European History: The Dutch Republic and Absolutism

Global Trade and the Economy ​ Back in the day, trade was all about making money (mercantilism) and starting capitalism (business and investment growing). ​ A new system called double-entry bookkeeping was created—it’s basically like tracking your spending and earnings to keep your bu...

Global Trade and the Economy ​ Back in the day, trade was all about making money (mercantilism) and starting capitalism (business and investment growing). ​ A new system called double-entry bookkeeping was created—it’s basically like tracking your spending and earnings to keep your business organized. ​ Old business groups (like the Hanseatic League) got outshined by newer, stronger trade networks. ​ England and the Dutch were the boss babes of trade in the 1600s. ​ A middle class of entrepreneurs started rising—basically, people who weren’t royalty but got rich from business. ​ Constitutionalism became a thing, meaning governments started limiting power instead of letting kings rule everything. The Dutch Republic ​ The Netherlands officially became its own thing in 1581 and was finally recognized by Spain in 1648. ​ By the 1600s, the Dutch were thriving and getting super rich through global trade. ​ They controlled trade in spices (which were basically the luxury items of the time) and took islands from Portugal to make money. ​ But they also used enslaved people to do a lot of the labor in their colonies. How the Dutch Republic Worked ​ It wasn’t one big country but actually seven small republics, each with its own government. ​ Rich merchants basically ran things, like how billionaires influence politics today. ​ Each republic had a "stadtholder", who was kind of like a prime minister or a political leader (usually from the Orange family). ​ They had a national government (States General), but it didn’t have a lot of power—kind of like a group project where everyone does their own thing. Life in the Dutch Republic ​ Most people were Calvinist (a type of Protestant Christianity), but they were surprisingly chill about religious freedom—meaning Catholics, Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Jews were allowed to live there too. ​ It was a diverse, international society (imagine NYC vibes). ​ The economy was booming with business and trade. ​ Amsterdam was the financial queen of Europe, with the first real stock market and a major bank (Amsterdam Exchange Bank). ​ Their navy was huge, with possibly 10,000 trade ships sailing all over the world. Basically, the Dutch Republic was rich, powerful, and business-savvy, but also relied on some shady things like slavery to keep their empire running. Hope that helps! What’s Going On? ​ Sovereignty = Who’s in charge of running a country? ​ Some countries (like France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria) decided to go with Absolutism, meaning the king or queen had all the power and made the rules without needing approval from anyone else. Different Types of Government ​ Constitutionalism = The government has rules and limits (so no one goes full dictator mode). ​ Constitutional Republic = Power is shared between elected leaders and the people (think democracy vibes). ​ Constitutional Monarchy = There’s still a king or queen, but their power is limited by laws. England and the Drama of Absolutism ​ James Stuart (aka King James I) took over England in 1603. He was from Scotland and a cousin of Queen Elizabeth. ​ Problem: No one really liked him—Protestants didn’t trust him, and Catholics weren’t fans either. ​ He believed in Divine Right, meaning he thought his power came directly from God, so no one could challenge him. ​ The Gunpowder Plot (1605): Some Catholic conspirators (including Guy Fawkes) planned to blow up Parliament because they were mad about how Catholics were treated. (Spoiler: It failed.) Why Things Got Messy ​ James was all about absolute power and thought kings were basically chosen by God—so questioning him was like questioning God himself (yikes). ​ Parliament (aka England’s political squad) wasn’t into this. ​ Parliament had existed since the 1200s, helping kings with taxes and laws, but by the time James showed up, they wanted more control. James’ Big Mistakes ​ He thought he had total control over people’s rights, property, and freedoms. ​ But England had a long history of protecting people’s property from the government.  ​ His biggest political mistake: He openly said he believed in absolutism to Parliament (the House of Commons), which was full of rich, powerful men England’s Money Drama ​ The House of Commons (aka rich, powerful men in Parliament) had to pay taxes, unlike the super-rich nobles in France. So they wanted a say in how money was spent. ​ The King (Charles I) didn’t like this—he felt like Parliament was getting in his business and limiting his power. ​ Tension was building, and things were about to get messy. Religious Tea in England ​ Puritans were hardcore Protestants who wanted to remove all Catholic traditions from the Anglican Church. ​ Many Puritans believed in Calvin’s “Protestant work ethic”, which was basically hard work = holiness (so, think no fun, no luxury, just work). ​ King James (before Charles) was kinda pretending to be Presbyterian, but he and Charles actually liked some Catholic traditions, which freaked people out. ​ Charles wanted to keep bishops in power in the church, but Parliament wanted them gone—leading to the famous chant "No Bishop, No King!" Charles I Takes Over (1625) ​ Charles I becomes King, and things start going downhill fast. ​ Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, tried to make everyone follow the same religious rules, and Scotland (which was mostly Presbyterian) was NOT having it—so they revolted in 1637. ​ Charles needed money for an army, so he had to call Parliament back in 1640 (after dissolving it in 1629 over wine taxes). ​ Parliament saw its chance to take power and worked from 1640-1660 (Long Parliament) to limit Charles’ power as much as possible. Charles vs. Parliament – The Drama Escalates ​ In 1641, the Triennial Act was passed, meaning Charles HAD to call Parliament at least every 3 years—so no more ignoring them. ​ Parliament started taking control, and things got so bad that they executed Charles’ ally, Archbishop Laud. ​ Irish uprisings added to the chaos, leading to a full-blown Civil War in England. ​ The Five Members Constitutional Crisis: Charles tried to arrest five Parliament members, but they refused, showing that his power was slipping. ​ Parliament refused to give him an army, so Charles went and got his own army and attacked Parliament.  ​ This led to the English Civil War: ○​ Cavaliers (royalists, aka the King’s squad) vs. ○​ Roundheads (Parliament’s army, aka the anti-King squad). The Takeaway? ​ Basically, King Charles I was too power-hungry, and Parliament wasn’t going to let him run the country alone. ​ Religion + money + power struggles = full-on civil war. ​ Parliament eventually wins, and spoiler alert: Charles I gets executed. This was one of the biggest moments in English history because it limited the power of the monarchy forever and showed that kings couldn’t rule without Parliament anymore. The Glorious Revolution & Two Views of Government ​ English Civil War → Basically, England was going through some serious drama over who should be in charge. ​ Death of Charles I → They literally executed the king because they were that mad at him. ​ Oliver Cromwell (the "Lord Protector") → This guy took over, but he was a total party pooper and made everything super strict. ​ Restoration of Charles II → After Cromwell, they were like, “Yeah, no, let’s bring back the monarchy.” Charles II’s Reign ​ Parliament was like, “No more Catholic kings!” but Charles II ignored them and dissolved Parliament. ​ Turns out, he was taking secret $$$ from France to be nice to Catholics. ​ When he died, his brother James II (a full-on Catholic) became king, which freaked everyone out. Glorious Revolution (1688) ​ James II had a son, meaning Catholic dynasty incoming, and England was like, “Absolutely not.” ​ Protestant nobles invited William & Mary (his Protestant daughter and her husband) to come take over. ​ James II saw the writing on the wall and ran away, so this was a bloodless revolution (aka no messy beheadings this time). Why is it called "Glorious"? 1.​ No one died (major win).  2.​ It officially ended the idea that kings were chosen by God. 3.​ Parliament became the real boss. 4.​ The king now needed people’s approval to rule. 5.​ They introduced the English Bill of Rights (aka an early version of democracy). 6.​ John Locke (a famous philosopher) was like, “See? I told you people deserve rights!” Basically, England went from "Messy Royal Drama" to "Let’s Have Some Rules", and it changed government forever. New Gov't Under William & Mary ​ The rich people are still in charge, but now more people have some power—so it's a slight improvement. Thomas Hobbes (The Pessimist) ​ Wrote Leviathan (fancy book title). ​ Thought humans were the worst—selfish, chaotic, and basically a mess. ​ Believed people needed a strong ruler to keep them from going full Real Housewives drama on each other. ​ His idea? Give up your rights to a powerful ruler, and in return, you get law & order (basically, a trade-off for peace). ​ Created the idea of a social contract—where people agree on rules so society doesn’t fall apart. John Locke (The Optimist & the Blueprint for Modern Democracy) ​ He was like, “No, actually, people aren’t all bad. They can learn and improve.” ​ Believed people should govern themselves instead of having a king control everything. ​ Said everyone is born free and equal (a revolutionary idea at the time!). ​ Came up with the three basic rights: ○​ Life (don't kill me), ○​ Liberty (let me do me), ○​ Property (don’t take my stuff). ​ Government’s only job is to protect these rights—if it doesn’t, people can (and should) change the government. Why Does This Matter? ​ John Locke’s ideas basically inspired modern democracy (so shoutout to him for giving us rights). French Absolutism = King is the Main Character The Drama (a.k.a. the 1600s in Europe)  ​ The economy is a mess across Europe (except the Netherlands, they’re thriving). ​ The government is like, “Let’s fix this” by raising taxes on the poor (terrible idea). ​ Peasants are mad and start revolting. ​ Kings are taking more power and acting like they’re the sole rulers (hence, absolutism). Where Does Power Come From? 1.​ Constitutional States – Kings have rules to follow. 2.​ Absolute Monarchies – Kings do whatever they want (because they are the rules). Kings: Then vs. Now (Medieval vs. Absolutist) Medieval Kings (Struggle Bus Era) ​ Had to follow existing laws (they didn’t make them). ​ Fought with nobles for power. ​ Listened to the Church (couldn’t do whatever they wanted). ​ Wealth = How much land you own. Absolutist Kings (Main Character Era) ​ “I AM the law” (they make the rules now). ​ Nobles work for them instead of competing. ​ They control the Church (no one can tell them what to do). ​ Set up a tax system so they get rich without relying on nobles. Absolutism = The King’s Glow-Up ​ Government is run by people who answer ONLY to the king (he picks people from all social classes to keep things balanced). ​ Permanent armies (even when there's no war, the army sticks around just in case). ​ Not quite a dictatorship, but definitely low-key controlling. French Absolutism’s Origin Story (King Henry IV’s Era) ​ Henry IV takes over when France is falling apart, and everyone just wants peace. ​ He actually cares and wants to fix things (for once). ​ Becomes Catholic to keep France chill, but still respects other religions. ​ Stops unnecessary wars (finally, some peace). ​ Introduces the Paulette – a fee nobles pay to keep their fancy government jobs. ​ Boosts trade = more $$$ for France. Who Helped Henry IV?  ​ Duke of Sully – basically his right-hand man who helped make France stable. TL;DR: France was in chaos, kings started taking all the power, and Henry IV was the first to successfully pull it offwhile keeping France together. More French Drama: Power Struggles & Main Characters Henry IV Dies = Chaos Ensues ​ Henry IV is assassinated in 1610 → Big problem. ​ His wife, Marie de Medici, is like, “Don’t worry, I got this” and rules for their son, Louis XIII (because he’s still a kid). ​ But she knows she needs help, so she appoints Cardinal Richelieu as First Minister. Richelieu: The Ultimate Control Freak ​ His whole vibe is “The King is everything; everyone else? Stay in your lane.” ​ He makes everyone bow down to royal power – no exceptions. ​ Troublemaking nobles? Bye, you’re executed. ​ Takes nobles' castles so they can’t rebel. ​ Puts royal INTENDANTS in charge – basically, loyal royal workers who manage different regions instead of letting local lords have power. Richelieu’s Anti-Protestant Era ​ Louis XIII & Richelieu are not feeling Protestants in France, so they start taking back their rights (even though Henry IV had given them protection). ​ 1627: Richelieu orders a siege on La Rochelle, a huge Protestant city. It falls in 1628. ​ Meanwhile, France is helping Protestants in the 30 Years’ War because Richelieu’s motto is “Whatever is good for France, we’ll do it”, even if it seems contradictory. Richelieu’s Legacy ​ Makes France more powerful, but also more controlling. ​ Starts The French Academy, which standardizes the French language (so basically, he also controls how people speak). Post-Richelieu = More Chaos (a.k.a. “The Fronde” Rebellion) ​ After Richelieu dies, things start falling apart financially. ​ The Fronde = Regions rebel because they’re mad about high taxes & unfair rule (especially after Spain loses the 30 Years’ War). ​ Even the Parliament of Paris (noble judges) join in because they feel ignored.  ​ Lasts 12 years!! Until young Louis XIV takes over (his mom, Anne of Austria, was ruling for him before). The Fronde’s Aftermath: How Louis XIV Became THAT King 1.​ The King still has to work with bureaucrats & elites (he can’t ignore them completely). 2.​ France’s economy is in shambles AGAIN and will take time to recover. 3.​ Young Louis XIV is TRAUMATIZED by this rebellion → He grows up and becomes the “Poster Boy” for Absolute Monarchy, meaning he’s like “I’m never letting anyone challenge my power again.” TL;DR: Richelieu built absolute monarchy, but after he died, France rebelled against it. Louis XIV saw all this chaos as a kidand was like, “Not on my watch.” So he became THE absolute monarch. Louis XIV: The Ultimate "Main Character" Energy Longest Reign Ever (72 Years!) – King Behavior Only ​ Louis XIV = "The Sun King" → Because he thinks everything revolves around him. ​ He believes in “God’s Law” and that he rules for the “good of the people” (but like...did the people agree? Not really). ​ Never had a Prime Minister → Unlike previous kings, he calls ALL the shots himself. ​ Never called the Estates General (French Parliament) because why would he let anyone else have a say? Louis = Control Freak (Especially with Nobles & Language) ​ Worked with nobles, but in a way where HE was in charge. ​ French becomes the “language of the world” → If you were educated, you spoke French (major flex for France). Versailles: The Ultimate Power Move ​ Builds Versailles = Super extra palace that screams "I AM THE MOMENT." ​ Over-the-top architecture to show off wealth and power.  ​ Keeps nobles busy with petty “court drama” so they don’t have time to plot against him. ​ Most centralized government in Europe → Secret police, spies, NO prime minister, and power is completely in his hands. Louis XIV’s Money Problems = Colbert to the Rescue ​ Louis is spending money like crazy (Versailles isn’t cheap, and wars are expensive). ​ Taxes? Nobles don’t pay. Peasants do (duh). ​ Jean-Baptiste Colbert = Finance Minister and his whole plan is Mercantilism (aka, make France self-sufficient). ○​ TARIFFS on imports (so people buy more French products). ○​ Only French goods are allowed (if it can be made in France, it can’t be imported). ○​ Boosts trade & the merchant class but peasants are still suffering from high taxes. ​ French fashion also becomes elite (because why not?). Louis XIV & Religion: "One King, One Law, One Faith" ​ 1685: Cancels the Edict of Nantes (which used to protect Protestants). ​ New law: Edict of Fontainebleau → Protestant churches & schools get destroyed. ​ 200,000 Protestants flee France (Bye!). ​ He’s all about religious unity, partly because his Catholic mistress influences him to push Catholicism harder. TL;DR: Louis XIV is THAT king—huge palace, absolute control, makes France the center of everything. But he’s also draining money, keeping nobles distracted with drama, and forcing religious unity. Peasants? Still suffering. Louis XIV’s Wars: Because Being Extra Isn’t Just for Fashion Louis XIV = Always at War (Like, Literally 33 Years of It) ​ French army goes from 25,000 → 400,000 soldiers → Because bigger is better, right? ​ Hires François le Tellier & Marquis de Louvois to revamp the army.  ​ Modern army glow-up includes: ○​ Strict discipline (no more unorganized chaos). ○​ Standard uniforms & weapons (now everyone is matching!). ○​ Ambulance corps (because getting injured in war is NOT cute). Louis XIV’s Expansion Era (A.K.A. “I Want More Land”) ​ He wants France to reach its "natural borders" → Translation: More land = More power. ​ Thinks he's the new Charlemagne → Basically, he's obsessed with legacy and world domination. ​ Snatches 12 new towns and tries to take over Holland, but the Dutch literally flood their own land to stop him (major defensive move). ​ 1681: Seizes German lands (because why not?). How Louis Pays for War (A.K.A. Peasants Stay Losing) ​ War = Expensive. Louis = Still Spending. ​ Taxes? All on peasants. Nobles? Still paying $0. ​ Desperate for cash, so he: ○​ Sells noble titles (buy your way into high society!). ○​ Tax exemptions? For sale! ○​ Even melts down national silverware (he’s THAT broke). ​ Bad harvests (1688-94) = Food prices skyrocket → Peasants literally starve (10% of the population dies!). War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713): The Drama™ ​ King of Spain, Charles II ("The Bewitched") is...not doing great. ○​ Inbred. Sickly. Not mentally or physically strong. ○​ Everyone is waiting for him to die (harsh, but true). ​ Louis XIV + the Holy Roman Emperor = Both related to him. ​ 1689: They literally start planning how to split up Spain once Charles dies. ​ Big problem: England’s King William is NOT a fan of Louis XIV. → They have major beef over who gets what. TL;DR: Louis XIV is obsessed with war & expansion, spends way too much money, and leaves peasants struggling while he keeps fighting for land. Meanwhile, Spain’s king is barely functioning, and everyone is plotting to snatch his kingdom before he's even gone.