Lesson #2 - Absolute RulersLesson #2 - Absolute Rulers

50 Cent’s House

http://http://en.chateauversailles.fr/the-en.chateauversailles.fr/the-

palace-palace-

Part II- Access Notes Part II- Access Notes Characteristics of Characteristics of absolute monarchsabsolute monarchs

• Divine rightDivine right

• Centralization of Centralization of powerpower

• No system of No system of checks and checks and balancesbalances

Part III – Absolute Part III – Absolute monarchs?monarchs?

Louis XIV of FranceLouis XIV of France(1643-1715)(1643-1715)

• Sun KingSun King…why?…why?

• ““I am the State”I am the State”– ““L'État, c'est moi”L'État, c'est moi”

• Claimed divine Claimed divine rightright

PoliciesPolicies

• Followed policies of Followed policies of RichelieuRichelieu– Destroy power of nobles Destroy power of nobles

and Huguenotsand Huguenots

• Expanded the Expanded the bureaucracybureaucracy– Intendants collected taxes, Intendants collected taxes,

recruited soldiers, carried recruited soldiers, carried out his policiesout his policies

• Strongest army in Strongest army in EuropeEurope

EconomyEconomy

• Jean Baptiste Colbert Jean Baptiste Colbert (finance minister)(finance minister)

• Mercantilist policiesMercantilist policies– High tariffs on importsHigh tariffs on imports– Encouraged overseas coloniesEncouraged overseas colonies– Regulated tradeRegulated trade

• But, guess what? Louis XIV But, guess what? Louis XIV was often short of cash! was often short of cash! Why?Why?

VersaillesVersailles

Versailles was a palace that became a symbol of royal power.

Peter the Great, Peter the Great, Ruler of Ruler of RussiaRussia

(1682-1725)(1682-1725)

Westernization of RussiaWesternization of Russia

• In 1697, Peter I walked the streets In 1697, Peter I walked the streets of European cities, noting the of European cities, noting the manners and homes of the people.manners and homes of the people.

• The adoption of western ideas, The adoption of western ideas, technology, and culture.technology, and culture.

Westernization of RussiaWesternization of Russia• Beards were cutBeards were cut

• ClothingClothing

• Arranged Arranged marriages endedmarriages ended

How was Peter the Great How was Peter the Great absolute?absolute?

• Strengthen the militaryStrengthen the military• Expand Russian bordersExpand Russian borders• Centralize royal powerCentralize royal power

PoliciesPolicies• Improved educationImproved education

– Simplified Russian alphabetSimplified Russian alphabet– Set up academies for math, science, Set up academies for math, science,

engineeringengineering

• Mercantilist policiesMercantilist policies– Encouraged exportsEncouraged exports– Ended isolationEnded isolation

• Created a mighty navy Created a mighty navy • Used terrorUsed terror

Peter the GreatPeter the Great

Louis XIV vs. Peter the Louis XIV vs. Peter the GreatGreat

• Who was more absolute?Who was more absolute?

• Think about this in terms of divine Think about this in terms of divine right, the centralization of power, right, the centralization of power, and no checks and balances on and no checks and balances on power.power.

Phone Policy ChangePhone Policy Change-History Flex Space-History Flex Space

English Civil War and English Civil War and Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution

What rights do we have What rights do we have today?today?

Write down any rights that you know of which are guaranteed by

our Constitution Please list the ones you know…one of them you

practice on a daily basis. Sometimes too much…and

it makes kitty sad.

In an In an absolute absolute monarchymonarchy, all , all power is power is centralized within centralized within

one person one person

Based on its Based on its name, what do name, what do you think the you think the definition is of a definition is of a limited or limited or constitutional constitutional monarchymonarchy??

England: The Road to England: The Road to ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism

Time LineTime Line

How does England become a constitutional

or limited monarchy?

Early foundations of Early foundations of English rightsEnglish rights

• Magna CartaMagna Carta: limited power of the : limited power of the King and proclaimed certain King and proclaimed certain liberties (1215 CE)liberties (1215 CE)

Early foundations of Early foundations of English rightsEnglish rights

• Jury trialJury trial: right to a trial with the : right to a trial with the outcome decided by a juryoutcome decided by a jury

• Common lawCommon law: precedents bind future : precedents bind future decisionsdecisions

Elizabeth I died without a Elizabeth I died without a Tudor heir in 1603.Tudor heir in 1603.

James I, the first Stuart James I, the first Stuart monarch, took the throne.monarch, took the throne.

Stuart family does not work Stuart family does not work well with Parliamentwell with Parliament

Charles I inherits the Charles I inherits the throne. throne.

-behaved like an absolute monarch-imprisoned his foes without a trial and taxed

heavily.

Charles I dissolves Charles I dissolves Parliament.Parliament.

He ruled without them for 11 years!

He thought he should be able to tax the people without Parliament’s approval.

English Civil WarEnglish Civil War

• Development of political Development of political factions: cavaliers vs. factions: cavaliers vs. roundheadsroundheads

• Supporters of King Charles I vs. Supporters of King Charles I vs. supporters of Parliamentsupporters of Parliament

Charles I is executedCharles I is executed

• Charles I loses and is tried and Charles I loses and is tried and executed by Parliament. executed by Parliament. It’s the It’s the first time a king had ever been first time a king had ever been tried and put to death by his own tried and put to death by his own people.people.

Oliver Cromwell becomes Oliver Cromwell becomes ruler as Lord Protector of ruler as Lord Protector of

EnglandEngland

Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell

• Supposed to be a “republic.”Supposed to be a “republic.”• Took the title Took the title Lord ProtectorLord Protector• Actually a Actually a dictatorshipdictatorship • Strict Puritanical ruleStrict Puritanical rule

– Theatres closedTheatres closed– Dancing prohibitedDancing prohibited– Shut down tavernsShut down taverns

TheaterTheaterDancingDancingTavernsTaverns

GamblingGambling

Restoration of Charles IIRestoration of Charles II

He was wildly popular and returned to cheering crowds…why do you think this was?

But, he had Catholic sympathies.

James II inherits the James II inherits the thronethrone

Flaunts his Catholic faith

He appointed Catholics to high level offices.

Why would Parliament not like this?

What would you do if you were a parliamentary leader?

The Glorious RevolutionThe Glorious Revolution• Parliamentary leaders invited Parliamentary leaders invited

William of Orange and his wife, William of Orange and his wife, Mary (Protestant daughter of Mary (Protestant daughter of James II) to claim the throne.James II) to claim the throne.– Ever heard of the College of Ever heard of the College of

William and Mary?William and Mary?

• Arrived with their armies and Arrived with their armies and James II fled.James II fled.

• Glorious Revolution refers to Glorious Revolution refers to the bloodless overthrow of the bloodless overthrow of James II by William and Mary.James II by William and Mary.

William and Mary had to William and Mary had to accept this document…what accept this document…what

is it?is it?

The English Bill of The English Bill of Rights of 1689Rights of 1689

• Strengthened the power of Parliament Strengthened the power of Parliament over the power of the king.over the power of the king.

• It was like the American Bill of Rights It was like the American Bill of Rights in that it:in that it:– Prohibited excessive fines and cruel Prohibited excessive fines and cruel

punishmentspunishments– Allowed for freedom of speech and petitionAllowed for freedom of speech and petition– Restated traditional rights Restated traditional rights

• trial by jurytrial by jury