Absolutism

AbsolutismAbsolutism•A type of government in which a single monarch (king) has supreme authority.

•The absolute monarch wields unrestricted power over its people.

•They are not restricted by a Constitution.

Louis XIVLouis XIV•King of France•Ruled 1643 – 1715•Believed in the Divine Right of Kings (chosen by God and only has to answer to God)

•Built the Palace of Versailles w/the people’s money

•“E’tat c’est moi.” (“I am the State.)

•The Sun King

Versailles had over 14,000 fountains. But, there wasn’t enough water to run all the fountains

simultaneously. Therefore, there was a special corps of peasants whose job it was to locate the

king and keep the fountains around the king running while turning off the fountains that were

out of the king’s sight.

Louis XIV died here in 1715 leaving his only survigin descendent as heir, his 5-

year-old great grandson Louis XV.

Over 35,000 laborers and 6,000 horses spent over fifty years on the

construction.

At court, you weren’t allowed to knock on the door to see the king;

instead you had to use your left little finger to scratch on the door

until you were allowed to enter (many court members grew their left little finger nail longer for this

purpose)

Versailles

Costs Billions to build•Louis XIII used the land as his hunting grounds•Louis XIV destroyed all of the accounting paperwork•Decorated with huge paintings on walls, ceilings•Silver furniture, chandeliers, statues, etc.•All of the materials used were from France•Louis forced the nobility to live on site•Stopped them from gaining power to use against him•Some forced to live in one bedroom apartments•Symbol of royal authority from 1682-1789 (French Rev.)

Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des

Glaces)•Along with the Oval Office, one of the most famous rooms on the planet•Treaty to end WWI signed here (Treaty of Versailles)

Peter the GreatPeter the Great•Czar (Tsar) of Russia (Czar is Russian for Caesar)•Ruled starting at the age of 10! 1682 – 1725 •Westernized Russia (made it more European)•Modernized Russia•Wanted a warm water port for Russia (1st Russian navy)•Table of Rank (rank on service, not nobility)

St. Petersburg “Window to the West”:•Peter wanted a warm water port•Won war with Sweden to gain this land•Conscripted Russian serfs to build his city, 100,000 peasants died in the process•Made it the Capital of Russia (was Moscow)

The Grand EmbassyThe Grand Embassy• A trip throughout Europe to form an alliance with European countries against the Ottomans• London:

1. Visited new city of Manchester being built2. Visited shipbuilding yards3. Observed Parliament (why important?)

• Amsterdam:1. Stayed for 4 months2. Visited a shipbuilding yard (why another?)

• Had to leave Europe early due to a rebellion in Russia

The Westernization of The Westernization of RussiaRussia

• Beards must be cut or pay a tax• Women removed veils and wore lower-cut French-style dresses• Changed calendar from Russian year 7202 to Julian year 1700• Long coats were replaced with European pants• Ended arranged marriages• Opened Western schools• Started a Russian newspaper (Freedom of the press?)• Brought potatoes to Russia

The Development of the Rights of Englishmen

Back in England…Back in England…•Queen Elizabeth I dies in 1603•James IV of Scotland becomes James I of England. He dies in 1625

•James’s son Charles becomes King.

James I•Believed in divine right of kings

•King James IV of Scotland (aged 13 months) AND King James I of England & Ireland (1603 after death of Queen Elizabeth)

•English colonization of North America (Jamestown 1607)

Charles I•Reigned 1625 – 1649 •Believed in divine right of kings

•Highly religious•Did not like Parliament and its House of Commons (elected by the people)

•Needed money but Parliament refused so he dissolved it

•Executed by Oliver Cromwell

The English Civil WarThe English Civil War• 1642 - 1651• Charles I flees London• England divided:

1. Pro-King (Cavaliers)2. Pro-Parliament (Roundheads)

• Charles captured in Scotland, tried and executed for treason under Roundhead Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell•Puritan (no fun – no Christmas, no pubs, tore down Globe Theater)

•Abolished all aspects of Parliament

•Became a dictator•Died from an illness – huge funeral

•Body eventually dug up and “executed”

Charles II •Son of Charles I•Reigned 1660 – 1685 •New Parliament elected and chose to reinstate a monarch

•Brought back fun to England

•Under him, Parl. passed habeas corpus against unlawful imprisonment (a prisoner has to be brought before a court or judge – trial)

James II•Charles II’s younger brother

•Reigned 1685 – 1688 •Catholic – distrusted by the people (England was Protestant)

•Tried to dissolve Parliament but was run out of the country

•Daughter Mary and husband William took over

William & Mary

•Glorious Revolution (bloodless overthrow of James II)

•Signed the English Bill of Rights and established a “Constitutional Monarchy” (King follows a Constitution)