Absolutism and Constitutionalism
Different models of political sovereignty affected the relationship among states and between states and individuals.
Concept Overview
Between 1648 and 1815, the sovereign state was consolidated as the principal form of political organization across Europe. Justified and rationalized by theories of political sovereignty, states adopted a variety of methods to acquire the human, fiscal, and material resources essential for the promotion of their interests. Although challenged and sometimes effectively resisted by various social groups and institutions, the typical state of the period, best exemplified by the rule of Louis XIV in France, asserted claims to absolute authority within its borders. A few states, most notably England and the Dutch Republic, gradually developed governments in which the authority of the executive was restricted by legislative bodies protecting the interests of the landowning and commercial classes.
Between the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), European states managed their external affairs within a balance of power system. In this system, diplomacy became a major component of the relations among states. Most of the wars of the period, including conflicts fought outside of Europe, stemmed from attempts either to preserve or disturb the balance of power among European states. While European monarchs continued to view their affairs in dynastic terms, increasingly, reasons of state influenced policy.
The French Revolution was the most formidable challenge to traditional politics and diplomacy during this period. Inspired in part by Enlightenment ideas, the revolution introduced mass politics, led to the creation of numerous political and social ideologies, and remained the touchstone for those advocating radical reform in subsequent decades. The French Revolution was part of a larger revolutionary impulse that, as a transatlantic movement, influenced revolutions in Spanish America and the Haitian slave revolt. Napoleon Bonaparte built upon the gains of the revolution and attempted to exploit the resources of the continent in the interests of France and his own dynasty. Napoleon’s revolutionary state imposed French hegemony throughout Europe, but eventually a coalition of European powers overthrew French domination and restored, as much as possible, a balance of power within the European state system. At the same time, the conservative powers attempted to suppress the ideologies inspired by the French Revolution.
Between the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), European states managed their external affairs within a balance of power system. In this system, diplomacy became a major component of the relations among states. Most of the wars of the period, including conflicts fought outside of Europe, stemmed from attempts either to preserve or disturb the balance of power among European states. While European monarchs continued to view their affairs in dynastic terms, increasingly, reasons of state influenced policy.
The French Revolution was the most formidable challenge to traditional politics and diplomacy during this period. Inspired in part by Enlightenment ideas, the revolution introduced mass politics, led to the creation of numerous political and social ideologies, and remained the touchstone for those advocating radical reform in subsequent decades. The French Revolution was part of a larger revolutionary impulse that, as a transatlantic movement, influenced revolutions in Spanish America and the Haitian slave revolt. Napoleon Bonaparte built upon the gains of the revolution and attempted to exploit the resources of the continent in the interests of France and his own dynasty. Napoleon’s revolutionary state imposed French hegemony throughout Europe, but eventually a coalition of European powers overthrew French domination and restored, as much as possible, a balance of power within the European state system. At the same time, the conservative powers attempted to suppress the ideologies inspired by the French Revolution.
Louis XIV Primary Documents
Eastern European Absolutism Student Samples
CONSTITUTIONALISMConstitutionalism Power Points
Constitutionalism Cartoons
Constitutionalism in Great Britain Readings 1 & 2
The Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights
Synthesis Assignment
English Constitutionalism Secondary Documents
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Power Points
Background to Absolutism
Background Reading on Richelieu
Political Will and Testament
Absolutism & Constitutionalism Study Guide
Mercantilism
5th Period Link to Castilian Times6th Period Link Castilian TimesTuesday and Wednesday Night Readings on Eastern Absolutism. Read both.
Peter the Great Lecture
Peter the Great DebateClick on link. Make a copy. When done, email to Mrs. Ramirez at [email protected]. Make sure to put Peter the Great on the subject line.
Peter the Great Docs
Russia READINGS 1&2
Prussia and Austria Readings-Pages 7-9
Grade Recovery Assignment. Due Monday, Nov. 28, 2016
DUTCH CONSTITUTIONALISM DBQ
Hobbes vs. Locke
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john_locke_vs_thomas_hobbes_views_on_government.docx | |
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