Age of Absolutism

I. Age of Absolutism – Leads to Enlightenment

A. Characteristics of absolute monarchies

1. centralization of power

a. ruler has complete control

2. Concept of rule by divine right

B. Examples of absolute monarchs

1. Louis XIV of France “Sun King” – 1643-1715

a. actions to increase central, absolute rule

- total economic control

b. Importance of “theatre state” – look like a

king

c. Palace of Versailles = symbol of royal power

& spending

- Palace grander than any castles of

nobility

d. Parliament stopped meeting

“I am the

state.” -

Louis XIV

France’s Louis XIV – the “Sun King”Absolute Monarch

Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles

2. Peter the Great of Russia – 1682-1725

a. Copied centralization/absolutism from the

west

- “Westernization” – borrowing from W.

Europe

- culture and dress

- Increased trade w/west

b. Reduced power of aristocracy & peasants

c. Built massive army to enforce will

d. Executed son for conspiring against him

e. Built St. Petersburg – “Window to the West”Peter’s “Window to the West”

French Fashion Russian Fashion?

II. English Civil Wars & Glorious Revolution: Increased

Democracy in England

A. English Civil Wars – 1640s

1. Parliamentary forces vs. Royal forces of King Charles I

a. King ignoring rights of parliament

b. Increasing absolutism

c. Hostile towards Puritans

2. Oliver Cromwell & Parliamentarians win.

a. Charles I beheaded

b. Military dictatorship under Cromwell

c. Catholics (mainly Irish)persecuted/deported

to Caribbean Barbados. Oliver Cromwell

3. Restoration of Monarchy; Charles II

a. Oliver Cromwell dies

b. Charles II is restored as King

b. Charles II dies; brother James II is King

c. James returns to absolutism & Catholic

influenceMonarchy Restored under

Charles IIDeath Mask of

Oliver Cromwell

Posthumous Execution of Cromwell(Royalist revenge & Parliamentarian resentment for Cromwell’s power grab)

B. Glorious Revolution – 1688-89

1. Parliamentarians joined with Protestants William of

Orange and wife Mary to overthrow King James.

2. James II is overthrown

3. Impacts of Glorious Revolution

a. England will never be Catholic again

b. Increased parliamentary power

c. Decreased royal power

4. English Bill of Rights - 1689

a. Crown needed parliament’s consent to levy

taxes or suspend lawsWilliam and Mary

5. Development of political parties – Whigs & Tories

a. Liberal Parliamentarians = Whigs

b. Conservative Royalists = Tories

c. Evolved into modern English political parties

Historical Development of the British Two-Party SystemThe first signs of emerging political parties in England were apparent shortly before and after the English Civil War during the 17th century. During this period

parliament split into two made up of those loyal to the king "Cavaliers" and the republicans "Roundheads". The development of a party system, however, did not come about until the king had been reinstated as head of state and loose groupings going under the name of "Tories" and "Whigs" - originally intended as insults -began to develop.

The Tories found their support among the landed gentry and identified themselves strongly with the Anglican Church and the Crown. In contrast, the Whigs represented the interests of large landowners and rich merchants, championed religious and political tolerance and stuck to the basic principle that the king's ministers must have the trust of parliament. A strict dividing line between party and interests were present until well into the 19th century.The first cabinet to be formed out of a parliamentary majority was called into being by William III as early as 1693. The first prime minister was named in 1721 and acted as the head of the cabinet in the absence of the monarch. This development led to a situation in which the parties and their leaders gained great significance in the British constitutional system.

Two of today's political parties developed out of these groupings during the 19th century. In broad terms, the reforming Liberal Party developed from the Whigs and the Conservative Party from the Tories. Indeed, the Conservative Party is still referred to as the Tories today.

It was not until the end of the 19th century that the first elements of a third party began to emerge in the form of the Labour Party, which began to displace the Liberal Party step-by-step as the main opposition party. This breakthrough was achieved by addressing directly the problems faced by the nation's working class, who until the emergence of the Labour Party had voted mainly for the Liberals. The Liberal Party was regarded as the party of political and social reform, even if this eagerness was often economically motivated. The working class was able to identify more easily with Labour Party candidates than members of the upper class and representatives of business, who mainly elected Liberal members to parliament. (...) Ever since the end of the Second World War, Britain's political landscape has been dominated by the Conservative and Labour Parties.[Taken from: Stefan Melnik: Das Parteiensystem; in: Informationen zur politischen Bildung 214, "Großbitannien", Bonn BpB 1987]

Think about it:1. What are some comparisons between the party system that developed in England and the party system of the U.S.?

1. The struggle between Conservatism and Liberalism will be a constant theme in Europe throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Use the reading and your own insight to identify/predict what you believe the guiding principles of each faction will be. Think about all aspects of society and governing.

Conservatism Liberalism

Cromwell “Barbado’ed” thousands of Irish & Scottish

"Tobacco Island"

[Chorus]All to hell we must sailFor the Shores of sweet BarbadosWhere the sugar cane grows tallerThan the god we once believed inTill the butcher and his crownRaped the land we used to sleep inNow tommorow chimes of ghostly crimesThat haunt Tobacco Island

'Twas 1659 forgotten now for sureThey dragged us from our homelandWith the musket and their gunCromwell and his roundheadsBattered all we knowShackled hopes of freedomWe're now but stolen goodsDarken the horizonBlackened from the sunThis rotten cage of BridgetownIs where I now belong

[Chorus]

Red leg down a pegBlistered burns the soulThe floggings they're a plentyBut reasons there are noneOur backs belong to landlordsWhere branded is there namePaid for with ten shillingsCheap labor never breaksThe silver moon is shinin'Cools the copper bloodWhere the livin' meet the deadAnd together dance as one[Chorus]Agony, will you cleanse this misery?For it's never again i'll breatheThe air of homeFrom this sandy edgeThe rolling sea breaks my revengeWith each whisper a thousand wavesI hear roarI'm coming homeDark is the horizonBlackened by the sunThis rotten cage of BridgetownIs where I now belong