Absolutism Unit Powerpoint

System of government •King or Queen has complete control over government & its people

AutocracyCentralized GovernmentNation states

•Monarchs based their claim on Divine Right

Authority comes from God Similar to “Mandate of Heaven”

•Monarchs are “Above the Law”

•Common features- Strong armies,limited representative bodies, high taxes

Breakdown of Feudalism/ Rise of Nation states

Continuous Warfare

Need for money

Exploration

Declining influence of the church

Regulation of Religion & society

Loss of power by nobility & legislatures

New government Bureaucracies

Huge building projects

The Hapsburg Monarchy1556 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V divides empire

Son Phillip II rules Spain, Netherlands & Italy

Promoted “Golden age of Spain”

•Wealth from colonies helped buildup military

•Defender of Catholicism1588-Spanish Armada defeated by England (Elizabeth I)

1600’s Spain power declines Financial problems

The Bourbon Monarchy•Henry IV increases power of Govt. & decreases power of nobility•Louis the XIII strengthens & builds up military

Cardinal Richelieu subdues nobles & Huguenots

Known as “The Sun King”Ruled for 72 years•Mercantilist policies•Built the strongest army in Europe•Expanded bureaucracy•Never called the Estates General•Persecuted the Huguenots

French Protestants

•Built Lavish palace @ Versailles“Gilded Cage” for nobility

His successors inherited enormous debts (costly Wars & extravagance)

1480 Russian rulers drive Mongols out

•Early Czars Ivan III & Ivan IV (Terrible) used harsh methods to unify Russia & strengthen Monarchy

•1613 Michael Romanov begins Romanov Dynasty

•Grand Embassy tour

Toured Europe learning new technologies

•Westernization/Modernization

•Introduced western ideas

•Laws, technology, culture

•Built largest army in Europe

Won territory along the Baltic Sea

St. Petersburg becomes “Window to the West”

Major trading port & new capital

Centralized power

Reduced power of the nobility

Brought Orthodox Church under his control

1215 King John forced to sign Magna Carta

Limited King’s powers1295 Edward I establishes Model Parliament

Lawmaking bodyHouse of Lords & House of Commons

Parliament successfully blocked attempted shifts to absolute ruleThe Tudor Monarchs(1485-1603) generally worked well w/ ParliamentEx. Henry VIII & Elizabeth I

Had absolutist tendencies (Strong belief in Divine Right)James I & son Charles I Consistently clashed with Parliament over finance & foreign policyAngered Puritans

Known as the Puritan Revolution (1643)Charles’s Cavaliers vs. Roundheads led by Oliver CromwellCharles I is overthrown by forces loyal to Parliament

beheaded in 1649

England became a Republic called the CommonwealthAt first Cromwell & Parliament share power •1653 Cromwell assumes Title of Lord Protector & rules as a dictator

Cromwell brutally put down revolts in Ireland & Scotland (Genocide)

•Upon Cromwell’s death, Parliament restores Stuart Monarchy to throne

•Charles II & James II became unpopular due to absolutist policies

•Parliament fears return of Catholicism(James II)

•Parliament overthrows James II & asks William & Mary to assume throne (Glorious Revolution)

1688-William & Mary forced to sign English Bill of Rights is signed

Guarantees Parliament’s superiority over the Monarchy

England becomes a Limited Monarchy (Remains today)