Response to Crisis:
Absolutism
Chapter 7: Section 3
Response to the Crisis
Seek stability by increasing the monarchy’s
power
Do you think this would be a good idea?
Why or why not?
More power for rulers
Absolutism – A system where a ruler holds
total power.
In Europe it is tied to the idea of Divine
Right of Kings – rulers received power from
God
Rights – make laws, levy taxes, court
system, hire and fire officials, and
determine foreign policy.
17th Century Absolutism
Best example? Louis XIV
French power and culture spread throughout
Europe
Other political courts imitated Louis XIV
Louis XIV Comes to Power
Was given throne at
the age of 4
People of France
wanted stability with a
monarch so…
Became King at the
age of 23
Sun King – Source of
light for all the people
of France
Government of Louis XIV
3 purposes for Royal Court at Versailles
1. Personal household of the King
2. Chief offices of the state were located
there.
3. Place where powerful subjects came to
find favors and offices.
From here Louis controlled central policymaking machinery of gov’t
Versailles
Louis brought nobles and princes here to
distract them from politics
Tactic worked
Gov’t obeyed his every wish
Ruled with absolute authority in 3 areas:
Foreign policy
Church
Taxes
At the Court of Versailles
In 1660, Louis XIV of
France decided to build a
palace at Versailles, near
Paris. Untold sums of
money were spent and
tens of thousands of
workers labored
incessantly to complete the
work. The enormous
palace housed thousands
of people.
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage
Religion
Anti-Huguenot stance
Huguenots were to convert to Catholicism
Protestant Churches and Schools were
destroyed
200,000 people fled from France to other
countries
The Economy and War
Louis often spent
more money than
France had
Jean Baptiste Colbert
– controller of
finances
Used mercantilist
ideals
Colbert
Money = War
Decreased imports and increased exports
Used money to create an army of 400,000
Waged 4 wars from 1667 – 1713
Added some territory for France
Other countries set up groups to prevent
French dominance
Situation in France
1715 Louis XIV died
France was debt-ridden
Surrounded by enemies
Seemed remorseful (sorry) for not caring
for the people more