Unit 2 World Civilization II Notes

Unit 2 World Civilization II Notes

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

  • Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

    • Author of Leviathan

    • Describes a social contract theory of governance

    • Views humans in their natural state as brutal and selfish

    • Humans will kill and steal from one another

    • Thus, society contracts with a strong leader to maintain order

    • The leader (king) may become a tyrant, but rebellion is discouraged

    • Hobbes believes chaos from rebellion is worse than oppression from a tyrant

  • John Locke (1632-1704)

    • Author of Second Treatise on Government

    • Proposes a social contract theory with a more optimistic view of humanity

    • Government is created by the people to preserve “life, liberty, and property”

    • Phrase later revised by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence

    • Locke advocates for the right of the people to overthrow a leader who fails to protect their rights

    • Justification for the American Revolution and other uprisings

Paths of Government in Europe Post-Thirty Years War

  • Europe faced choices between two distinct paths:

    • Hobbesian Solution: Strong, absolutist monarchies

    • Lockean Constitutionalism: Governments based on representative democracy

The Hobbesian Solution: French Absolutism

  • French Background:

    • Henry IV (1589-1610)

    • Promulgated the Edict of Nantes in 1598, granting religious toleration to French Protestants

    • Assassinated in 1610 due to unrest among Catholic nobles

    • Louis XIII (1610-1643)

    • Real power held by Cardinal Richelieu

    • Continued policies of Henry IV

    • Engaged in the Thirty Years’ War on the Protestant side

    • France emerged as the most powerful nation in Europe by the end of this period

  • Absolutism Defined:

    • Ultimate sovereign power resides with the king, claimed to rule by divine right

    • Sovereignty includes:

    • Authority to make laws

    • Authority to tax

    • Administration of justice

    • Control over administrative systems

    • Determination of foreign policy

  • Louis XIV (1643-1715):

    • Faced rebellion from nobles during the Fronde (1651-1652)

    • Established a perfected absolutist system of rule

    • His approach can be understood through the five rules of absolutism:

    1. King must project a godlike image

      • Represented as the Greek god Apollo in art

      • Maintained strict censorship of the arts

      • Built the grand Palace of Versailles, spending half of royal revenue

      • Created a daily ritual that emphasized his exalted station

    2. The King must maintain control

      • Utilized a bureaucracy with professional secretaries and never called the Estates General

    3. The King must be wealthy

      • Assisted by advisor Jean-Baptiste Colbert to restore royal finances

      • Promoted industrial development and taxes

      • Could impose taxes at will

    4. King must enforce religious conformity

      • Revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, enforcing Huguenots to leave or convert

      • Led to economic downturn due to the loss of skilled Protestants

    5. The King must possess an army

      • Expanded the army to 300,000, built forts

      • Engaged in wars for territorial ambitions, particularly towards Spain

Development of English Constitutionalism in the 17th Century

  • Differences with France:

    • England experienced violent reactions leading to a Civil War

  • Royal Challenges:

    • Henry VIII (1509—1547) introduced multiple problems for subsequent rulers:

    1. Problem of Royal Personality

      • Mixed influence from Tudor women rulers

    2. Problem of Control and Sovereignty

      • English monarchs were less powerful than Louis XIV

    3. Royal Finance Issues

      • English rulers often relied on Parliament for revenue

    4. Religious Diversity

      • Conflicts between Anglicans, Puritans, and Catholics

    5. Foreign Policy Conflicts

      • Perpetual conflicts with Catholic France and Spain

  • James I (1603-1625):

    • Became King of England after Elizabeth I's death

    • Difficult personality, believed in divine right and conflicted with Parliament

    • Resisted the Puritan reforms within the Church of England

  • Charles I (1625-1649):

    • Even more difficult than James

    • Relied heavily on Parliament for money, faced opposition

    • Dismissed Parliament in March 1629, entering a period called the 'Personal Rule'

    • Used non-Parliamentary sources for revenue, leading to conflict

    • Sparked the English Civil War (1642-1649) against Parliament, which formed the New Model Army

    • Captured and executed on January 30, 1649

    • Temporary establishment of the Commonwealth from 1649-1653

  • Emergence of Political Groups:

    • New radical ideas flourished

    • Levellers: Advocated for equality and voting rights

    • Diggers: Sought collective property ownership

    • Baptists and Quakers: Promoted adult baptism and equality

Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth

  • Cromwell's Rule (1653-1658):

    • Refused the title of King

    • Enforced Puritan ideals, restrictive on public celebrations

    • Achieved military successes, including capturing Jamaica

    • Cromwell's death in 1658 led to the decline of the Commonwealth

The Restoration and Charles II

  • Restoration of Monarchy (1660):

    • Charles II reinstated as a more open and jovial king

    • Introduced the principle of Habeas Corpus

    • Political parties formed: Whigs vs. Tories

The Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights

  • Conflict with James II:

    • Anti-Catholic sentiments rise; James attempts to increase Catholic influence

    • Protestants plot to overthrow James, inviting William and Mary to rule

    • Glorious Revolution (1688): Relatively bloodless transition of power

  • Bill of Rights (1689):

    • Enshrined parliamentary rights and limited royal powers

    • Stipulated laws regarding parliamentary sessions, freedom of speech, and rights of the people

Conclusion: A Tale of Two Nations

  • Differences Between the Absolutism in France and Constitutional Monarchy in England

    • Sovereignty: England's Parliament held power over monarchy

    • Control: Parliament was essential for governance in England

    • Finance: England established prosperity while France struggled

    • Religion: England developed a tolerant approach to religious practices

    • Foreign Policy: Continued conflicts with France until 1815 amongst changes in governance

  • Britain emerged with a stable government in contrast to absolute rule in France. The next unit will discuss the violent revolution in France against the legacy of Louis XIV.