Response to Crisis:

Absolutism

Chapter 7: Section 3

Response to the Crisis

Seek stability by increasing the monarchy’s

power

Do you think this would be a good idea?

Why or why not?

More power for rulers

Absolutism – A system where a ruler holds total power.

In Europe it is tied to the idea of Divine Right of Kings – rulers received power from God

Rights – make laws, levy taxes, court system, hire and fire officials, and determine foreign policy.

17th Century Absolutism

Best example? Louis XIV

French power and culture spread throughout

Europe

Other political courts imitated Louis XIV

Louis XIV Comes to Power

Was given throne at

the age of 4

People of France

wanted stability with a

monarch so…

Became King at the

age of 23

Sun King – Source of

light for all the people

of France

Government of Louis XIV

3 purposes for Royal Court at Versailles

1. Personal household of the King

2. Chief offices of the state were located

there.

3. Place where powerful subjects came to

find favors and offices.

From here Louis controlled central policy-

making machinery of gov’t

Versailles

Louis brought nobles and princes here to

distract them from politics

Tactic worked

Gov’t obeyed his every wish

Ruled with absolute authority in 3 areas:

Foreign policy

Church

Taxes

At the Court of Versailles

In 1660, Louis XIV of France decided to build a palace at Versailles, near Paris. Untold sums of money were spent and tens of thousands of workers labored incessantly to complete the work. The enormous palace housed thousands of people.

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Religion

Anti-Huguenot stance

Huguenots were to convert to Catholicism

Protestant Churches and Schools were

destroyed

200,000 people fled from France to other

countries

The Economy and War

Louis often spent

more money than

France had

Jean Baptiste Colbert

– controller of

finances

Used mercantilist

ideals

Colbert

Money = War

Decreased imports and increased exports

Used money to create an army of 400,000

Waged 4 wars from 1667 – 1713

Added some territory for France

Other countries set up groups to prevent

French dominance

Situation in France

1715 Louis XIV died

France was debt-ridden

Surrounded by enemies

Seemed remorseful (sorry) for not caring

for the people more