Chapter 16 Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Section 1 Crisis and Rebuilding 17th Century: TORN AND REBUILT STRONGER

-Many crises in Europe help cause governments to become STRONGER.

European ECONOMIC CrisisPeasant Life

Western Europe Eastern EuropeIndependent Farmers

Small landowners and tenant farmers

Rural Workers/Laborers/Servants

MOST ALL ARE SERFS

Eastern European Peasants Are Not Allowed To Leave Land

Western Peasants Move and Obtain Land in Plague Stricken Areas

Daily Life-Diet of Dark Bread, Soup, Roots-MUST PAY stiff fees to use Lord’s Oven or Mill-Highlight was Killing Family Pig-Best Times: BARELY GETTING BY

Famines-Climate Change -> Low Harvests ->Loss of Population

-Malnutrition, Low immune system, Plague-Riots due to rising bread prices-Industrial Production drops

Serfdom in the East (Nobles Dominated Serfs)-Serf- lower class peasant who is legally tied to the land and performs required duties to Lord.

-Prohibited from moving/fleeing-Owns NO LAND-Heavy obligations- Forced to work for Lord up to six days a week FOR FREE

-Lord Control And Exploitation

Operated as Prosecutor, Judge, and Jailor (no one to complain to)

Surplus foods were sold overseas -Rich Netherlands and England

-skipped starving peasants and towns

30 Years War-Major religious conflict within H.R.E-Catholic League vs Protestant Union-Multiple Phases of 30 Years War

1. Bohemia Phase-civil war over who should rule-Catholics become victorious

2. Danish Phase -High Point for Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand trying to unify Holy Roman Empire-Catholic League wins again under Albrecht von Wallenstein -Edict of Restitution-Calvinism outlawed-All Catholic Land confiscated by Protestants is to be returned

3. Swedish Phase-Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus intervenes to support fellow Protestants-France even subsidizes the Swedish effort…………..WHY?-Gustavus is Killed in battle leading to French Phase

4. French Phase-Advisor Cardinal Richelieu involves France in war against Holy Roman Emperor/Catholics

-Declared war on HRE ally Spain

-VICTORY

TREATY OF WESTPHALIA-Recognizes the independent authority of German Principalities-Augsburg still emperor, only in name-Isolates Spain as HRE is basically dismantled-Recognizes existence of Calvinism in Germany

Lasting Effects-Weakened the HRE and the country side-trade, agriculture, people, all destroyed/damaged-Furthers the Crisis in Europe

State Building in response to Crisis: THE SCAR TISSUE

Absolutism:-Form of government in which all power rests in the hands of a single monarch.Divine Right Theory:-Monarchs receive their power directly from God!-Prior to 16th century, King shared power with Nobles

Monarchs gained power because:1. Feudalism Declined2. Authority centralized with growth of national

kingdoms3. Church authority broke down somewhat4. Writers influenced absolutism

i. Niccolo Machiavelli- The Prince, rulers can do no wrong when acting for the state.

ii. Jean Bodin- Power consists of making laws, taxing, administer justice, and foreign policy all without anyone’s consent.

iii. Bishop Jacques Bossuet- governments are ordained by God so humans can live in societies, Kings therefore are absolute because of God.

Challenges to Creating Absolutism1. Poor communication/information in Kingdom2. Local powers (Nobles, Churches, Guilds, Etc.) retained privileges and some power-Not even the best example of King Louis XIV of France was a pure absolutist.

Strides to forming Centralized Sovereign States1. Taxes increased2. Permanent Armies were created

a. Professional Standards Increasedi. Loyal Officers

ii. Discipline Soldiersb. Permanent

i. During peace and times of warii. May be used to enforce King’s decisions

c. Expensesi. Mainly paid for by Nobles

ii. Nobles even purchased military positions3. More centralized bureaucracy4. Increased required obedience of Peasants