Setting the Stage

for Revolution:
Absolute Monarchies
World History
 Definitions
1. Divine Right:
Belief that a ruler’s authority
comes directly from God.
2. Absolute Monarch:
Ruler with complete authority
over the government and
lives of the people he or she
governs.
 Absolute Monarchies in
Europe
1550-1800
Spain
France
England
Austria
Prussia
Russia
 Absolute Monarchies in Europe
1550-1800

From World History:

Connections to Today
Prentice Hall, 2003
 Thirty Years’ War
1618-1648 (page 427)
 1640: Holy Roman Empire has broken down into several Prussian
(German) principalities.
 Electors from the 7 major German states elect the Holy Roman emperor.
Many other German states no longer recognize the power of the Holy
Roman emperor.
 1641: Ferdinand of Bohemia (Hapsburg king) elected emperor. He is
Anti – Protestant. Tried to return Prussia (Germany) to Catholicism.
Spain, Poland supported Ferdinand. Protestant countries – Sweden,
Netherlands – sent troops into Prussia to protect Protestants. France
comes in on side of Sweden to protect Alsace from Prussian control.
 Over thirty years alliances continually changed.
 War led to starvation, famine and disease. Area severely depopulated.
 1648: Peace of Westphalia signed. France is clear winner, gains territory
from Spain and Prussia, including Alsace. Prussia remains fragmented
and Hapsburgs lose much power.
From World History:
Connections to Today
Prentice Hall, 2003
 The Philosopher Behind the Age
• Thomas Hobbes
• 1660 – Wrote the Leviathan (Giant)
• Discussed the perfect government
• People first lived in anarchy
• Needed a “social contract”
• Required an absolute monarch to
maintain order
• People retained the right only to
maintain their lives.
England - Pathway to
Revolution
1603-1689
• Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) –
Absolute ruler of England.
• Kept Parliament on her
side.
• Stabilized the nation and
expanded British territory.
• Died without an heir.
• Country had to decide
who would replace her.
England - Pathway to Revolution
1603-1689
England – James I
(1603 – 1625)
• James VI of Scotland
• Became James I of England
when Elizabeth I died.
• Believed in Divine Right of
Kings. (page 435) “Kings are
called gods because they sit
upon God’s throne on earth.
• Ran up a huge debt in
England.
• Had Bible translated from
Latin into English
England – Charles I
1625 - 1649
• Charles I of England
• Absolute monarch - had no
problem with putting his enemies
in prison without trial
• Ran up a huge debt
• Dissolved Parliament in 1629
• Touched off a massive
English Civil War between
supporters of Charles and
supporters of Parliament led by
Oliver Cromwell.
• Charles I beheaded in 1649.
England – Oliver Cromwell
1649 - 1658
• Oliver Cromwell: Lord Protector – England
• Ruled through the army
• Exiled Catholics to Ireland
• Strict Puritan laws passed – theaters
closed, Sunday set aside for worship, no
lewd dancing, taverns or gambling
• Religious freedom for everyone else
• When Cromwell died, Restoration began.
England – Charles II
The Restoration
1660 - 1685
• Charles II - Popular ruler
• Monarchy restored –
Hence: Restoration
• Bowed to the wishes of
Parliament
• Restored the Church of
England
• Stabilized government
England – James II
1685 - 1688
• James II - Absolute Ruler
• Antagonized Parliament
• Ran up a huge debt
• Openly Catholic
• Forced from throne in
what came to be called
the Glorious Revolution.
• Glorious Revolution
 England – William and Mary
English Bill of Rights
1689
• William and Mary were given the throne after the
English Bill of Rights was passed.
• Guaranteed supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy.
• Parliament had to meet on a regular basis
• Monarchy could neither make nor suspend laws
• Trial by jury reinstated.
• Abolished fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
• Affirmed “writ of habeas corpus” – no person can be held
in prison without first being charged with a specific crime.
Due process of laws.
• Laid groundwork for American system of laws.
The Philosophy Advances
• John Locke
• 1690
• People first lived in anarchy
• Needed a “social contract”
• People gave up only SOME of their
individual rights.
• Kept the right to:
- Live
- Enjoy Liberty
- Own Property
• Rulers who violated these rights broke
the social contract and could be
overthrown.
 France – Louis XIV
Ruled 1643 - 1715
 Called himself the Sun King
 Believed in divine right.
“L’etat, c’est moi.” I am the
state. (page 417)
 Made French army the
strongest in Europe
 France was the wealthiest
country in Europe under
Louis XIV
 Louis XIV spent huge
amounts of money
 Built Versailles. (page 419)
 War of Spanish Succession
(page 420)
 France – Louis XIV
Versailles
 Expanded from a
hunting lodge in 1669.
 Became the symbol to
European monarchs of
the wealth and power
of the king of France.
 Seat of French
government for nearly
over 100 years.
 Its upkeep consumed
as much as 25% of the
income of France.
 France – Louis XIV
Versailles
 Expanded from a
hunting lodge in 1669.
 Became the symbol to
European monarchs of
the wealth and power
of the king of France.
 Seat of French
government for over
100 years.
 Its upkeep consumed Hall of Mirrors
as much as 25% of the
income of France.
Spain – Philip II
Ruled 1556-1598
• Philip II - Sought to expand Spanish influence –
ruled Spain when the empire was at its height.
Included the Spanish New World (page 414)
• Devout: tried to strengthen Catholic church
• Centralized royal power
• Married Mary I of England – returned England to
Catholicism
• Invaded England with Spanish Armada against
Elizabeth I – He lost most of the Armada.
Spain – Philip II
Ruled 1556-1598
Russia – Peter the Great
Ruled 1682-1725
• Peter the Great of Russia
• Goal was to westernize Russia.
Forced powerful boyars to bow to
his will.
• Built modern Western city for
Russian capital – St. Petersburg.
• Spread serfdom.
• Studied Western technology.
Worked in a shipyard
• Extended Russian territory – to
Pacific Ocean.
• 1700: Fought Sweden for control
of Baltic. Gained several Baltic
ports
Russia – Peter the Great

From World History:

Connections to Today
Prentice Hall, 2003
Austria – Maria Theresa
ruled 1740 - 1780
 Absolute monarch of Austria
 Fought Frederick II of Prussia for
control of Hungary and Silesia
 Reorganized the government
 Enlightened Despot
 Eased tax burden on her people
 Gave more rights to her subjects
 Gave birth to 16 children while in
power
 Prussia – Frederick II
Ruled 1740-1786
 Absolute ruler of Prussia (Germany)
 Attacked Austria,
sparking the War of
Austrian Succession
 Unified Prussia, part of
the Holy Roman
Empire, into one
nation
Absolutism Summary Chart
Textbook page 436

From World History: Connections to Today

Prentice Hall, 2003