chapter 16 part 2 absolutism. jean baptiste colbert (1661-1683) french finance minister under louis...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 16Part 2Absolutism
Jean Baptiste Colbert (1661-1683)
French Finance minister under Louis XIV
Was Mr. Mercantilism Continued construction of roads and
canals Granted government-supported
monopolies in certain industries Cracked down on guilds Reduced internal tariffs that
hindered internal trade
Colbert
Organized French trading companies to encourage overseas trade: French East India Co. French West India Co.
French mercantilism reached its height under the direction of Colbert
By 1683
France was Europe’s leading industrial country!
Silk, tapestries, mirrors, lace-making, foundaries for firearms
Colbert’s most impressive contribution: created the French merchant marine
Problems with French Mercantilism
The terrible conditions of the peasants (being taxed to death) caused many to leave the country
Too much $ spent on a huge army and not enough $ spent on the navy
So…France will lose naval wars to England
So many wars during Louis XIV’s reign drained the treasury
Louis XIV’s Wars
1667-68 The War f the Dutch Devolution
1672-78 Second Dutch War1688-97 War of the League of
Augsburg1701-1713 War of the Spanish
Succession
Wars will be initially successful
BUT will be ruinous to the French economy
France will develop the modern professional army
A Balance of Power system emerged in Europe: no single country will be allowed to dominate Europe.
A coalition of other countries will form to prevent one country from dominating
NOTE
William of Orange (the Dutch Stadtholder and later William III of England…William and Mary fame) was the most important person in stopping Louis XIV’s ambitions
War of the Dutch Devolution
1667 Louis XIV invaded the Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) without declaring war
France gained 12 fortified towns on the border of the Spanish Netherlands but gave up Burgundy
1672-78 The Second Dutch War
Louis invaded the southern Netherlands (as revenge for the Dutch interfering in previous war on Belgium)
1678-79 The Peace of Nijmegan: France took Burgundy back from Spain as well as some Flemish towns
1688-97 War of the League of Augsburg
1686 The League of Augsburg was formed by the HRE, Spain, the Dutch Republic, Sweden, Bavaria, Saxony
This was in response to yet another French invasion in 1683
The Coalition is proof of the emergence of a Balance of Power philosophy in Europe
After the start of the war
William of Orange became King of England and brought England into the war against France
Began the Second 100 Years’ War England and France will fight against
each other from 1689-1815 with few years of peace in the mix
The war ended with the status quo as it was before the war
The War of the Spanish Succession
1701-13 Charles II (the Spanish Hapsburg
King) left the Spanish throne to Louis XIV’s grandson and heir!
Other European powers will form a coalition: the Grand Alliance to thwart a mega power emerging in Europe
The Grand Alliance v Spain and France
The Grand Alliance: England, the Dutch Republic, the HRE, Brandenburg, Portugal, Savoy
1704 Battle of Blenheim: a turning point signaling one French defeat after another
John Churchill (ancestor of Winston) aka the Duke of Marlborough, defeated French forces with the English army and the help of Savoy
The Treaty of Utrecht 1713
Maintained the balance of power in Europe
Ended the expansionism of Louis XIV
The Brits were the big winners Spain lost territory and the Asiento
to the Brits Spain gave up Gibraltar and Minorca
to the Brits AND the Brits won the right to send
one ship a year to trade in Spain’s New World territories
The Treaty of Utrecht The Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) was
given to Austria (the HRE) The Netherlands gained some land on
the French border as a buffer Recognition of the kings of Savoy
(Sardinia) and Brandenburg (Prussia)
Louis XIV’s grandson WAS able to take the Spanish throne BUT could not rule France too.
The Spanish and French thrones would NOT be combined
Results of Louis XIV’s wars:
Destroyed the French economy (bankrupted France)
The debt was shouldered by the Bourgeoisie
20% of French subjects died
Big time social and financial tensions
Spain
Experienced its Golden Age in the 16th Century
Ferdinand and Isabella began to centralize after their marriage in 1469
The basis for absolutism was formed by Charles V and his son, Philip II
Philip II (1556-1598) ruled Spain at its height of power
Madrid was the Capital
Philip built the Escorial to demonstrate his awesome power (Baroque)
Philip fostered numerous court rituals to reinforce his power
Developed a command economy
Continued the inquisition
Spanish Decline in the 17th Century
Shrinking population: 1550: 7.5 million 1660: 5.5 million
The Spanish economy was hurt by the loss of its middle class (Jews and Moors)
The Decline of the Spanish Economy
Between 1594 and 1680 Spain had to repudiate its debts several times
Treasury was bankrupt Spanish trade with its colonies fell by
60% between 1610 and 1660 (largely due to interference by English and Dutch)
National taxes hit peasants hard Many left the country side for the city Resulted in decreased food production
and rising prices
Spain’s Decline
Inflation (from the price Revolution) hurt domestic industries that were not able to export goods
A poor work ethic did not help: Noble titles sometimes purchased and
provided tax exemptions for the wealthy Capitalism was not prevalent
Political and Military Decline
Although the defeat in the War of the Spanish Armada seemed to be the beginning of the end, Spain was still the most powerful nation into the 17th century
Poor leadership of the three kings following Philip II
Philip III, Philip IV, Charles II all worse than the one before
Spain’s Defeat in the War of the Spanish Succession
Was disastrous Spain lost the Spanish Netherlands
to the Austrian Hapsburgs By 1640 Portugal (ruled for a time
by Spain) established its independence
The Treaty of the Pyrenees 1659
Meant the end of Spain as a great power
War between Spain and France continued for 11 years after the end of the Thirty Years’ War
By 1700 Spain had only 8 ships in its navy
Its army was mostly mercenary Spain lost most of its European
possessions in the Treaty of Utrecht