Age of Absolutism

1648-1789

DO NOW

What does the term “absolute” mean?

Absolute

Adjective1. Complete and total2. Not limited in any way3. Having unlimited power

Absolute Language/Thinking

Never AlwaysNone EveryWrong RightNo Yes

Absolutism

Write the term in the middle of your concept map.

Use the following information from class notes we just took class notes we will take the reading coming up

to complete the rest of the map.

WHO: Absolutist Monarch

supreme ruler whose power is not limited / does not have to consult with other people

WHAT: Absolutist Monarchy (also known as “Absolutism”)

System of government with a supreme ruler (monarch) in charge

Active Reading assignment

While you read…1. Bracket the main idea or thesis of the

reading / put an asterisk next to it2. Circle and define any unfamiliar

words3. For each paragraph, explain “what it

says” in one sentence.4. Add any new or relevant information

to your concept map.

Active Reading assignment

After you read…1. Write a one paragraph summary of

what you just read2. Explain aloud to a neighbor what you

have just read (when you do so, you transfer info from short term to long term memory!)

DO NOW

What is a “state”?

Think about previous class discussions.

What is a “nation”?

How are these terms different? Can they be combined?

A state is… A government A society having exclusive power within its

own borders

A nation is…

a large group of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, or history

A nation state is…Where both the nation (group of people with

something in common) and the state (government with sole authority) exist

Peace of Westphalia (1648)ended Thirty Years’ War in Holy Roman Empire

and begins the era of the nation state

What time period does this map represent? Do you notice anything different from previous maps?

Can you find France on the map? What do we know about life in France at this time?

Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715)

Personified the absolutist ruler

“L’etat, c’est moi” // “I am the state”

The Sun King

Louis also known as the Sun King, meaning the earth revolves around him

The Fronde

Series of revolts where a number of people demanded power for the parliament

Revolts put down but Louis’s family embarassed Spends life as ruler creating policies to prevent

this kind of revolt

Divine Right

King derives right to rule directly from the will of god - not from his people, nobles, or even the

church Only God can judge an unjust king

King’s power is absolute / cannot be questioned

Divine Right Louis promotes the

official Catholic church hierarchy

Puts down other groups (Calvinist groups such as Jansenists, Huguenots) who support Protestant teachings (too much emphasis on the individual’s conscience)

Bureaucracy Bureau - French word for “desk” / comes to mean

“office” Louis handpicks officials to carry out his will as

parliament members, governors, etc. Government run by these officials, not elected by

the people

Court Culture Louis woos promises jobs, gifts, and money for French nobles who are loyal and threatens those

who don’t pay him respect Makes himself the center of French culture

Court Culture Everything that takes

place is to enhance Louis’s prestige

Mock battles, extravaganzas, theatrical performances, even the king’s dinner: his daily life as a public performance

Calls himself the “Sun King,” decorates his court with statues of Apollo, Greek god of the sun

Court CultureLouis glorifies his

image through public works

projects– Reconstructio

n of the Louvre

– New palace at Versailles

Court Culture Geometrical arrangements at Versailles show

that art and design can tame nature Power is all about control

“A Day in the Life of Louis XIV”

Actively read this passage on Louis XIV’s daily activities

Do you believe these activities are necessary for the king to maintain

his power?

Is there anything we could add to our concept maps?

Exploring Absolutism

Listen carefully. You will be assigned a particular figure to

research: Frederick William (Great Elector of

Brandenburg-Prussia) Charles XI of Sweden Leopold I of Austria

Tsar Alexei of Russia

DO NOW

ABSOLUTESHARED

What do these words mean?

Classify……the following words under “Absolute”

or “Shared” (consider making a T chart)

divine partialdecrees consensualequality conditionalsupportive unlimitedcontrolling unqualifiedlistens agreeduncompromising considerationlaws

With a neighbor…

Which of these lists would you use to describe an absolute monarch? Which of these lists would you use to describe

a constitutional monarch?

What do you think the difference is between the two types of monarchs?

Do Now

What is a “civil war”?

When can a conflict be defined as a “civil war”?

Civil War

War between organized groups within the same state

Very intense conflict involving armed troops

Possible goals:1. to take control of the country or

region2. to achieve independence for a region3. to change government policies

Can you locate England on the map? What about its location may have an impact on

England’s development?

Stuart Monarchy After Elizabeth I dies,

her cousin from Scotland becomes king of England, known as James I (1603)

Thanks to Elizabeth, England is left to James I as a strong state

James I believed in divine right and absolutism, did not get along with Parliament

Puritans Strict group of

Calvinists who believe the Church of England is still too much like Catholic Church

Wanted to take power away from church officials (James I sees this as a threat)

James I makes one important compromise with Puritans: has new version of Bible published, called King James Bible

Stuart Monarchy When James I dies

(1625), his son Charles I becomes king

Charles faces increasingly aggressive Parliament

Petition of Right: king cannot levy taxes without permission from Parliament

Independent ReadingActively read the text,

“Choosing Sides in the English Civil War”

Oliver Cromwell During the war,

Puritans unite under an obscure member of Parliament: Oliver Cromwell

His New Model Army defeats Cavaliers at Naseby (1645)

Charles I surrenders (1646)

“A World Turned Upside Down” Cromwell and the army

kick everyone out of Parliament who disagree with them

Those who are left make up the “Rump Parliament”

Rump Parliament puts Charles I on trial for treason and execute him

Monarchy outlawed

Oliver Cromwell

Watch this video on Oliver Cromwell and take notes using the worksheet…

Do Now

We have discussed different definitions of the word “revolution” in this class.

What are they?

Revolutions are often associated with violence. Why do you think this

happens? Can this be avoided? Why or why not?

The Restoration The execution of

Charles I made a martyr out of him

Under the military dictatorship of Cromwell, people began to wish for the return of a monarch

The Restoration Parliament invites

monarch to return to England - Charles II (1660)

disputes between King and Parliament continue– King suspends laws against

Catholics and Puritans – Parliament passes laws

requiring gov’t officials to pledge allegiance to Church of England (can’t be Catholic)

The Restoration James II -

succeeds throne when his father dies (1685)

Pro-Catholic, absolutist

Glorious Revolution Tories and Whigs in

Parliament band together - invite William of Orange and his wife Mary to invade England

However, they must promise to sign a bill of rights

James II flees to France / William & Mary take the throne and no blood is shed

Glorious Revolution English Bill of Rights

(1689)– Monarch can’t raise army

or levy taxes without Parliament’s consent

– Need to meet with Parliament at least every three years

– Guarantee free elections for Parliament

– Parliament officially recognized as an independent body that shares power with rulers

CONSTITUTIONALISM WINS OVER ABSOLUTISM

Classify……the following words under “Absolute”

or “Not Absolute” (make a T chart)

divine partialdecrees consensual

supportive conditionalcontrolling unlimited

listens unqualifieduncompromising agreed

laws consideration

Constitutional Monarchy The monarch reigns but does not rule. Absolute monarchy: the monarch is the

source of power Constitutional monarchy: the constitution

(set of laws) is the source of power

Constitutional MonarchyThe monarch has to share power with other

parts of government– Legislature (parliament)– Courts

Monarchy: Venn DiagramWhat characteristics are unique in absolutism?

What characteristics are unique in constitutionalism?

What do they have in common?

Use the graphic organizer to help you compare and contrast.

Try to address the following topics: what are you describing? who has power? how much power? who

do laws apply to? how might taxation occur?

Do Now

While European states, like England, began adopting constitutional forms of government, do you believe these ideas transferred to their colonies in

the New World?

If so, how? In what ways?

Why or why not?

Freedom and Slavery in the New World

Collect the clues to actively read this passage on “Freedom and Slavery in

the New World”

Circle any terms/words you do not know and try to define them

Asterisk or underline the big ideas

Freedom and Slavery in the New World

Reading discussion questions:1. “slavery began to take clear institutional form in

the New World in this period” - what does this mean?

2. what was life like in the Caribbean colonies?3. Who was responsible for the slave trade?4. What factors might account for the increase in

the slave trade?5. What was government like in the English

colonies?6. What was life like for native Americans?7. Did European ideas about government transfer

to the New World? If so, which ones? Who did they apply to? Why?