absolutism 2

Age of Absolutism

Section # 2 – France (1589 – 1715)

The Bourbon Monarchy/ Dynasty:

In 1589 the Bourbon Monarchy of France began. Despite a 19-year gap during the French Revolution and the rule of Napoleon, the Bourbon Monarchy would rule France until 1848.

Henry IV (4th): (1589 – 1610)

The first in a long line of Bourbon Monarchs was Henry IV. Although Henry IV was a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism because France was and still is a predominantly Catholic country. Because he was once a Protestant, he did have some sympathy for Protestants. In 1598 he issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted Huguenots (French Protestants) religious freedom and let them fortify their towns and cities for protection. Henry IV laid the groundwork for absolute rule by limiting the power of the Estates General (French Congress), which made himself the only person who had any influence over French government. Although Henry IV improved French life in every facet and maintained a peaceful atmosphere, he was assassinated in 1610 after ruling France for 21 years.

Louis XIII (13th) and Cardinal Richelieu: (1610 – 1643)

After Henry IV’s death in 1610, his 19 year-old son Louis XIII became the 2nd Bourbon monarch to inherit the throne of France. For the first 14 years of Louis XIII’s reign, the Estates General began to gain back some of their power that Henry IV took from them. In 1624 Louis XIII appointed Cardinal Armand Richelieu as his Chief Administer. Cardinal Richelieu’s job was to take the power away from the French nobles and Huguenots and give it all back to King Louis XIII. The goal was to make Louis XIII’s power unquestioned and absolute throughout all of France. Cardinal Richelieu did what he was appointed to do. After all power was returned to Louis XIII, Richelieu set out to make France the most powerful country in Europe. He strengthened the French Army and built up the French economy. Seeing that his death was near, Richelieu did not want everything he had done to make France a great nation come tumbling down. In an effort to preserve everything he had done for France, he handpicked Cardinal Mazarin to be his successor. After Richelieu’s death in 1642, Cardinal Mazarin stepped in to fulfill the duty. One year later in 1643, King Louis XIII’s 33-year reign ended with his death.

Louis XIV (14th) and Cardinal Mazarin: (1643 – 1715)

In 1643 Louis XIII’s son became the 3rd third Bourbon monarch to rule France. This new monarch was a five-year old boy named Louis XIV who would rule France until his death 72 years later. Because of his famous 72-year reign, Louis XIV is recognized as the most powerful and most famous Bourbon monarch ever. Due to his young age, Louis was unable to rule France right away. Cardinal Mazarin, the Chief Administer, assumed the responsibility of ruling France up until his death in 1661. In 1661 the now 23-year old Louis XIV announced that he would rule his own government. He claimed that he was given the divine right by god to rule France and named himself the “Sun King”, for he was the light that shines upon France. Louis XIV is quoted with saying, “Just as the sun stands at the center of the solar system, so the Sun King stands at the center of France.” Louis XIV epitomized what an absolute monarch is supposed to be, and he was not afraid to let people know about his power as he often repeated the phrase “L’etat, c’est moi” – “I am the state.”

“What a grandeur that a single man (Louis XIV) should embody so much! Behold this holy power, paternal, and absolute, contained in a single head: you see the of God in the King, and you have the idea of royal majesty.”

- Jacques Bossuet, Louis XIV’s Leading Church Official

Palace of Versailles:

For protection from a possible civilian uprising, Louis XIV decided to live outside of the capital of France (Paris) where the bulk of the French population lived. Louis moved his government to Versailles (12 miles outside of Paris), where he would construct the Palace of Versailles. No expense was spared when building this palace, as it became the symbol of Louis XIV and French absolutism. Not only was the palace absolutely beautiful, it was home to nearly 10,000 people. Nearly all of the people that lived in Versailles were nobles. Instead of using nobles for government service, Louis used them to wait on him hand and foot. Although the nobles would XIV normally be angry at their power being limited, they remained happy because Louis provided them with a beautiful home, protection, and a huge tax break. As you will see in later units, this tax break would lead to a bigger problem in years to come.

Louis XIV’s Successes:

Louis XIV had a lot of great accomplishments during his 72-year reign. He turned France’s army into the strongest in Europe, which would help him effectively deal with conflicts both foreign and domestic. Louis XIV also created much wealth for France by strengthening its economy through the promotion of trade and industry. The strength of Louis XIV’s economy lie in his established trading outposts in America and Canada, which was collectively known as New France.

Louis XIV’s Failures:

Louis XIV’s 1st failure was his unfair tax system. While Louis XIV was creating wealth for France, he was trying to create wealth for himself and the French nobles. He did this by not taxing the nobles and church officials (clergy) and heavily taxing the French peasants. This unjust tax system would remain in place until 1789 when it became one of the leading causes of the French Revolution. A 2nd failure of Louis XIV was his religious beliefs. In an effort to make his power absolute, Louis had already limited the nobles power, but had not yet limited the power of the Huguenots (French Protestant). Like many of his predecessors, Louis XIV was a devout Catholic who wanted to crush the Protestant faith wherever it may be. In 1685 Louis XIV repealed the Edict of Nantes, which granted Huguenots religious freedom and the right to fortify their towns. Louis XIV also made it a law that Huguenots could no longer practice their religion and their children had to become Catholics. The result of this was the emigration of 200,000 Huguenots to other European countries. As these Huguenots left, so did the wealth that they created. These Huguenots were very active in trade and commerce, and were a huge part of the prosperous French economy. This loss of economic activity destroyed the French economy and the country’s wealth.

War of Spanish Succession:

Louis XIV 3rd and final failure was his expansion policy. It was well known to all European countries that Louis XIV wanted to use his powerful army to expand the borders of France. For fear of French expansion, many countries allied in opposition to France. One country that Louis XIV had his eye on was Spain. Current King Charles II of Spain was going to die without and heir to the throne. Both France and Austria had claims to the throne, and much of Europe did not want to see France acquire the Spanish throne. When Charles II died he passed his throne to Phillip of Anjou who was Louis XIV’s grandson. All of Europe feared that Louis and Phillip would unite their countries into one nation, most likely France. From 1701 – 1713 The Great Alliance of the Dutch Netherlands, England, and Austria fought Spain and France for the right to the Spanish throne in what is known as the War of Spanish Succession. The war ended in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrecht, which stated that Phillip of Anjou could remain the king of Spain, but France and Spain could never unite as one country.

Louis XIV’s Legacy:

During the reign of Louis XIV, France enjoyed one of its most brilliant time periods, but towards the end of Louis XIV’s reign France’s brilliance began to come unraveled in a number of ways. The tax system Louis XIV created led to an extreme class conflict due the heavy tax burden it placed on the lower class. The economy was also on the decline because of the emigration of the Huguenots to other countries. This economic decline was destroying the wealth of France. This left France with little money to invest in the French culture and the French Army. The War of Spanish Succession was the downfall of Louis XIV. Due to lack of funding, the French army was not a powerful as it once was. At the end of the war France failed at making Spain part of its country. The war effort depleted French wealth even further leaving France in financial ruins, and it created extreme opposition by the French people towards Louis XIV. When Louis XIV died in 1715, he bequeathed his declining empire to his grandson Louis XV who could never make France as great as it once was under Louis XIV. As you will see in later units, Louis XIV laid the seeds of The French Revolution which would come 74 years later and change the entire world.

Section # 2 Questions: Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Who was the first Bourbon monarch, how long did he rule France (include the dates), and how did he die?

2. What was the predominant religion of France?

3. What are Huguenots?

4. Who issued the Edict of Nantes and what were terms of it?

5. What is the Estates General?

6. Who was the second Bourbon Monarch, how long did he rule France (include the dates), and who was his Chief Administer?

7. Who was the third Bourbon Monarch, how long did he rule France (include the dates), and who was his chief administer?

8. What is “divine right”?

9. What did Louis XIV call himself, and what was the idea behind the name?

10. What phrase did Louis XIV commonly repeat?

11. What is the name of Louis XIV’s home and why did he build it where he did?

12. Explain in detail how Louis XIV kept the French nobles happy after he took away all of their power?

13. What were Louis XIV’s three failures during his reign?

14. What was the last war that Louis XIV was involved in, and why did it cause the downfall of Louis XIV?

Section # 3 – Prussia and Austria (1618 – 1786)

The Thirty Years War: (1618 – 1648)

In 1618 the Thirty Years War began. The bulk of the war was fought in the Holy Roman Empire, which consisted of many German states. Calvinism, a Protestant sect, was beginning to spread rapidly throughout the predominantly Catholic Holy Roman Empire. Catholic rulers within the Holy Roman Empire, and from all over Europe, opposed the spread of Calvinism and sought to destroy it. When the war ended in 1648, the outcome was a failed attempt a stopping the spread of Calvinism, a weakened and divided Germany, which lost one third of its people, and the rise of France as Europe’s leading power. The official document that ended the war was the Peace of Westphalia, which stated that Calvinism could be practiced in the German states and it divided the Holy Roman Empire into 300 separate states. These religious and physical divisions were a main reason why the Hapsburgs could never unite the entire Holy Roman Empire and establish an absolute monarchy. This inability of the Hapsburgs led to the opportunity of other German states to rise to power in Europe.

The Hohenzollern Monarchy / Dynasty: (1713 – 1918)

One German State in particular that rose to power in Europe was Prussia in the early 1700’s. Prussia is no longer a country today, but during the 1700’s it was one of the most powerful countries in Europe. In the 1700’s Prussia’s boundaries mainly consisted of what is now present-day northeastern Germany, northwestern Poland, and a small part of Russia. Prussia was ruled by the Hohenzollern Family, which had governed the area since the 1400’s. During the 1700’s the Hohenzollern (Hoh uhn tsahl ern) Monarchy established Prussia as a leading power in Europe by ruling it as an absolute monarchy. The Hohenzollern Monarchy held power of Prussia and present-day Germany up until the end of WWI in 1918 when the last Hohenzollern monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II (William) was forced to abdicate (step down) because of his role in starting WWI.

Frederick William I (1st): (1713 – 1740)

The first Hohenzollern monarch to rule with absolute power was Frederick William I, also known as the “Great Elector”. Frederick William I took the Prussian throne in 1713, and shrewdly transformed his country into an absolute monarch over the next 27 years of his reign. Because Frederick William I believed that a strong military was an essential component to the success of any ruler, he first created a strong and disciplined military, which would eventually become the 4th largest in Europe. Although Frederick William I was successful at building an army, it was not an easy task. To meet the cost of building this army, Frederick William I raised taxes. This angered the Prussian Nobles, who were also known as “Junkers” (yoon kerz), which created anger towards Frederick William I. Sensing the discontent of the Junkers, Frederick William I didn’t make the Junkers pay taxes which made the Prussian peasants pay more taxes. Not only did he free Junkers from taxes; he only permitted Junkers to be landowners and gave them full power over the Prussian peasants. Frederick knew that these laws would anger the Prussian peasants, but he also knew that there was little Prussian peasants could do in opposition to the laws. Frederick William I was most concerned with pleasing the Junkers, because he knew that they were the key to him attaining absolute power in Prussia. His plan worked to perfection as the Junkers swore allegiance to Frederick William I making his power absolute.

Frederick William I’s Legacy:

Frederick William I is known today as one of the hardest working, most dedicated, and most powerful absolute monarchs in history. He is credited with bringing absolute rule to Prussia, with building one of the most powerful armies ever, and generating wealth for Prussia by strengthening the Prussian economy. When Frederick William I died in 1740 the Prussian Empire was at its height. Frederick William I passed the throne to his son Frederick William II, with the hope that his son would better what he had already done.

Maria Theresa of Austria: (1740 – 1780)

Just as Frederick took the throne of Prussia in the year of 1740, a 23-year old woman named Maria Theresa took the throne of Austria and became the 1st female Hapsburg ruler. The Austrian Empire at the time included Austria, Bohemia, and Hungary. Despite much controversy surrounding her appointment to the throne, Maria Theresa began her reign of Austria in 1740 and would not give up her throne until her death 40 years later in 1780. Throughout her reign, Maria Theresa and Frederick William II of Prussia were fierce rivals often at war with one another with Frederick William II always being the winner.

Maria Theresa’s Legacy:

During her time on the throne Maria Theresa would successfully do what her two predecessors (Leopold I and Charles VI) couldn’t. By the time of her death in 1780, she established an absolute monarchy, improved the Austrian economy by ending trade barriers between Austria and Bohemia, and reconfigured the Austrian tax system. One disappointment during Maria Theresa’s reign was her inability to defeat Frederick William II and significantly expand the Austrian Empire. Despite her losses, Maria Theresa is still recognized as one of the great leaders in Austrian history. At the time of her death Maria Theresa had given birth to 16 children (11 girls and 5 boys), which left plenty of choices for a successor to the Austrian throne. Her oldest son Joseph II was chosen as Maria Theresa’s successor. Maria Theresa’s most famous child is Marie Antionette who would eventually be the 1st executed queen of France during the French Revolution.

Section # 3 Questions: Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What are the dates of the Thirty Years War, and what was the reason for the war starting?

2. What official document ended the war, and what did it state?

3. Explain how the Thirty Years War contributed to the rise of Prussia.

4. What family became the ruling monarchy of Prussia?

5. In what year did the Hohenzollern Monarchy end?

6. Who was the 1st Hohenzollern absolute monarch, how long did he rule Prussia (include the dates), and what was his nickname?

7. What was the name given to Prussian nobles?

8. Why did Frederick William I not make the Prussian nobles pay taxes?

9. Because the Prussian nobles were not paying taxes, who had to pay more taxes to make up for the losses in tax collection?

10. Who was the 1st female Hapsburg ruler, what country did she rule, how long did she rule the country (include the dates), and who was her rival?

11. What was one disappointment Maria Theresa experienced during her reign?

12. Who was Maria Theresa’s most famous child?

Section # 4 – Russia (1553 – 1796)

Russian Isolation:

Although Russia is considered part of Europe, it missed out on much of what Europe experienced due to its isolated geographical position in Eastern Europe. Russia’s frigid temperatures and lack of a warm-water port, a port that would stay unfrozen year round, kept civilians and traders away. For these reasons Russia missed out on trading goods, the Renaissance, both the Protestant and Catholic Reformation, and the general spread of ideas that were taking place throughout Europe. This was both good and bad for Russia. It was good in that Russia never had a Catholic - Protestant debate, like much of Europe had experienced, because all Russians followed the Eastern Orthodox religion. It was mostly bad because Russia fell way behind in the technology that all other European countries were developing. It would take the greatness of one man and one woman to turn all of this around in years to come.

The Romanov Monarchy / Dynasty:

Although much of Russia was happy about the death of Ivan IV, the 29 years following Ivan’s death would be far worse than life under Ivan. This time period, known as the “Time of Troubles”, was characterized by revolution and invasions by the neighboring countries Sweden and Poland. In 1613 a 17-year old named Michael Romanov was appointed czar of Russia. Michael, who ruled Russia until 1645, became the 1st Romanov monarch. The Romanov monarchy would rule Russia until the 1917 Russian Revolution, which would pull Russia out of WWI, see the Czar Nichols II and his family murdered, have the communist leader Vladimir Lenin rise to power, and see name of Russia be changed to the Soviet Union. Although the Romanov monarchy was in place with Michael’s appointment, Russia would experience civilian rebellion and revolution attempts for many years to come. Four more Romanov monarchs would try to restore order to Russia, but none were successful until the year 1682 when one of Russia’s greatest leaders rose to power.

Peter I (1st): (1682 – 1725)

With the Romanov monarchy in trouble and Russia on the brink of revolution, things did not look better when a 10-year old boy named Peter became czar of Russia in 1682. Peter I was the fifth Romanov monarch and would eventually become one of the greatest leaders in Russian history. Known as “Peter the Great”, he took full responsibility of the Russian throne in 1689 and turned Russia into a true absolute monarchy. Peter I was a huge man, nearly seven feet tall, poorly educated, uncouth, and often brutal. At the same time, Peter I was open to new ideas, practical, hard-working and energetic. Both of his bad qualities and good qualities would help Peter achieve absolute power in Russia and lead the Russian society to greatness.

Peter and Western European Thought:

Peter I knew that Russia was far behind the rest of Europe in almost every aspect of life. In an effort to gain knowledge about Western European life, Peter I toured Western Europe. Upon his return, Peter I tried to incorporate Western European values into Russian life by instituting many radical changes. Peter I named this reform of Russian life “westernization”. Peter I first restored the Boyars and forced them to adopt the beliefs and clothing of Western Europe. Russian men entering Moscow were forced to shave their beards or pay a fine. Women, who had always been excluded from social gatherings, were ordered to attend parties. These changes were opposed at first, but were eventually accepted by all Russian people. Peter I also sent Russian government officials to Western Europe to study shipbuilding, naval warfare, mathematics, and foreign languages. He also invited experts from foreign countries to come train his Russian people. Peter I’s love of Western European culture and technology lead to many changes in Russian life.

Russian Economy:

Peter I needed money to support the changes he was making to the Russian government and society. The Russian economy was bringing in money, but not the amount of money that Peter I needed to support his “Westerization of Russia”. In order to strengthen the Russian economy, Russia had to embrace the theory of mercantilism and consistently import goods into Russia and export goods to other countries. During the 1700’s goods were transported predominantly by water. The problem here is that much of Russia has extremely cold temperatures year round. Surrounding Arctic Ocean waters of Russia would freeze making it very difficult for wooden ships to maneuver and transport goods in and out of Russia. This made it very difficult for Peter I to build a consistent and strong economy. In order to build a strong economy Peter I knew that he had to gain permanent access to a waterway leading to a major sea or ocean that did not freeze over. The need of this waterway, or “warm-water port”, would be an underlying motive for much of what Peter would do throughout his reign.

Russian Military:

Peter I knew that he was going to have to go to war to gain a warm-water port. Peter I also knew that his army was not equipped or trained to fight a war. Peter I poured time, money, and training into the Russian army and created the largest standing army in Europe. With his new military, Peter I set out to gain his warm-water port. Peter I first tried to gain a warm-water port in the Black Sea by defeating the Ottoman Empire, but his effort was a failure. Peter I learned from his mistakes and turned his attention to neighboring Sweden, which owned much land along the Baltic Sea. The war began in 1700 and ended in 1709 with Russia winning land along the Baltic Sea and finally gaining a warm-water port.

St. Petersburg:

On the land along Baltic Sea gained from the war with Sweden, Peter I decided to build a new city. Peter I would name the city St. Petersburg and make it the new capital of Russia (Moscow being the old capital). During the Russian Revolution St. Petersburg’s name was changed to Leningrad. After the Russian Revolution was over the name was changed back to St. Petersburg. Peter I chose to build St. Petersburg on a piece of land that was very swampy. Peter I forced thousands of serfs, or Russian peasants, to drain the swampy area. Although many serfs died while doing this, Peter I got his city and referred to it as the “Window on the West”. He invited many Western European architects to St. Petersburg to help him design every little bit of the city. Just as the Palace of Versailles became a symbol of Louis XIV and French absolutism, St. Petersburg was a symbol of Peter I and Russian absolutism. Because of the warm-water port built at St. Petersburg, it became the biggest and most important trading city in Russia. Goods were constantly being imported and exported at St. Petersburg, which lead to a strong Russian economy and much wealth for Russia and Peter the Great.

Peter’s Legacy:

After a 43-year reign of Russia, Peter I died in 1725. Peter had done more for Russia than any other Russian leader before him. He expanded Russian territory, gained a warm-water port, created a huge army, strengthened the Russian economy, and secured Russia as a respected country to the rest of world for many years to come. Although Peter I did carry Russia to greatness, the progression of his vision would be lost until the year 1672 when another great Romanov leader came to the throne and restored the vision of Peter the Great.

Catherine II (2nd): (1762 – 1796)

Peter I died without naming a successor to the Russian throne, which set off a series of power struggles among many Romanovs. Eventually Peter III gained some control over the Russian government and married a German princess named Catherine. Peter soon became unpopular and was assassinated in 1762, leaving the Russian throne to his wife Catherine II. It is believed that Catherine II may have been involved in the assassination plot because of her love affair with one of the assassin’s brothers, but nothing could be proved. Nonetheless, Catherine II gained the throne of Russia and became the 13th Romanov monarch. Catherine II ruled Russia with greatness for 34 years earning her the name “Catherine the Great”.

Catherine’s Policies:

She continued where Peter I left off by incorporating Western European thought into Russian life. Like Peter I, she reorganized the government under her absolute control, created a strong Russian military, and strengthened the Russian economy. Catherine II also created a government sponsored education program for Russian boys and girls. Although Catherine II did great things, she was very ruthless at the same time. Much of her policies and reforms only benefited the Boyars and upper class citizens of Russia. Russian peasants saw no benefits from Catherine II’s policies causing many peasant revolts, which Catherine II swiftly crushed.

Catherine II’s Expansions:

Like Peter the Great, Catherine the Great also wanted to expand the territory of Russia and gain a warm-water port. With a warm water port already on the Baltic Sea, Catherine II wanted another warm-water port on the Black Sea. Catherine II achieved this goal by doing something that Peter I could not. She defeated the Ottoman Empire, gained some land along the coast of the Black Sea, and built a second warm water port. This now gave Russia two warm-water ports for importing and exporting goods, which only made the Russian economy stronger.

The Three Partitions of Poland:

Another place Catherine II had interest in was the unstable country of Poland. Like Catherine II, Frederick William II of Prussia and Maria Theresa of Austria wanted the land of Poland as well. In 1772 the three monarchs met and peacefully partitioned, or divided, Poland three separate ways with each of them gaining significant amounts of land. This event is known as The 1st Partition of Poland, and two more partitions of Poland would eventually take place in 1793 and 1795. Together these three events are known as The Three Partitions of Poland.

Catherine II’s Legacy:

Today Catherine II is known for her numerous love affairs and her inability to speak the Russian language fluently, but one cannot overlook what she did for her country. When Catherine died in 1796, she had completed the vision of Peter the Great. She restored the Russian military and economy, and achieved Peter I’s most elusive goal of a warm-water port on the Black Sea. Catherine II’s only knock would be her persecution of the Russian peasants, which laid the groundwork for the Russian Revolution in 1917 and officially end the Romanov Monarchy.

Section # 4 Questions: Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What made Russia isolated from the rest of Europe, why was this good, and why was this bad?

2. Explain what a warm-water port is.

3. What was the name given to Russian nobles/upper class?

4. Who was the 1st Romanov monarch, and how long did he rule Russia (include the dates)?

5. What year would the Romanov monarchy come to an end, and who would rise to power in Russia?

6. Who was the 5th Romanov monarch, how long did he rule Russia (include the dates), and what was his nickname?

7. What values did Peter I try to incorporate into Russian life, and what did he name this reform of Russian life?

8. What people in Russia did Peter I assign to model his reforms of Russia?

9. What was holding Peter I back from building a consistent and strong economy?

10. Why did Peter I build up his military?

11. What land did Peter I gain in the war against Sweden, what was the name of the city he built on this land, and what did Peter I refer to the city as?

12. Why was St. Petersburg so important to the Russian economy?

13. What was the name of St. Petersburg during the Russian Revolution?

14. Who was the 13th Romanov monarch, how long did she rule Russia (include the dates), and what was her nickname?

15. What ruler’s vision did Catherine II want to carry on?

16. Where did Catherine II establish a 2nd warm-water port for Russia, and how did this help the Russian Economy and whom did she defeat in a war to get this land?

Section # 5 – England (1603 – 1714)

The U.K. Parliament Today:

U.K. Parliament started out as the English Parliament. Over the course of history England added neighbors Wales, Scotland, and the northern tip of Ireland (Northern Ireland) to its territory to become what the world knows today as the United Kingdom (U.K.). The U.K. Parliament is somewhat similar to the Congress of the U.S. Both are legislative (law) making government groups that are elected by the people in popular elections. The Congress of the U.S. consists of two groups, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both groups are elected to serve for a set amount of time. The U.K. Parliament is a little different in comparison to the U.S. Congress. Like the U.S. Congress the U.K. Parliament consists of two groups, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. One group is completely elected while the other is partially elected and appointed. Members of the House of Commons are all elected by the U.K. people to serve in office for 4 years. Members of House of Lords are both appointed and elected in numerous ways. Members of the House of Lords have the option to serve for life if they choose to do so.

The U.K. Prime Minister Today:

The leader of the U.K. Parliament is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority (biggest) party in Parliament. Once Parliament is determined based on appointments and the popular vote of the U.K. people, the majority party in Parliament elects a leader. He or she becomes the Prime Minister of the U.K. The Prime Minister is responsible for running the U.K. on a day to day basis. The U.K. still has a monarch (king or queen), but they are only in place for traditional purposes. The only real power the U.K. monarch has today is that he or she can order Parliament to meet.

Section # 5 Questions (Part I): Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What four areas presently make up the United Kingdom (U.K.)?

2. What two groups make up the U.K. Parliament?

3. Of the two houses that make up the U.K. Parliament, which house is completely elected by the U.K. people and which house is partially elected and appointed?

4. Who is the leader of the U.K. Parliament and how does he or she come to be in that position?

5. Who runs the U.K. on a day to day basis?

6. If the U.K. monarch has virtually no power, why does the U.K. continue to even have a king or a queen?

Tudor Legacy:

The Tudor monarchy produced some of the greatest, most well known, and most controversial monarchs in world history. The most famous and well known is King Henry VIII simply because of his 6 wives. The most controversial of the Tudors is without a doubt Queen Mary I who is more popularly known as “Bloody” Mary. Her desire to make England an entirely Catholic country came at the expense of the lives of English Protestants (300) whom she saw as enemies of England. Henry VIII’s other daughter, who was also Mary I’s half sister, is a close second to her father Henry VIII as being the most famous Tudor. History knows her by two names. This first is Queen Elizabeth I and the second is the catchy nickname that she gave to herself, the “Virgin Queen”. She ruled England for 45 years, and is arguably the best monarch in world history for a number of reasons. She successfully defended England from invasion on numerous occasions and more importantly she eased the tensions between English Catholics and Protestants that was started by her father and continued by her siblings. Elizabeth I also mended some fences with Parliament that had been destroyed by her father and siblings. During her rule of England Elizabeth always included Parliament in decisions concerning England. She always informed Parliament of her intentions and always included Parliament in her decisions. Elizabeth I stayed true to her nickname and never married in her lifetime. As a result, she never had any children thus producing no heirs to her throne when she died in 1603. Because she left no heirs to the throne, her crown was passed to her cousin James Stuart who at the time had been the king of neighboring Scotland for 36 years.

James I: (1603 – 1625)

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James I was crowned King of Scotland at age 1. Advisors ran Scotland until 1574 when James decided he would run the country at a mature age of 8. For another 28 years he would hold the throne of Scotland until he was crowned King of England. He would rule England for 22 years. Combining his time on the throne in both Scotland and England, he would be king for 58 years. Although he was related to Elizabeth I, James had the complete opposite attitude of Elizabeth I when it came to working with Parliament. Elizabeth I had always included Parliament in the governing process in her 45 years as queen of England. Parliament was very accustomed to this leadership style, but James I would have nothing to do with it. James I was firm believer in absolutism and saw Parliament as a bother to him. James I wanted to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and did not want Parliament placing limits on his power. After years of quarreling with Parliament James I finally had had enough with Parliament. In 1610 James dismissed Parliament after an argument based on raising the taxes of the English people. James I wanted to raise taxes and Parliament refused to approve the tax raise. For the remainder of his rule James I and Parliament would be in constant conflict.

James I’s Problems:

At the heart of the conflict between James I and Parliament was obviously money. Any English monarch needs money. The group that raises that money through taxes has always been Parliament. James I managed to raise the money himself without Parliament because he had some very economically gifted advisors. Another factor in James I’s clash with Parliament was religion. James I was a member of the Episcopalian religion, which is a Catholic sect. Just as Mary I wanted to turn England into a Catholic country, James I wanted England to be an Episcopalian country. This deepened his disagreement with Parliament which consisted of true Catholics, Protestants, and Puritans who were an emerging Protestant sect in England. The height of the debate was when James I issued the King James Bible in 1604, just one year after being crowned king of England. This new bible was James I’s interpretation of the bible with Episcopalian additions to it. This is the major contributing factor to the Gun Powder Plot of 1605, which was a failed assassination attempt on the life of James I. 36 barrels of gunpowder were found in the basement of the Parliament, which was intended to be detonated while James I was in session with Parliament.

This religious debate also caused many people to leave England. The most famous occurrences that came out these religious debates are the founding of two successful English colonies in North America. The two colonies are Jamestown, which was founded in Virginia in 1607, and Plymouth, which was founded in Massachusetts in 1620. Both groups that founded these colonies left England because of religious persecution and conflict. These two colonies eventually grew to become 13 colonies, which in later years became the United States of America. James I died in 1625 at age 59. His son Charles succeeded him as King Charles I of England.

Charles I: (1625 – 1649)

Like his dad Charles I was a believer in absolutism. Unlike his dad, Charles I did not surround himself with popular advisors nor did he have advisors with a good economic background. Because of this he had to rely on Parliament to get things done especially raising money. Charles I repeatedly used Parliament for personal gains which ultimately lead to his death. For the first three years of his rule Charles I was able to function on the amount of money his father has created during his time as king. In 1628 Charles found the English treasury very low. In need of money Charles I called Parliament back into session in an effort to raise the taxes on the English people. This meeting with Parliament produced a law known as the Petition of Right, which stated that Parliament must approve all tax raises on the English people proposed by the monarch in the future. In order for an immediate raise in taxes Charles I agreed to sign the Petition of Right in agreement. Less than a year after signing the Petition of Right Charles dismissed Parliament in 1629 just as his father James I did. Parliament, feeling very used, was very angry with Charles I. Charles I ruled England for the next 11 years never allowing Parliament to meet.

Charles I’s Problems:

Charles I was a Catholic. Like many of his predecessors he changed the beliefs of the Anglican Church (Church of England) to fit his personal beliefs. Like many of his predecessors, this angered many powerful and ordinary people in England. Charles decided to change the Book of Common Prayer, which outlines the beliefs of the Anglican Church, to reflect his Catholic beliefs. Two Protestant sects, Calvinism and Puritan, were very angered by this new Book of Common Prayer because they saw this as an effort by Charles I to destroy their religions. They openly opposed and criticized Charles I, and for that reason Charles I raised and English army in attempt to capture, kill, and silence them. While Charles I was somewhat successful in eliminating these critics, it drained the English treasury (bank) and angered some members of Parliament who were Calvinists and Puritans themselves. In order to replenish the English treasury Charles I saw a need to raise the taxes of the English people. Based on the Petition of Right (1629), he needed the approval of Parliament to make his proposed tax raise a reality. For the first time in 11 years Charles I called Parliament back into session in an effort to raise taxes. His decision to bring Parliament back into session was a fateful one which ended up being a major contributing factor to his death.

The Long Parliament: (1640 – 1653)

After not meeting for 11 years the English Parliament came back with an agenda and very angry. This Parliament was known as the “Long” Parliament because they refused to come out session or be dismissed from session for next 13 years. When Charles I asked Parliament to approve his tax raise they voted it down. On top of shooting down Charles I’s tax raise plan, they threw his top advisor in prison, and publically labeled Charles I a tyrant. These three actions by Parliament infuriated Charles I causing him to send his personal army to Parliament to arrest certain members of Parliament that he saw as the ring leaders of this opposition. When Charles I’s army entered Parliament the ring leaders escaped out the back door. This event was birth of the English Civil War between King Charles I of England and the English Parliament. The members of Parliament that evaded capture organized an army that would fight Charles I’s army for the next 7 years.

English Civil War: (1642 – 1649)

During the English Civil War the supporters of the English Parliament were known as the Roundheads, while the supporters of King Charles I’s were known as the Cavaliers. The Roundhead army was named the New Model Army, it was lead by Oliver Cromwell, and many of the soldiers in the New Model Army were Puritans. After 7 years of fighting the war came to an end with the Roundheads being victorious. Charles I was eventually captured and placed on trial for crimes against England. He was found guilty and executed on January 30, 1649, and his family was exiled to Scotland. Never before in the history of the world had a king been executed by the people he once ruled. This event would be an example for other countries to follow who were unhappy with their government.

Section # 5 Questions (Part I): Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Thinking along the lines of heredity (family), why was James I crowned King of England?

2. Prior to being crowned King of England, what country was James I king of?

3. Explain the relationship between the last Tudor Monarch (Elizabeth I) and the English Parliament. How do you think this contributed to James I’s problems with the English Parliament?

4. Was James I a believer in absolutism? How did the beliefs contribute to his relationship with Parliament?

5. Why did James I dismiss Parliament?

6. How did James I rule England without Parliament for so long?

7. What were the two issues on which James I and Parliament clashed?

8. What religion is James I and what religion is this a sect of?

9. What book did James I release in 1604 which angered members of other religious groups in England?

10. What was the newly emerging Protestant sect In England during James I’s time on the throne?

11. What two successful English colonies were established in North America during James I’s time on the throne?

12. Why were the people who established these colonies leaving England?

13. Who became the King of England after James I?

14. Was Charles I a believer in absolutism?”

15. Why did Charles I call Parliament back into session in 1628?

16. Explain what the Petition of Right is.

17. What did Charles I do with Parliament after the passage of the Petition of Right?

18. What religion is Charles I?

19. What book did Charles I change and what two religious groups were angered by this change?

20. Why did Charles I call Parliament back into session in 1640?

21. Why is the “Long” Parliament given its name?

22. What are the three things done by the Long Parliament that angered Charles I?

23. Who supported Parliament and who supported King Charles I in the English Civil War?

24. What was the name of Parliament’s army, who was its leader, what is the religion of many of the army members?

25. Who won the English Civil War?

26. What was done with King Charles I at the end of the English Civil War? Why is this so historic?

Section # 6 – England (1603 – 1714)

The Commonwealth: (1649 – 1660)

With English Civil War over and Charles I gone, England needed a new leader. With the new leader came an entirely new government and lifestyle that English people were not very used to. The new government would be called the Commonwealth and the new leader would be the leader of victorious New Model Army, Oliver Cromwell, who was given the title Lord Protector. Under the Commonwealth there would be no monarchy whatsoever. England would become a republic, which is a government that is ran by the people not just one person, and the king and queen would be abolished. The House of Commons, which consisted of mainly Puritans, remained in place as the only group that would make up the English Parliament. Just as the monarchy was abolished, so was the House of Lords. The Anglican Church was also abolished. While it was not specifically written in any government documents, the Commonwealth was a government that operated on the principles of the Puritan religion. Puritans derive their name from the idea of being “pure” and lived by a very strict moral code. Cromwell, who was a Puritan, worked with a predominantly Puritan Parliament to close all theaters, close all taverns (bars), outlaw gambling, and outlaw dancing. Many English people saw these activities as leisurely enjoyment and were angered by it. Although angry, no one challenged Oliver Cromwell because he had the loyalty of the very powerful and ever growing New Model Army. While the Puritans were tolerant of other Protestant sects and Judaism (Jewish), they were very harsh towards Catholics whom were seen as still loyal to Charles I. Although the Commonwealth was in place for 11 years, it was not very popular amongst the English people. Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, less than two years after his death the Commonwealth crumbled due to lack of support by the English people.

Charles II: (1660 – 1685)

After his father’s death and his exile from England, Charles II became King of Scotland for two years. After a failed attempt to overthrow Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth, he fled to mainland Europe for fear of being assassinated by supporters of the Commonwealth. He remained in hiding until 1660 when Parliament invited him back to England to become the king after Oliver Cromwell’s death and the collapse of the Commonwealth. Learning from the mistakes of his grandfather (James I), father (Charles I), and his predecessor (Oliver Cromwell) Charles II made major changes in an effort to return England to a state of normalcy. Under Charles II England re-established a monarchy government, brought back the House of Lords as the second house of Parliament, and brought back the Anglican Church (Church of England). Charles II was not believer in absolutism therefore he worked very closely with Parliament to bring back all of the things the Puritan based Commonwealth eliminated. Theaters and taverns were re-opened and gambling and dancing were no longer outlawed. While Charles was Catholic, he did not force his religious beliefs on the people of England. All religions were tolerated while Charles II was king. The only thing that Charles II forbid were laws based on Puritan values, which were widespread when he took over following the Commonwealth. He also signed the Petition of Right in agreement stating that he would only raise taxes with the approval of Parliament. While his time on the throne was not without conflicts or issues, England became a much happier place during Charles II’s time as king. For the most part the people of England liked him. After sitting on the English throne for 25 years Charles II died in 1685. While Charles II fathered 11 illegitimate children he had no legitimate children with his wife to take his place as king when he died. Having no heir to the throne, the English throne passed to Charles II’s brother James

James II: (1685 – 1688)

When James II was crowned king he returned to the old Stuart ways of grandfather (James I) and father (Charles I). Unlike his brother (Charles II), James II was believer in absolutism just as his grandfather and father were. He openly too clashed with Parliament over his absolutist leadership style and religious beliefs. As a Catholic he began appointing many of Catholic friends to positions in the House of Lords. Other members of House of Commons and House of Lords, who were members of various Protestant sects, were angered by this and fearful of a return to the days of “Bloody” Mary and his father Charles I. This began another bitter quarrel between the king and Parliament which became known as the Glorious Revolution.

The Glorious Revolution: (1688)

Fearful of James II as king Parliament invited James II’s nephew William to become king of England. At the time William was living in the Netherlands and was married to James II’s oldest daughter Mary. They were supported by Parliament because they were both Protestants despite their parents being Catholic. When William and Mary arrived in England, James II fled to France because he had no support from the English army or Parliament. In France James II was taken in by his cousin King Louis XIV (The “Sun” King). Since James II had left England, it was declared that he had abdicated (stepped down). With a vacant throne William and Mary were crowned king and queen of England. Because a change (revolution) of leadership in England had taken place without any fighting or bloodshed, this event was labeled the Glorious Revolution. There were some attempts by James II to re-take the English throne. The most notable is when he went to Ireland and tried to raise an army in an effort to invade England and re-capture the throne, but it was a massive failure as he was easily defeated by an English army personally lead by King William III.

English Bill of Rights: (1689)

Before being officially named king and queen of England, William and Mary had to sign the newly written English Bill of Rights in agreement. While it said many important things, the most important thing is that it placed severe limits on the power future English monarchs. England had always been a pure monarchy, but under the English Bill of Right a constitutional monarchy was established in England. A constitutional monarchy is when a monarch powers are limited by a constitution. The constitution specifically states what the king or queen can and cannot do. In short, the English Bill of Right put the king under the control of Parliament. It is important to note that the constitutional monarchy is also known as a limited monarchy. A constitutional monarchy or limited monarchy is the exact opposite of an absolute monarchy.

William III and Mary II: (1684 – 1702)

If you are following the Stuart family tree, William is the son of James II brother Charles II. Since Mary is James II’s daughter, that would make William and Mary cousins. While this sounds gross it was quite common amongst royalty to marry within the family. As king and queen, their time on the throne is the only time in English history where the king and queen had equal power. They are more popularly known for the college that was founded in their honor in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1693 just one year before Mary II died of smallpox. William III and Mary II never had any children, and William III never married after Mary II’s death. William III never had any children when he died in 1702 after being seriously injured when thrown from his horse combined with an awful case of pneumonia. With no heirs from either William III or Mary II, the English throne was passed to Mary II’s sister Anne.

Section # 6 Questions (Part I): Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is the name of English government that was established at the end of the English Civil War, and who was the leader of it?

2. What type of government would England become under the Commonwealth?

3. What three things would be abolished by the Commonwealth?

4. What religion was unofficially forced on the English people under the Commonwealth?

5. Why was the Commonwealth so unpopular amongst the English people?

6. Why did no one ever attempt to overthrow the Commonwealth?

7. What two things contributed to the collapse of the Commonwealth?

8. Who was invited to England to be the new king after the collapse of the Commonwealth? How was this new king related to the Stuart monarchy?

9. What are 7 things that Charles II either brought back or re-established that were outlawed or abolished by the Commonwealth?

10. Was Charles II a believer in absolutism? How did this affect his relationship with Parliament?

11. What were the only types of laws outlawed during Charles II’s time on the throne?

12. Did the people of England like Charles II for the most part?

13. What was James II’s relation to Charles II?

14. Was James II a believer in absolutism? How did this affect his relationship with Parliament?

15. What was James II’s religion and how did this affect his relationship with Parliament? Explain your answer.

16. Who was invited to be King and Queen of England by Parliament when James II was king? Why did Parliament invite these two people?

17. How were the king and queen who replaced James II related to James II?

18. Why did James II leave England without a fight even though he was the King?

19. Why was the Glorious Revolution given its name?

20. Where did James II eventually try to raise an army in an attempt to take back the throne of England?

21. What document did monarchs William III and Mary II have to sign in agreement before they could be crowned King and Queen of England?

22. What type of monarchy was established in England as result of the English Bill of Rights? Explain how this type of monarchy is different from an absolute monarchy?

23. What is another name for a constitutional monarchy?

24. How were King William III and Mary II related?

25. What is unique about the power William III and Mary II had as King and Queen of England.