubens ( ) represents baroque painting
Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) represents baroque music

5. Court Culture Versailles sets trend in court culture
Becomes center of French state
Symbol of Louis XIV’s power
Nobles were required to spend part of the year in attendance
Access to the king translates into political and economic power
Women take on a more prominent role in patronage system

6. French Classicism
Refers to imitation of Roman and Greek artistic models with the values of discipline, restraint, and balance in art
After 1660s, artists focused on glorifying Louis and the state
Nicholas Poussin exemplifies French classicism in painting
Jean-Baptiste Lully music
Moliere and Racine in theater

7. Poussin, The Rape of the Sabine Women.

8. Constitutionalism
Chapter 16: Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe ( )

9. Absolutist Claims in England (1603-1649)
After much bloodshed and instability, England emerged as a constitutional monarchy
James I ( ) succeeds Elizabeth I, asserts his divine right to rule and antagonizes Parliament
House of Commons objects
Members comprised of new wealthy, capitalist class

10. Religious Divides
James I and his successor, Charles I (r ) sympathized with Catholics
Puritans in House of Commons were suspicious
In 1640 Charles I summons Parliament to request funding to suppress a rebellion in Scotland
Parliament passes laws which limit Charles’ power
Irish uprising leads to civil war
Charles I is executed by Parliament in 1649
Parliament is unable to address issue of sovereignty
England becomes military dictatorship run by Oliver Cromwell

11. Puritanical Absolutism in England
Oliver Cromwell and the Protectorate
Cromwell attempts to create a community of Puritan saints
After Cromwell’s death in 1658, England had enough of military rule
Longed for restoration of civilian rule, restoration of common law
By 1660, ready to restore monarchy

12. The Restoration
Charles II (r ) is invited back from exile in France
Limits Parliament by creating 5 man panel
Charles II is caught in secret negotiations, panic ensues
Was negotiating with Louis XIV for gradual return to Catholicism in England and an alliance against Netherlands

13. The Restoration
James II succeeds (r ) but is an open Catholic
Places many Catholics in high positions
Declares universal religious tolerance
Anglican bishops refuse to read his proclamation
James II’s wife produces a male heir
Fear of Catholic dynasty
Parliament offers throne to his daughter, Mary (Protestant)

14. The Restoration James II flees in 1688 to France
Mary and her Dutch husband, Prince William of Orange are crowned king and queen of England

15. The Triumph of England’s Parliament
Constitutional Monarchy and Cabinet Government
The “Glorious” Revolution – Parliament’s expulsion of James II
Bill of Rights passed by Parliament
Guarantees independence of judiciary
Parliament has power to make laws and freedom of debate
Protestants granted religious toleration

16. The Triumph of England’s Parliament
John Locke’s Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690) defends Glorious Revolution
Government was a contract between ruled and ruler for protection of life, liberty, and property
Glorious Revolution was not a democratic revolution
Few English subjects could vote in election of Parliament
Cabinet system is born in 18th century
A cabinet of ministers, responsible to Parliament, governed
Further diminishes power of monarch

17. The Dutch Republic of 17th Century
Basis of power rested on assemblies of wealthy merchants in each of 7 provinces called “Estates”
A federal assembly, “States General”, ran foreign policy – but served the Estates
States General appointed a stadtholder in each province/Estate
Sometimes men held the post of stadtholder in all 7 provinces
Power relied on commercial prosperity

18. The Dutch Republic of 17th Century
The Netherlands was the only realm in Europe that allowed nearly complete religious toleration
In 1650, Dutch owned half of the ships in Europe
Dutch, as a result, controlled much of European trade
Had arguably the highest standard of living in the world
Began to decline around the time of the War of Spanish Succession