Paths to Constitutionalism: The United Provinces of the Netherland

The Dutch Republic's Contributing Factors to Unity, Stability and Prosperity

• defied trend of centralized absolutism in Europe by creating a province-driven republic with an elected representative body from the merchant-burgher class (States-General)

• not overthrown by obsessive Philip II of Spain with help of England

• 10,000 ships! Dutch East India Company (VOC) = monopoly

• best maritime economy and controlled half of world's shippings during 17 century

• bank and currency backed by GOVERNMENT

• created internationally renowned Bank of Amsterdam (opened in the old town hall, 1609)

• Tulip Price Index: 1636-1637, price goes up really fast then plummets, capitalism

• representative government (kinda!), commoners in art, RELIGIOUSLY TOLERANT nationalist republic

• got coffee and silk from Arabia

• got cloth, yarn, silk, indigo, and pepper from India

• got porcelain, tea, sugar, silk, and precious metals from China

• got precious metals and laquer from Japan

• got cinnamon, pepper, cardamon, ivory, arecanuts, sappanwood, and gems from Ceylon

• got pepper, nutmeg, mace, and cloves from Dutch East Indies

• Dominant force in worldwide trade (controlled 50% of shipping)

• Religious tolerance led to the immigration of many skilled groups (Jews, Huguenots)

• After Louis revoked Edict of Nantes, Huguenots went to Dutch Republic - brought artisan skill and business experience

• Highest standard of living, all classes ate well, no food riots that occurred elsewhere in Europe

• Estate system led to semi-democracy, each Estate could veto decisions

• Middle class had huge amounts of power and influence

Key Features of the Dutch Republic

• province-driven republic

• emphasized concepts of community: art showcased the community, not just royals (Calvinist idea)

• stadholder: "State Holder," typically from House of Orange

• UPN representatives: an oligarchy of urban gentry, large landholders, rich businessmen

• Prince commanded all of the military, power of pardoning crimes, choosing magistrates

• States-General could make peace/war, deal with foreign alliances, and control taxes

• society based around middle class merchants (burghers)

• RELIGIOUSLY TOLERANT

The Dutch Republic's Obstacles to Unity, Stability and Prosperity

• Prince held the greatest influence and the States could not resolve any matter without his approval

• increased competition with other nations, especially Britain, led to decline in dominance

• Anglo-Dutch Wars: navigation wars for control of seas and trade routes, many spanning from 1652 to 1784, long break between the 3rd and 4th wars because of the Glorious Revolution (William is Dutch)

• Holland felt the financial burdens of war more than other provinces, as they were the richest province by far

• There were anti-semetic resentments in some places along with other religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics

• Tension between supporters of the House of Orange, whose members held the positions of stadholder in several provinces, and their opponents, republican states who fear the House of Orange had monarchical ambitions

• Lost power East Indies and shipping on the whole due to war fought with English and French

• Navigation act takes away Dutch profit from shipping English goods

• No powerful central government; Each state pretty much rules itself

• Fears of invasions by foreign powers were widespread

• Other nations jealous of Dutch shipping monopoly and wealth; want to invade

• “Everyone wants to take down the top dog and the Dutch are the top dog”

Both the Dutch and the British found their way to a constitutional government. In what ways were their paths similar and in what ways were their paths to constitutional government different?

• The British kept a monarchy but power was limited by Parliament.

• The Dutch rejected a monarchy and power was held by 7 Estates.

• Both were religiously tolerant to protestants, constitutional states, and their representative bodies were full of rich people.

Now compare these constitutional governments with the absolutist governments from continental Europe. Beyond the style of government, what separates them? What makes them similar?

• Different: how people under them were treated, wealth and prosperity, less focus on military but still some, religiously tolerant to an extent

• Similar: upper class still had more power than the lower classes

Dutch Concept: Bank of Amsterdam (1609)

• government intervened in the economy occasionally to help out (state-backed monopolies established)
• this created a stable currency and provided credit, becoming a central pillar of European finance
• showed the Dutch focus on money, wealth, and economy + that they were successful

Dutch Concept: Community in Art

• showed commoners in art, not just royals

• a Calvinist idea

• family life displayed

• religious tolerance

Dutch Concept: Tulip Mania

• in the 16th century, tulips imported were imported into the Netherlands from Turkey, then a Dutch botanist discovered how to grow varied color of tulips. By 1634, buyers from all over Europe wanted the rare colorful tulips, but 3 years later the increased supply drove the price down
• an example of the capitalistic fluctuation in demand of goods
• capitalism free market example
• wealth

Dutch Concept: Ships

• had lots of ships → for trading
• useful in the Anglo-Dutch wars

Dutch Concepts: Young Woman with a Water Pitcher

• embodies artist's interest in domestic themes → Dutch's too
• view into private life of woman before she presents her public face
  lots of expensive objects surround her (oriental rugs, world map, silver pitcher, glass windows) = prosperity of people