Chapter 14: Pursuit of Power in Europe I. Power of Kings: Absolute or Restrained.

Chapter 14: Pursuit of Power in Europe

I. Power of Kings: Absolute or Restrained

Absolute Power

• Unlimited and unrestrained• Increase royal authority by:– Increasing control over

finances, religion, and nobility– Increasing size of standing

army and/or developing a strong navy

Absolute Power

• Increase royal authority by:– Increasing size of

government bureaucracy and making it an instrument of the royal will– Increasing size of territory• Through war if necessary

Absolute Power

• “Divine right”–God had established it–Most Europeans accepted this

• Representative assemblies

Absolutism Triumphs in France

• Chief advisers:–Cardinal Richelieu–Cardinal Mazarin

• Louis XIV


• Growth of Absolutism–Henry IV–Louis XIII• Came to throne at age 9• Chief minister: Cardinal Richelieu


• Growth of Absolutism–Richelieu’s other goals:• Destroy Huguenots• Weaken nobility

–Thirty Years’ War• Gustavus Adolphus• Peace of Westphalia


• Growth of Absolutism–Louis XIV• Chief minister: Cardinal Mazarin• Frondes


• Epitome of Absolutism: Louis XIV–Became his own chief

minister–“I am the state”


• Epitome of Absolutism: Louis XIV–Financial and military policies• Jean-Baptiste Colbert• Reorganized French army


• Epitome of Absolutism: Louis XIV–Revocation of the Edict of

Nantes• Huguenots lost remaining freedom to worship• Results


• Epitome of Absolutism: Louis XIV–Life at Versailles• “Sun King”• Palace of Versailles• Pride• Base and immoral conduct


• Epitome of Absolutism: Louis XIV–Foreign policy• Wars • Financial problems

–Louis XV

Absolutism Spreads in Europe

• Brandenburg-Prussia– Its resources– Junkers–Frederick William• “The Great Elector”


• Brandenburg-Prussia–Frederick I• Interested in the arts• Imitated Louis XIV• “King in Prussia”

–Frederick William I• Increase in the size of the army


• Brandenburg-Prussia–Frederick II• “Frederick the Great”• Tripled the size of the Prussian state

–Hohenzollern rulers


• Austria–Habsburg rulers–Unable to create strong

absolutist state• Roman Catholic Church and nobility held great power• Surrounded by aggressive neighbors• Ruled many nationalities


• Austria– Joseph II• Actions against the Roman Church


• Russia– Ivan IV “the Terrible”• Cruel and oppressive• Czar

–Romanov family


• Russia–Peter I• Wished to adopt Western ways• New capital called St. Petersburg• Great Northern War• Seized greater control over Russian Orthodox Church


• Russia–Catherine II “the Great”• Immoral and ambitious• Supported certain social reforms• Continued territorial expansion

Absolutism Defeated in England

• Parliament• James I–Expected conformity to

Anglican Church–Believed he ruled by divine

right–Disputed with Parliament


• Charles I–Continued to dismiss

Parliament–Petition of Right (1628)–Tried to rule without

Parliament for twelve years–Scotland rebelled


• Charles I–Forced to recall Parliament• Concessions were made

–Confrontation with Parliament• Roundheads• Cavaliers• Oliver Cromwell


• Parliamentary forces defeat Charles I–Army refuses to disband–Cromwell’s forces take power–Charles is put to death–Rump Parliament–Protectorate


– Instrument of Government–Cromwell’s son Richard was

the second Lord Protector–Parliament invited Charles II

to take the throne• The Restoration• Parliament retained much of the power it had won


• Charles II–Habeas Corpus Act–Tried to remain financially

independent of Parliament


• James II–Catholic brother of Charles II–Elderly with two daughters–Had a son by his Catholic wife–Parliament invited William

and Mary to take the throne–Glorious Revolution


• William III and Mary II–Bill of Rights• Forbade future kings or queens from being Roman Catholic

–Act of Settlement• Parliament could grant the throne• No longer a “divine right”


• Future rulers:–Anne–George I–George II

• Cabinet government

Chapter 14: Pursuit of Power in Europe

II. Balance of Power

Balance of Power

• Alliances• Motives for war• Prussia always

against Austria• England always

against France

War of the Spanish Succession

• 1702-1713• Causes• Grand Alliance–Victorious at Blenheim

and Gibraltar• Queen Anne’s War

War of the Spanish Succession

• Treaty of Utrecht–Philip retained throne

in Spain only–Spain had to surrender

some of its possessions to Austria–Britain won various

Canadian territories from France

War of the Austrian Succession

• 1740-1748• Pragmatic Sanction–Maria Theresa

• Began when Frederick II seized Silesia• France, Spain, and

England enter the war

War of the Austrian Succession

• Fighting occurred in North America and India• Treaty of Aix-la-

Chapelle–Ended fighting–Status quo ante bellum

Seven Years’ War

• 1756-1763• Diplomatic Revolution• William Pitt’s

strategy• War in North America• War in Europe• Treaty of

Hubertusburg

Seven Years’ War

• Treaty of Paris–France, Britain, Spain–France lost all territory

on mainland of North America–France lost most of its

commercial holdings in India

Seven Years’ War

• Treaty of Paris–Spain lost Florida to

Great Britain but received New Orleans and Louisiana from France–England emerged as a

world power

Partition of Poland

• Diplomacy• Prussia, Russia, and

Austria• Poland disappeared

from the map

Chapter 14: Pursuit of Power in Europe I. Power of Kings: Absolute or Restrained.

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