Paths to Constitutionalism and
Paths to Constitutionalism and Absolutism-England and France in the Seventeenth CenturyConstitutional Crisis and Settlement in Stuart England:James I, a believer in the divine right of kings, failed to understand the importance of Parliament in governing England. He dissolved Parliament, trying to rule without it until England's involvement in the Thirty Years' War made it necessary to reconvene it. But after Parliament passed the Great Protestation in 1621, James once again dissolved it. Charles I, forced by wars, called for Parliament to vote funds, which it refused to do until he signed the Petition of Right in 1628. In 1642, Parliament seized control of the Army. This started the English Civil War (1642-1649). The middle class people were the Roundheads and the Anglican clergy and nobility and peasants who backed the king were Royalists or Cavaliers. The Roundheads allied with Presbyterian Scotland; the king called on Irish Catholics for help
Richelieu centralized the gov taking measured to increase the tax base, strengthening the military, and instituting the intendant system, which weakened the nobility. France enjoyed a Golden Age of culture under the Sun King. Cromwell ruled until he died in 1658. Sully, Henry's finance minister, reformed tax collection, stimulated trade and industry, and improved transportation. Most of Louis' ambitions were frustrated by the League of Augsburg (Holland, Spain, HRE, England).
Common topics in this essay:
Years' War,
Baptiste Colbert,
Sully Henry's,
Minister Richelieu,
Tory Whig,
England James,
Louis Frondeurs,
Palace Versailles,
Edict Nantes,
Louis XIV,
glorious revolution,
power monarchy,
middle class,
edict nantes,
prime minister,
finance minister,
balance power,
spanish throne,
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Acceptance Essays
