Setting the Stage Setting the Stage for Revolution: for Revolution:

Absolute Absolute MonarchiesMonarchies

BackgroundEnglandFrance

Other Nations

DefinitionsDefinitions1. 1. Divine Right:Divine Right:

Belief that a ruler’s authority comes Belief that a ruler’s authority comes directly from God.directly from God.

2. Absolute Monarch:2. Absolute Monarch:

Ruler with complete authority over the Ruler with complete authority over the government and lives of the people he government and lives of the people he or she governs.or she governs.

Absolute Monarchies in Absolute Monarchies in EuropeEurope

1550-18001550-1800•SpainSpain

•King PhillipKing Phillip

•FranceFrance

•King LouisKing Louis

•EnglandEngland

•King HenryKing Henry

•RussiaRussia

•Czar CatherineCzar Catherine

Absolute Monarchies in EuropeAbsolute Monarchies in Europe1550-18001550-1800

From From World History: World History: Connections to Today Connections to Today Prentice Hall, 2003Prentice Hall, 2003

Magna Carta

• In 1215, Prince John was forced to sign the Magna Carta

• Effect: Kings limited by the law

England

• Ruled by both a monarch and parliament • Parliament consists of nobles and elected

commoners

Elizabeth IElizabeth I

• Ruler of England for a half Ruler of England for a half century century

• Stabilized the nation and Stabilized the nation and expanded British territoryexpanded British territory

• Never marriedNever married• Argued with parliament Argued with parliament

constantlyconstantly

Elizabethan England

• Crowded cities with open sewers

• Spread of Puritanism• William Shakespeare

(queen loved plays)• Rich had houses with

hundreds of servants• Poor often couldn’t

find enough to eat

Elizabethan England

• Defeat of world’s best navy: The Spanish Armada

• Established British East India Company

• Colonization of North America

• Died without an heir

England – James IEngland – James I

• Became James I of England Became James I of England when Elizabeth I died.when Elizabeth I died.

• Had Bible translated from Had Bible translated from Latin into EnglishLatin into English

Charles ICharles I

• Dissolved Parliament in 1629Dissolved Parliament in 1629• Touched off a massive Touched off a massive

English Civil War between English Civil War between supporters of Charles and supporters of Charles and supporters of Parliament led supporters of Parliament led by Oliver Cromwellby Oliver Cromwell

• Charles I beheaded in 1649Charles I beheaded in 1649

Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell

• Title: Lord ProtectorTitle: Lord Protector• Exiled Catholics to IrelandExiled Catholics to Ireland• Strict Puritan laws passed – Strict Puritan laws passed – • Theaters closedTheaters closed• Sunday set aside for worshipSunday set aside for worship• No dancingNo dancing• No tavernsNo taverns• No gamblingNo gambling

The RestorationThe Restoration

• People hated Cromwell, People hated Cromwell, wanted a king backwanted a king back

• Monarchy restored – Monarchy restored – Hence: RestorationHence: Restoration

• King had to follow the King had to follow the wishes of Parliamentwishes of Parliament

• Had to agree to a Bill of Had to agree to a Bill of RightsRights

English Bill of Rights

1. Freedom from royal interference with the law (the Sovereign was forbidden to establish his own courts or to act as a judge himself)

2. Freedom from taxation by royal prerogative, without agreement by Parliament

3. Freedom to petition the King 4. Freedom from a peace-time standing army, without agreement by

Parliament 5. Freedom [for Protestants] to have arms for defense, as allowed by law 6. Freedom to elect members of Parliament without interference from the

Sovereign 7. The freedom of speech in Parliament, in that proceedings in Parliament

were not to be questioned in the courts or in any body outside Parliament itself (the basis of modern parliamentary privilege)

8. Freedom from cruel and unusual punishments, and excessive bail 9. Freedom from fines and forfeitures without trial

The Philosophy AdvancesThe Philosophy Advances• Thomas Hobbes• Wrote The Leviathan in

1651• Social Contract Theory• People first lived in anarchy• Lots of freedom, no safety• Social Contract between

people and government – give up freedom for more safety

Was actually Anti--DemocracyWas actually Anti--Democracy

The Philosophy AdvancesThe Philosophy Advances• John Locke• 1690• Added to Social Contract

Theory• Kept the right to:

- Live - Enjoy Liberty - Own Property

• Rulers who violated these rights broke the social contract and could be overthrown.

The Philosophy AdvancesThe Philosophy Advances• Voltaire• 1740 • The Spirit of the LawsSeparation of powers

- Legislative - Executive - Judicial

• This would soon become the basis of the US Constitution in 1781

France – Louis XIVFrance – Louis XIVRuled 1643 - 1715Ruled 1643 - 1715

Ruled 72 yearsRuled 72 years Called himself the Sun Called himself the Sun

KingKing Believed in divine right. Believed in divine right.

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

Made France the envy of Made France the envy of all Europeall Europe

Spent money like it was Spent money like it was going out of stylegoing out of style

France Fights in 2 Costly Wars• France looses the Seven Years War

• A world war verses Great Britain• Very Costly!!!• We call this war The French And Indian War

• France helps the United States Win its independence• Holds a Grudge against Great Britain• If not for France there would be no United

States• VERY VERY COSTLY!!!!!!!!!!

Effects of American Involvement

•France helps Americans•Puts France into deep debt•How does a government pay off debt?•TAXES•Who does taxes hurt the most?•Common People

Back in FranceBack in France

And fast forward

The Three Estates

First Estate - Clergy

Second Estate - Nobility

Third Estate - Bourgeoisie (middle class) and Everyone else - 98% of the population

First two estates make up 2% of the population, but own more than 1/3 of the land.

Estates General

• The Nobility of France had gotten power back

• New Govt. based on the Three Estates

• The 1st and 2nd Estates had more power in it that the 3rd Estate

• What Estate was the majority of the French people?

Ripe for Revolt

• Louis XVI gathers the Estates General to ask for higher taxes

• Nobles and clergy vote to put all the tax on the bourgeoisie

• The people revolt – • declare a “National Assembly”

• – a representative government

The Tennis Court OathThe Tennis Court OathWrote the New French Wrote the New French ConstitutionConstitution

The French Revolution

• July 14th, 1789: The people of Paris storm the Bastille (a prison used to store weapons)

• Mob executes the mayor and parade around the city with his head on a pole

• Nobles and clergy were attacked, feudalism was abolished

• “Liberte, Egalite, Fraterinte!”

The Reign of Terror

• Nobles fled to other countries

• Other monarchies, fearing the spread of revolution, attack France.

• Radicals take control of the revolution and begin executing anyone considered to be against the revolution.

• King, Queen, and 40,000 others die at the guillotine