Absolutism in Europe

1. Absolutism in Europe

2. Absolutism Three reasons for the growth of Absolutism: • Decline of Feudalism • Rise of cities • Growth of national kingdoms War=larger armies=taxes=mad poor people=uprisings=ABSOLUTISM

3. Spain and Philip II • In the mid 1500’s, Spain controlled: Spain, American Colonies, parts of Italy, Austria and the Netherlands. • Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, retired and split his kingdom. • The majority of his empire was given to Philip II. He controlled SP, colonies, Sp. Neth., and also inherited parts of Africa, India, and E. Indies from his uncle died (king of P). • Philip II became incredibly wealthy from the riches of his colonies, which he used to wage war and build a huge army. He also built a HUGE palace, Escorial.

5. Defender of Catholicism • Philip was a devout Catholic and vowed to rid Europe of Protestants. (Reconquista and Inquisition) • Picked a fight with the most powerful Protestant nation in Europe, England. • It was called the Defeat of the Spanish Armada. • The Spanish were defeated, even though they had twice as many ships as the English.

8. Renaissance in spain • El Greco-very religious, images were often unrealistic. • Diego Velazquez-court painter for Philip. • Miguel Cervantes-Don Quixote de la Mancha. Novel about the time period.

10. Spain becomes weak • Population increase leads to higher demand for food, which causes prices to go up=INFLATION. • Spain expelled Jews and Muslims, which forces the money out. • Nobles, or rich, do not pay taxes. Poor people can’t afford to pay taxes, so there is no revenue. NO MIDDLE CLASS. • Spain had to purchase goods from other European countries (often enemies). • Borrowed money to fight wars, so Spain was in debt.

11. Problems in the Netherlands • Many Dutch were Protestant and tired of paying taxes to a far away king. • They rebelled and Philip was forced to use military action against the Dutch. • They rebelled and destroyed their own cities by flooding it. • The northern provinces of Netherlands became the United Provinces of the Netherlands. The rest remained Catholic and Spanish.

12. Success in UPN • The UPN was very rich and successful. It was a republic with religious tolerance and economically independent. They sold lumber and grain to other Euro. countries and used the money to create the largest naval fleet. (Dutch East India Co.) • UPN had their own Renaissance movement. Rembrandt and Jan Vermeer were famous for their artwork.

14. Spain loses power • Even though Philip lost his Dutch possessions, he remained devoted to spreading Catholicism. • He left Spain is a large amount of debt when he died. • Famous example of an absolute monarch. “His smile and his dagger were very close.”

15. France and the bourbons • France suffered from religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots (Protestants). • Henry of Navarre, or Henry IV, was the first Bourbon king. • After hundreds of Huguenots were slaughtered in Paris, Henry converted to Catholicism. • “Paris is well worth a mass.” • Issued the Edict of Nantes, which declared that Huguenots can live peacefully in France. • He was murdered by religious fanatics and his son Louis XIII reigned.

17. France • Louis XIII was a weak leader. He appointed Cardinal Richelieu as his advisor. Richelieu had been the leader of the Catholic Church in FR and used his position for personal gain. He did several things to show his authority: • He moved against Huguenots. They could practice but their cities couldn’t have walls. • He weakened the nobility and strengthened the middle class. • He involved FR in the Thirty Years’ War with SP, AU, Neth. (Hapsburgs)

18. Louis XIV • “I am the state.” • Many nobles began rebelling over the increased taxes and limited power issued by the Cardinal. They accepted Louis XIV as an absolute monarch because he offered stability and ruled alone. • Louis continues the limit on noble power by ignoring their opinions in council. • He chose a finance minister to help regulate the economy. His name was Jean Baptiste Colbert.

19. England • Parliamentwas a law making body that advised the king or queen. • They had power over the finances of England. • They provided checks and balances for English monarchs and government.

20. James I • James I:He was the nephew of Elizabeth I. He was king of Scotland and England. • He inherited debt from Elizabeth’s reign as queen. • James fought with Parliament over money. He also angered many Protestants because he would not rid the Protestant church of Catholic practices. • He did agree to a new translation of the Bible; The King James Version.

21. Charles I • Charles I:He was the son of James I. He was at war with both Spain and France, so he needed money. • Charles dissolved Parliament several times because they refused to give him money. • He was forced to sign the Petition of Rights, a document which was intended to limit the King’s power. There were four major points: • 1. The king could not imprison anyone without due cause. • 2. He could not levy taxes without Parliament’s consent. • 3. He would not house soldiers in private homes. • 4. He would not impose martial law in peace time.

22. Charles I • After signing the petition, Charles ignored the rules. The document was significant because it set forth the idea that the law is higher than the king. This idea contradicted the idea of absolute monarchy. • He began taxing the people of England without the consent of Parliament, which angered the people of England.

23. English Civil War • English Civil War:Charles was an Anglican king. He wanted all Protestants to follow the teachings of the Church of England. Many Scottish Puritans rebelled. • Charles needed money to fight the war. The only way to get the money was to call the dissolved Parliament into session. Parliament opposed the king and passed laws to limit his power. Charles fled London and went north. • Charles I and Scots v. Parliament and Puritan supporters • (Royalists or Cavaliers v. Roundheads) • For 7 years, supporters and opponents of Charles fought the English Civil War.

24. Cromwell • In 1645, the Puritans found a general named Oliver Cromwell, who led the Puritans to victory. They took Charles prisoner. He was tried for treason and beheaded in a public execution. • After Charles was dead, Cromwell abolished the monarchy and established a republican form of government. He became a military dictator. • Cromwell and his fellow Puritans reformed society by outlawing “sinful activities” such as dancing, theater, and sporting events.

25. Restoration • Restoration:After Cromwell’s death, the people of England wanted another monarch. Charles II, the son of Charles I, was voted back into power. Because he restored the monarchy, this period was known as the Restoration. • Habeas Corpus was established. This meant that people couldn’t be imprisoned for opposing the ruler. It also stated that criminals couldn’t be held without a trial.

27. James II and the Glorious Revolution • Glorious Revolution:After Charles II died, his brotherJames II came to power. He was hated by the people because he was Catholic. • He was overthrown by William and Mary and this is known as the Glorious Revolution (bloodless).

28. William and Mary • After William and Mary came to power, they agreed to work with Parliament in a partnership which became known as a constitutional monarchy. An English Bill of Rights was written which stated: • -The king can’t overrule Parliament. • -No levying of taxes without Parliament’s consent. • -Freedom of speech. • -No penalty for complaining about the monarchy.

30. Cabinet • A Cabinet was established. It became a mediator between the monarch and Parliament. • The majority leader in the cabinet became known as the Prime Minister. • This is the current form of government in England today.