Chapter 15: Absolutism & Constitutionalism

What was social order like in the 17th century?

It was incredibly hierarchical, with the monarch being at the top, chosen by God to embody the state. Next came clergy, members who played a connective role with god. Then were nobles, who’s status derived from ancient bloodlines. Then, you had peasants and artisans who made up the most of the population. They were meant to show loyalty to everyone above them. 

How was social order in a family setting?

Well, the monarch would still be above the family, ordering it what to do. Then came the religious and secular laws, which ordered everyone. You then had the father, a person that commanded everyone in the house. He could exert violence, imprisonment, and other forceful measures to impose authority (largely on women).

Obviously, during this timeperiod in the 17th century, people were incredibly poor. Discuss this. Tell me where most people lived and how that system was set up.

Most people lived in the countryside and a very small fraction owned enough land and plows to work it. This small fraction was the “head” of the village and employed the people without a land to work for them. These even POORER people would use the produce, sell it, and then pay taxes, rent, and food.

In the rural society, why couldn’t people just farm more to sustain themselves and get money? What about getting a job at the industry?

It was largely because of the climate. There was a period of colder and wetter climates during this time, which made the harvest season really short. As a result, there would be frequent food shortages and even famine. 

The same result was true for industry. The output of woolen textiles (one of the most important manufactured pieces) declined sharply because of high food prices, lower wages, and umemployment. 

What did people do as a result of this crippling time? They obviously weren’t gonna sit there and die!

A lot of people, specifically the urban poor and peasants (the hardest hit), would stage protests and riot. It was mostly led by women since their roles as mother’s allowed them to avoid instant prosecution by authorities. These were called neighborhood bread riots.

How did nations respond to the neighborhood bread riots?

It was INCREDIBLY difficult because of just how many there were. For example, King Philip IV struggled to stop one in Catalonia, the economic center of the Spanish Empire. He faced revolt in Portugal and other Spanish-held territories in northern Netherlands and Sicily.

It was so bad in England that the monarch was tried and execeuted by his subjects.

Additionally, royal authorities struggled to overcome these results too, since they worried that too much contorl over a city would only make things worse. It was also incredibly expensive to station troops there (and money WAS THE ISSUE!)

What was the result of these neighborhood bread riots and other riots about the economy?

Since it was basically impossible to compell the crowd, they got what they wanted. Royal edicts were sometimes suspended, prisoners released, discussions initiated. It took until the 18th century for monarchies and royals to gain control of their populations. 

How was greater state authority seen (4 ways)?

Through greater taxation, growth in armed forces, larger and more efficient bureaucracies (like turning wartime orders into permanent ones), and territorial expansion.

How did the idea of an army change from medieval times to now?

In medieval times, it was common for a monarch to only raise an army during times of war. Now, many nations, like France, began to raise a permanent standing army, one where every member was required to be loyal to state officials. In France for example, their army grew from 125000 in the Thirty Years’ War to over 340000.

What was the Baroque style of art? Why was it so popular?

This was a style of art that used dramatic and motion to created a heightened emotion in something.

It was so popular because of the advertisement by the papcy and Jesuits, who believed that its form would touch the souls and enhance people’s faith of the Reformed Catholic Church. 

Where did Baroque Art start?

It started in largely Catholic countries, like Spain, Latin America, Austria, southern Germany, Poland. However, it ended up spreading to reach other nations, like Protestant ones, largely because its intensive style connected well with people that struggled from crises (like the economic one).

Who was the most famous Baroque painter? Why?

Peter Paul Rubens. He studied in his native Flanders (like the lower countries) and Italy, where he was influenced by people like Michelangelo to develop his own rich, colorful style of animated figures and monumental sized pieces.

There were a lot of figures that helped Louis XIV and Louis XIII to succeed. Let’s start with ____ who started ruling in 1589. 

Henry IV (Henry the Great / Henry of Navarre);

When he started ruling France, it was in hell! There were tons of protests between Protestants and Catholics, food shortages, and lowered industry success. After issuing the Edict of Nantes, which allowed Huguenots the right to worship, he lowered taxes and charged royal officials an annual fee if they wanted to pass their position down to their children (or heirs). He also helped the infrastructure of the country by building new roads, canals and restoring the civil disputes. 

He was murdered in 1610 🤪by a Catholic zealot. 

Who became the first minister of the French crown during Louis XIII’s rule? What did he do?

Cardinal Richelieu. Had a plan called raison d'état to make France the most powerful country regardless of religion. To do this, he made policies to strengthen royal control and used intendants (people who controlled France’s 32 districts) to recuit people for the army, taxes, enforce the law.

He also waged war against Huguenots, like in the city of Le Rochelle. With this, he also turned on the Habsburg’s, specifically Marie de Medici, to prevent any of their control in the country.

Who was it that succeeded Cardinal Richelieu? What did he do?

Cardinal Jules Mazarin who was working for the then four-year-old Louis XIV.

He helped to carry the ideas of Richelieu, alongside the regent Queen Mother Anne of Austria. However, he struggled to raise enough money to pay for the cost of the Thirty Years’ War, and a TON of uprisings took place (known as the Fonde). In Paris for example, magistrates of the Parlement of Paris, the nation’s most important law court, were outraged at the crown for trying to raise taxes. As a result, these robe nobles, encouraged the common people to violently protest. THIS LED to Anne’s regency ending, when Louis XIV declared he was ready himself.

What was King Louis XIV’s core principle as King?

He based his authority on the divine right of kings, saying that God had established them as his rulers as Earth and they could never succeed God himself. (essentially, Louis believed he was chosen by God to rule)

What was one way that Louis XIV demonstrated absolute power?

During his reign, he refused to delegate power to a first minister (think Cardinal Richelieu as one). And, despite increasing the financial problems, he never called a meeting at the Estates General, a French representative assembly with the three estates of clergy, nobility, and commoners. He also chose his ministers from capable men of modest origins.

What did Louis XIV do in terms of religious connections?

He absolutely HATED division and believed unity was essential. As a result, he revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and provided a new law, which required Huguenots to be baptized (Catholic baptism), the closing of their schools, and the exile of Huguenot pastors who failed to renounce their faith. Over 200 thousand Protestants fled into exile.

Even though Louis XIV was destined to be an absolute monarch, what were some things that originally limited him?

He was obligated to rule in a constitutional framework that his royal predecessors established. He also relied on other nobles, who maintained TONS of prestige and authority in thier lands. Without their cooperation, it was impossible to extend his power throughout France or wage foreign wars. As a result, he started to revolutionize court life at his palace at Versailles.

What did Louis XIV do in terms of gaining the required cooperation of nobles?

He ended up moving his court and government to his palace at Versailles and then required all great nobles to spend at least part of their year in attendance at his court. He did this to keep an eye on their authority and make sure they remained loyal to him. And, these nobles HAD TO COMPLY because Louis controlled the distribution of state power and wealth!

What were Courtiers?

These were people that helped Louis XIV get ready in the morning and retiring in the night. It was AN ABSOLUTE HONOR to be part of this role because it meant developing a close connection with him. As a result, you could get favored treatment in government offices, militart and religious posts, state pensions, honorary titles, and tons of benefits.

This helped Louis gain the trust and cooperation of powerful nobles!

What kind of role did women play with King Louis XIV?

The king’s wife, mistresses, and other remales were able to recommend individuals for honor titles, policy decisions, and even alliances between factions. Additionally, because Louis loved art and the play, it grew a ton of women. He had Moliere and Racine as his lead playwrites, and they gathered many aristocratic ladies to act in their preformances and even hold receptions, called salons.

Check out pages 434 and 435 and collected one or two specifics!

How did Louis XIV establish an army in France?

Louis XIV’s secetary of state for war, Francois le Tellier, marquis de Louvois, with the help of Louis himself, helped create a HUGE professional army that was employed by the French state rather than by private nobles. Additionally, he had standardized uniforms, weapons, and devised a standard training and promotion system. This, like others (such as the literal language of France which was seen as higher class), was established all throughout Europe, showing that the French model was just that influential. 

Dsecribe the expansion efforts that Louis XIV had. Were they successful? What about his last one?

Louis was engaged in war for most of his reign. He was able to secure several territories, largely in Spanish Netherlands and the Flanders region (think low countries) in the late 1660s. He even took control of Franche-Comte, a huge province held by Spain. He took control of Lorraine, Strasbourg. 

His last war was called the War of Spanish Succession, and it had mixed outcomes because of the crippling fate of the French population. People were suffering from high taxes, crop failures, and malnutrition. 

How did the War of the Spanish Succession start?

He was the result of Louis XIV’s unwillingness to accept an agreement to divide the Spanish posssessions between France and the Holy Roman Empire after Spanish King Charles II died. Instead of this, he put his grandson, Philip of Anjou, on the Spanish throne.

What did many European powers do to prevent the spread of Louis XIV?

In 1701, English, Dutch, Austrians, and the Prussians formed the Grand Alliance to prevent the expansion of Burbon power (this was Louis XIV’s dynasty!).

How did the War of Spanish Succession end?

It ended in 1713 when the Peace of Utrecht was signed. It allowed Louis’s grandson Philip of Anjou to remain the king of Spain on the term that Spain and France would never be united. France would also surrender Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Hudson Bay territory in England. THIS MARKED THE END OF FRANCE EXPANSION.

Who was it that helped to restore the French economic policy from 1665-83?

It was Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who heavily used mercantilism in France, claiming that the wealth and economy of France would serve the state. To increase the exports (and therefore make money), he supported old industries and created new ones, focusing heavily on textiles. He even created new production regulations to boost quality and encourage craftsmen to immigrate to France. 

What did Colbert do in terms of overseas economies?

He founded the Company of the East Indies with hopes of competing with the Dutch for Asian trade (failed) in 1664.

He also hoped that Canada, which was rich in minerals and agriculture land, could make France rich. As a result, he send 4k troops to Quebec. A Jesuit and merchant (Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet respectively) sailed down the Mississippi, naming it after Colbert and surrounding the territory for France.

What were some factors as to why Spain fell? Who took control in 1621?

When King Philip IV took control in 1621, he was left with an overstretched empire that had tons of different kingdoms with different traditions. Since they relied so heavily on the silver mine in Potosi, it was difficult to compete with new industries from the Dutch and English. As a result, their trade fell 60% between 1610-50.

Additionally, TONS of disease decimated the enslaved workfoce in the South American mines, and by 1620 it started drying up.

There was a huge factor in Madrid that led to Spain’s economic failure. Discuss that…

In Madrid, the expenses of war and rule outweighed the income that was coming in. Under the efforts of Gaspar de Guzman (Count-Duke of Olivares), it was impossible to force the kingdoms of Spain to shoulder the cost of its defense. As a result, the crown made HORRIBLE moves to manage the debt like devaluing the coinage and declaring bankruptcy.

In terms of the economic decline in Spain, what happened with the common people that made it worse?

Spanish aristocrats wanted to keep the lavish lifestyle they always knew and because everything was going up in price, they started to raise the rents on their estates. These high rents and incredibly taxes SIGNIFICANTLY hurt the peasants and made them leave the land, decreasing agriculture! (this was a huge chain effect from the top-down in the hiearchy). 

For the people that did stick around, it was difficult to produce a lot of goods because Spain ignored the newer scientific methods that Holland and England were engaged in. The same was true for textile manufacturers. 

How did the Thirty Years’ War hurt Spain in terms of their economy?

There were tons of rebellions and defeats during this time. In 1640 for example, there was a serious revolt in Catalonia and Portugal. And in 1643, France took control on a Spanish armyu at Rocroi (Belgium).

After the war, the Peace of Westphalia, forced Spain to recognize the Dutch Republic. More treaties required Spain to recognize more and more nations (like Portugal’s independence in 1688).

What factors led people to remain in eastern and central Europe despite the Black Death?

It was incredibly difficult to own land here because of the economic losses. However, this death allowed them to escape from serfdom (land that peasants had to be on owned by a lord). However, while the lords dealt with the labor shortages, they ended up making a law that required runaway peasants to be hunted down and brought back to their lord. THIS WAS IN 1500S (EARLY)

Since many lords in serdom made their own laws, who was the one that checked them, making sure they were fair?

It was the lord himself, who was often the prosecutor, judge, and jailor. Some of the laws became so restricted that commoners movements were restricted and they even required permission to marry.

What was the Habsburg power like right after the Thirty Years’ War?

It was significantly weakened. They were unable to destroy Protestantism in the German lands and couldn’t turn the weak Holy Roman Empire into a real state. Although the Habsburgs were still existant, their defeat in central Europe led them to focus inward and eastward to unify their holdings. 

However, they did have one major victory—Bohemia. Ferdinand II drastically reduced the power of the Bohemian Estates and was therefore able to capture Protestant lands, giving them to loyal Catholic nobles and aristocrats who led his armies. And with this support, the Habsburg’s took direct control over Bohemia. 

What was life like after Bohemia was captured by the Habsburgs?

It was horrible! 3 days of unpaid labor was considered normal and Protestantism was completely wiped-out.

What did King Ferdinand III (Habsburg) do?

He continued to build the state power of the Holy Roman Empire, centralizing the government in German provinces. He also created a permanent standing army. With this, he took the monarchy and marched east toward Hungary, pushing the Ottomans from most of it including Transylvania in 1683-99.

How did Hungarian nobles feel after the Habsburg took full control in 1718 (they already had it starting in 1683-99)?

They heavily denied Habsburg rule and revolted. Under the efforts of Prince Francis Rakoczy, they never totally lost or won. However, beacuse the Habsburg’s were fighting in the War of Spanish Succession, it stalled the control of Hungary for many years. Eventually, Rakoczy lost, but the Habsburg’s kept a lot of traditional privileges for Hungarian nobles.

Who was Frederick William or the “Great Elector”?

He became the ruler of Brandenburg, Prussia, and scattered territories along the Rhine in 1640. He sought to unify each province and enlarge its wealth. However, since they never met regularly during the Thirty Years’ War, any sort of tax could not be passed without all three consents. And, Prussia & Brandenburg were dominated by nobles called Junkers, people who hated Frederick William in the Prussian state. This made it super hard to unite things!

Despite the initial difficulties to unite Prussia, Brandenburg, and the scattered lands along the Rhine, what did Frederick William do?

He started out by gaining money from European war. Using this momentum, he convinced the Junkers to elect a standing army out of the threat Russia posed. Out of the convincing, the Junkers would recieve privileges and authority over the surfs. One by one, William ended up taking control over Prussian cities, eliminating them from those estates and putting new taxes on them. As a result, he TRIPLED state revenue and created a standing army of 30,000 in 1688.

Who was Ivan the Great (Ivan III) in terms of is power? What happened after he married!?

He was able to expand the principality of Moscow after its creation by Mongols towards the Baltic Sea and to the Ural Mountains (eastward and westward respectively). In 1480, Moscow became strong enough independently and Ivan III borrowed Mongol ideas (tax system, postal routes, census) to centralize power in the city.

He then married the daughter of the last Byzantine emperpor, expanding Moscow’s imperial authority!

What were boyars? How did this connect with Moscow?

Boyars were the highest-ranking members of the Russian nobility and helped to consolidate power in Moscow. Using this power, Moscow was able to claim the legacy of the Byzantine Empire.

Who was Ivan IV? What were his contributions in terms of gaining power (don’t talk about territory he gained!) Hint: serfs

Known as “Ivan the Terrible” he ascended to the thrown at age 3. Unfortunately, his mother and wife died, and as a result, he started to persecute anyone that he thought opposed his ideas. This included members of leading boyar families. And then to replace him (since he didn’t have a wife), he created a new service nobility, which depended on the state for land and titles.

To ensure he had power (and money), he ordered serfs to be tied to the land. Obviously, there was revolt, like people who fled to create warrior bands called Cossacks.

How did Ivan IV gain more territory/strengthen the Russian Empire?

He created an alliance with a warrior band (Cossack) in the 1550s to capture Kazan and Astrakhan. It was through the efforts of other Cossack’s that Russia captured the Ural Mountains and the conquest of Siberia.

What happened after Ivan IV’s death?

Russia entered a period called the Time of Troubles. This allowed Cossacks and peasants to successfully rebel against nobles and officials. This ended up bringing nobles together to fight against the rebellion. They won!

As a result of the win, the nobility brough Ivan’s grandnephew, Michael Romanov, to the throne.

What did Michael Romanov do? Who was he?

He was the grandnephew of Ivan IV and succeeded him after his death. Romanov made several expansions and gained land to the west of Ukraine in 1667. He also completed the conquest of Siberia in the late 1600s.

Overall, Romanov successfully brought Russian power to the Pacific Ocean. The only other competing force was the Qing Dynasty of China. 

In Siberia, what was the main form of wealth?

It was furs, which was then collected by the state by forced annual tribe payments. It was also mining, which was also forcibly collected.

Not everybody accepted the efforts of Romanov. Give one specific example…

One rebellion that happened was led by Cossack Stenka Razin, who created a huge army of peasants and poor people. This rebellion hoped to overthrow the empire, but was crushed! This demonstrated how powerful the Russian state became.

What were the two BIG goals of Peter the Great? Who controlled these lands?!

He hoped to advance Russia to the Black Sea (controlled by Ottomans) and then to the Baltic Sea (dominated by Sweden). 

How did Peter the Great secure his first goal (state it first, then explain it)?

His first goal was to take control of the Black Sea, which was controlled by the Ottomans. From there, he would build up a navy and improve infrastructure in Russia.

To capture his, he started by taking control of the Ottoman fort Azov in 1696. He ended up creating a navy and in 1697, he launched a mission to tour Western Europe (its capitols), which allowed him to use their technology and gain alliances against the Ottomans (failed at the alliance).

How did Peter the Great gain access to his second goal (state it, then explain)…

What was this war called?

He wanted to gain access to the Baltic Sea, controlled by Sweden

To do this, he made several alliances with Denmark and Poland and declared war. During the conflict, the King of Sweden, Charles XII defeated many of the alliances, like Denmark in 1700 and much of Russia’s navy. This was called the Great Northern War.

After an initial defeat, Peter increased both his military by requiring nobles to serve in the army or civil administration (for life). He also created new schools to create skilled technicians and experts for warfare. This is what allowed him to win.

What did Peter the Great do after the _____ war against Sweden to gain access to the Baltic Sea to ENSURE he wouldn’t lose again? Give a few more examples of warefare that happened after this. 

Great Northern War;

He ended up increasing the service requirements of commers, requiring them to serve in the military for life. By doing so, Peter gained a standing army of 200k+. He also added 100k+ in Cossacks/mercenaries. 

To fund all of this, he SIGNIFICANTLY increased taxes on the peasants and cut the spending towards serfs. 

Using this new army, he easily took control of Sweden in Ukraine and Poltava in 1709. He finished the rest of the Swedish conflict when he took control fo Latvia and Estonia in 1721. 

Peter the Great wanted to look impressive to Eastern Europe. Besides all of the new land he acquired, what else did he do?

After his victory at Poltava, he send 25k-40k peasants to provide construction in St. Petersburg without pay. This way, he could create a magnificant capitol to rival the other big cities. 

Did a lot of Russians like the reforms that Peter the Great achieved? Why?

Not at all! Since Russia was advancing westward (with St. Petersburg becoming a capitol), it brought a lot of Western European culture, and there was a new class of elite individuals. Additionally, there was a significant increase in serfs and the gap between commers and nobles increased.

How was land determined in the Ottoman Empire?

There was an individual called a Saltan who owned it. This person all of the agricultural land of the empire and was served by an army composed of slaves. 

This made it so there was virtually no private property. 

How did slavery work in the Ottoman Empire? What were its advantages?

The government was structured so that the Sultan was the highest. The Sultan would then create top ranks in the bureaucacy, where these people would purchase slaves along the empire. The Sultan would also create taxes to collect 1k-3k male children of the conquered Christan populations to become slaves.

After gaining a large army mainly of slaves, the Sultan separated them into the Janissary Corps, which gave the Ottomans a HUGE advantage in warfare. It was so powerful that it eventually became volunteer-based, since it was so prestigious in 1683.

How did the governmental system work in the Ottoman Empire?

Every piece of land was ruled by a Sultan. He could also levy taxes and make orders to gain slaves, separating them into military groups.

Since the empire was so grand, the Empire divided itself into religious communities (called millets), which composed of Jews, Christians, Muslims (just examples).This millet system created a powerful bond between the actual community and the ruling leader (Sultan). Each millet would collect taxes for the state, regulate behaviors, and maintain law courts, schools, etc,.

Gender was actually a little weird in the Ottoman Empire. How did it work?

Many of the Sultan’s female family members would live in isolation to prevent any other person from gaining power. The Sultan would usually marry the women of highest social standing. Additionally, to prevent the Sultan children from taking over, the Sultan would deliberately have a child with a concubine (a women of lower social status) and RESTRICT how many males she could have to 1.

There was one Sultan named Sultan _____ that proved to be a lot different than the others in the Ottoman Empire. What was his name and what did he do?

Sultan Suleiman!

He undid a lot of policies about marriage. Traditionally, you had to marry a concubine and could only have 1 male child; however, Suleiman had multiple and married a former slave named Hurrem.

Now, marriages became more common, with the Sultans’ daughters, people who were originally in isolation, marrying with high-ranking servants.

How did the Ottoman Empire fall?

It was largely because of Sultan Suleiman, who had inexperienced followers. Additionally, their finances struggled because of the international trade with the Dutch and Portuguese, causing new technologies not to be adopted and their military powers to crumble. 

What two nations DIDN’T adopt an absolutist state? Explain both!

England and the Dutch.

England:
In 1688, they created a constitutional monarchy where there would still be a monarch, but several restrictions were placed on them by an ELECTED Parliament

Dutch:
After their independence in 1648, they rejected a monarchy and adopted a republican government where elected estates held supreme power.

Who was King James I of England? Talk about his religious ideas!

He was the counsin of Queen Elizabeth I who became king in 1603.

He belived much like Louis XIV did—a monarch had a divine right to authority since it was God-given. He went so far to this that he spoke at the House of Commons, saying “there are no privileges and immunities” against his rule in his 1609 Address to Parliament.

He heavily stuck to his religious idea too, saying that “No bishop, no king” after Puritans wanted to reform the Church of England.

Who was King Charles I of England? Talk about his religious ideas and how they turned conflicting!

Came into power after James I. Also believed in the god-given authority to rule. He was left with a HUGE economic problem and refused to summon Parliament after 1629 (so it was difficult to fix it).

To raise money himself, he introduced “ship-money” which taxed costal cities. Seeing that this wasn’t enough though, he extended it inward and made it permanent, just like a lot of other wartime taxes. As a result, tons of revolts by Scottish Calvinists took place, forcing Charles I to summon Parliament to gain an army in 1640.

Parliament in 1629-40 was absolutely pissed that htey weren’t being summoned by Charles I. What did they do as a result?

Until 1640, they couldn’t do anything. However, when Charles I finally summoned it (out of force because of the Scottish revolts), they gave him terms to sign off on (he HAD to sign cuz of the Scotts) threatening they would absolish bishops. 

These new terms included the Triennial Act (Parliament had to be summoned every 3 years), impeachment of Archbishop Laud (same as Canterbury William Laud)). 

There were more revolts that happened even after Charles I met with Parliament in 1640. Discuss some of them and what Parliament did in response…

(hint: this is the English Civil War!)

In 1641, there was an uprising in Ireland because of the fear they had for Charles I. It was impossible to contorl these people since Charles I didn’t have an army, so seeing that Parliament wasn’t going to help, he left London to raise an army himself.

Parliament was furious! So they created their own army The New Model Army, to stop Charles I. This was the START of the English Civil War in 1642.

What was the end result of the English Civil War? (give details on the last war and then continue!)

It ended after 3 years in 1645 when Parliament’s New Model Army defeated Charles I’s in the Battles of Naseby and Langport. However, while Parliament had won, Charles refused to settle on defeat, and both sides waited for another decisive event.

This event came when Oliver Cromwell, a member of the House of Commons and a Puritan captured the king and dismissed members loyal to Charles in Parliament. In 1649, Parliement had him beheaded.

What happened during the time without kingship? (discuss this in terms of warfare)

Oliver Cromwell stepped in and formed a republican government known as the Protectorate. It was upheld until 1658 when Cromwell died and his son succeeded him.

Since he was HEAVILY Puritan, he closed theaters, forbade sports, and made England a moral society that adopted Puritanism. However, he did allow some degree of toleration and allowed Christians besides Roman Catholics to practice their faith. 

However, his only exception to this rule was in Ireland, where he believed their Catholic faith was to be reconquered in August 1649 and replaced. He started crushing its forces, like in Drogheda. As a reuslt, land in Ireland was taken over by Scotts and English. They also murdered priests and banned Catholicism there. 

What did Cromwell do in terms of economics?

He adopted a mercantilist policy similar to absolutist France. For example, he enforced a Navigation Act, which required that all English goods had to be transported by English ships. However, while they did get some money, many of the commoners were still living in harsh conditions because of overseas battles and the Civil War in 1642.

What happened after William Cromwell’s death?

The Restoration of 1660 happened, when King Charles II rose to the throne. With that, Parliament was restored and so was the Anglican Church.

However, there were tons of issues like the establishment of religion and the attitude of the commoners. To fix this, Parliament issues the Test Act (1673), which denied anyone outside of the Anglican Church the right to vote, preach, teach, attend Universities.

Additionally, the King initially hoped to work well with Parliament, however, that quickly fell when Parliament failed to grant him a proper income, so he developed an alliance with Louis XIV in 1679 to get 200k euro annually and in return, Charles would give leniency to Catholics and convert to Catholicism himself.

What happened after Charles II? What was this special moment called?

King James II became king and immediately violated the Test Act by appointing Roman Catholics to positions in the army, to universities, and the local government. As a result, there was a ton of opposition by Parliament and the Anglican Church.

This left James II no choice but to leave the country and flee to France, since Parliament was forcibly going to make his Protestant Daughter Mary, and her husband, Prince William of Orange, Queen and King. This was called the Glorious Revolution, because there was finally a Queen and King without any former bloodshed.

What was the Glorious Revolution in terms of the laws it provided?

When William and Mary were becoming King and Queen, the Revolution created a Bill of Rights (1689) to prevent any Stuart Absolutism they witnessed by Charles I + II, and James I + II. 

Some of the details in these bills of rights included no Catholic King. Laws had to be made in Parliament, it had to be called at least once every three years, among other things that largely favored Protestants. 

What was another factor that led people to accept the Glorious Revolution? (Hint: There’s a key and a lock 😉)

It was John Locke, who’s book called Two Treatises of Government talked about that if a goverment overstepped its proper function of protecting life, liberty, and property, then it became a tyranny, and the people have the right to rebel.

How did the Dutch Government work?

After being recognized in 1648 following the Peace of Westphalia, Dutchland became the Bourgeois Republic and fused Protestanism and Captalism into an oligarchy (regents). 

In each province, there was an executive called the stadholder. He carried out ceremonies and organized the military. And, even though this person was meant to be chosen freely, they almost always were from the House of Orange.

What was the one book that included rhyming and tunes for children? What did it talk about/include and who was ruling under it?

It was a History Book Cover in reference to the Bill of Rights passed in England under William & Mary’s rule. It was a message that the English were finally proud of their monarchy and wanted to prove that. You had pictures of a lavish King and Queen, with them holding a Bill of Rights to establish that order.

Talk a little bit about Puritans. How did they like the Stuart of Kings in England?

They were not happen with the lack of reform the Anglicans had during the Reformation. As a result, they published the Marprelate Tracts (1588), which included criticisms toward the Anglican Church. 

During the Stuart reign, they hoped that James I would help them. However, he didn’t because if he did, he would lose a lot of support from everyone else in England.