1. Essential Question: What are the characteristics of Absolutism?
This Lecture could be found under Units-> Period Two-> Absolutism & Constitutionalism-> Power Points

2. Read Aloud
Go to website and open Background to Absolutism Reading

3. Absolutism
A form of government, usually within a monarchy, in which the ruler exercised absolute power over virtually all facets of his or her kingdom. Sovereignty was in the hands of one ruler. King usually ruled by Divine Right.

4. Absolute monarchs controlled:
Government and law; Make laws
Religion
Economic policy; collect taxes
Military
justice system
the state’s administrative system
foreign policy
Country’s culture

5. In order to be an absolutist, the monarch needed to eliminate all competition within the country:
No courts to overrule his or her decision
No armies to threaten stability
No nobles powerful enough to successfully scheme against the crown

6. Absolutism streamlined the governing of a nation and reduced the time it took to make and act on decisions.
For the monarch, absolutism was ideal in times of crisis, war, or revolution.

7. Why Absolutism? A response to the crisis to the 16th & 17th centuries
A search for order-Monarchy was seen as a stabilizing force
As revolts, wars and rebellions died down, the privileged classes of society remained in control of political systems

8. When was the Age of Absolutism?
Seventeenth century.
Which countries had absolute monarchs?
France
Austria
Russia
Prussia
Spain (decline of monarchy)
England (constitutionalism)

9. Richelieu, Political Will and Testament
First, open Political Will and Testament, which is on the website. Read the document, in which Richelieu makes the early arguments for absolutism. Second, answer the corresponding questions as a group. 1-3 Only not the short response. Turn in one sheet for all members. We will discuss.

10. EQ: How did 16th-17th Century thinkers justify absolutism?
TPS: What are the characteristics of absolutism?
Challenge time!!!

11. Hello my name is____________
Hello my name is____________. I would like to share parts of our previous lesson. One topic was in regards to absolutism. One characteristic of absolutism was____________.
Thank your for your attention. At this point I would like to ask __________ to share his/her knowledge with the class.

12. The Theory of Absolutism
Jean Bodin
Bishop Bossuet
Six Books of the Commonwealth
Absolute supremacy of the state based on divine will & natural law (1577)
Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture
Defended divine right (1679)
Drew a distinction between absolute & arbitrary government

13. Assignment
Read the text excerpts actively (highlight/annotate) answer the questions that follow on a separate sheet of paper. Be prepared to share your responses.

14. Reminder
Tomorrow is picture day. Practice your best smile.

15. Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Western Europe, 1589-1715
Louis XIV “The Sun King”

16. France

17. King Louis XIV 1638 – 1715 Became king at age 5 and ruled for 72 years
Referred to himself as the “Sun King” – because the sun was believed to be the center of the universe by this time
Nearly bankrupted France by building himself a massive new palace at Versailles, which housed 10,000 people

18. King Louis XIV Absolutist
Disbanded France’s legislature (Estates General)
Forced the upper nobility to live at Versailles as his perpetual guests so that he could control them
Built a powerful, professional army of 300,000 men
Revoked the Edict of Nantes, causing over 100,000Protestants and Jews to flee France
His personal motto was “I am the state.”

19. More detailed information on the following slides…please view on your own

20. Absolutism in France
The Monarchs of France were the epitome of the absolute monarchs
French Absolutism began to develop under Henry IV as an attempt to secure ascendancy into the court.
It was greatly developed under Richelieu and Louis XIII

21. Absolutism Under Louis XIV
Controlled taxation: Intendants
Hired large professional armies to increase their control and conquer new territory.
Crushed resistance of nobles when they rebelled.
Crushed resistance of Protestant Huguenots – Edict of Nantes revoked.
Palace of Versailles – isolate nobles.
Used secret police
Never called on the Estate-General

22. Henry IV of Navarre

23. Enacted the Edict of Nantes, guaranteeing religious liberties to the Huguenots and ending the civil war.
To suppress opposing nobles, Henry had them paid off in order to prevent wars.
He adopted policies and undertook projects to improve the lives of all subjects, especially workers and peasants.

24. Appointed the Duke of Sully as his chief minister.
Lowered the taxes for French peasants
Regularize state finance
Promote agriculture
Drain swamps to create crop lands
Undertake many public works
Encourage education and create colleges

25. Henry IV renewed Paris as a great city.
Promoted the arts by all classes of people.
Financed expeditions to North America that saw France claim Canada.
Henry IV was assassinated in Paris by Francois Ravaillac who stabbed the king to death while he rode in his coach

26. CARDINAL RICHELIEU Henry IV assassinated in 1610
Henry’s son, Louis XIII, was 8 and too young to rule
Affairs run by Catholic cardinal:
CARDINAL RICHELIEU
Responsible for increasing the power of the French monarchy:
Encouraged nobility to trade
Made it possible for merchants to buy titles of nobility
Founded commercial trading companies
Prohibited private warfare and ordered destruction of all fortified castles

27. Cardinal Richelieu Louis XIII’s chief minister from 1624-1642
Devoted himself to strengthening the power of the monarchy.
Weakens the power of the Habsburgs
Weakens power of the nobles – increases the power of the intendants
Indendents:
Individuals in the 32 provinces of France who were appointed by the king to carry out royal orders, collect taxes, preside over judicial hearings, and recruit soldiers. This system weakened the nobility and strengthened the monarchy.

28. Louis XIII 1610-1643 Took control of government at age 15
Gained control of the nobility
Made Richelieu his chief minister from
Overturned the power of the Protestant Huguenots by retracting the Edict of Nantes.

29. Strengthened royal authority and centralized government control.
Began building a powerful army capable of dominating Europe.
Promoted the arts.
Organized the development and westward expansion of New France in North America to Montreal.
Was married to a Habsburg princess, Anne of Austria, daughter of King Philip III of Spain

30. Louis XIII died in 1643
Louis XIV, his son, was only 4 years old and too young to rule
Cardinal Mazarin lead France until Louis XIV was old enough to take over

31. Mazarin died in 1661
Was an Italian-turned-French citizen and Cardinal of the Catholic Church

32. Was chosen as chief minister by Louis XIII to follow Richelieu and learned his political philosophy
With the death of Richelieu and Louis XIII, Mazarin became the “ruler”. He continued Richelieu’s anti-Habsburg policy and strengthening of the central government.
Was successful in foreign policy- added territory to France in the Treaty of Westphalia

33. Was a failure in domestic policy
Failed to control the nobility
Faced backlash over rising taxes and a failing economy
French rebelled in civil wars known as the Fronde
Mazarin was chased from France twice, but eventually prevailed and helped pave the way for the reign of Louis XIV
Died in 1661, Louis XIV became the ruling monarch

34. “The Sun King”
LOUIS XIV

35. Ruled France from 1643-1715, longest reign in European history.
As a youth, he read diplomatic papers, learned geography, and watched those around him conduct state affairs.
He grew to believe that the nobility could not and should not be trusted.
He learned from Mazarin (who learned from Richelieu) the importance of being a grand and powerful monarch

36. Louis basked in the grandeur of king and craved the attention of the nobles
He embraced the idea that God placed monarchs on thrones and they were intended to be God’s earthly rulers and supported the Catholic cause.
He defined absolutism during his reign.

37. A strong central government was the #1 goal of Louis’ reign.
He decided to convince the nobility to work with him rather than confronting and subduing them.
He planned to control the nobility without them realizing it.
He convinced the wealthy nobles to support measures that benefited themselves and the monarchy.
He eventually convinced the nobility of his grandeur and nobles would do anything to be in his presence.
He used the palace at Versailles to accomplish it.

38. Louis XIV

40. Palace of Versailles

41. Palace of Versailles

43. Huguenots