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Slide Notes
England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands took a much different path towards state consolidation. Both of these countries exhibited the signs of emerging modern states but did not trend towards absolutism. One could make the generalization that where vast amounts of wealth were concentrated in the hands of the monarchy (such as in France) absolutism tended to flourish and where wealth was distributed more broadly across a wealthy class of merchants and capitalists (such as in England and the Netherlands) the lawmaking bodies were able to provide a powerful check on would-be absolutists. In both England and the Netherlands power was firmly in the hands of these wealthy classes and they made their presence felt in both Parliament and in the States General.
AP European Dutch and English Constitutionalism
Published on Nov 18, 2015
Constitutionalism, Dutch Republic, Dutch Golden Age, English Revolution, English Civil War, Restoration, Glorious Revolution
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Constitutionalism and State Consolidation
England and the Dutch Republic
England and the United Provinces of the Netherlands took a much different path towards state consolidation. Both of these countries exhibited the signs of emerging modern states but did not trend towards absolutism. One could make the generalization that where vast amounts of wealth were concentrated in the hands of the monarchy (such as in France) absolutism tended to flourish and where wealth was distributed more broadly across a wealthy class of merchants and capitalists (such as in England and the Netherlands) the lawmaking bodies were able to provide a powerful check on would-be absolutists. In both England and the Netherlands power was firmly in the hands of these wealthy classes and they made their presence felt in both Parliament and in the States General.
Untitled Slide
The Dutch Republic
7 Northern Provinces - The United Provinces
The 7 northern provinces of the Netherlands that had declared and won independence from Spain by the time of the Peace of Westphalia were arranged into a confederation of states. This system of government is not unlike our own federalist system where the national government must share power with the states. In the Netherlands, however, the states exercised much more sovereignty over their affairs than the national government could.
Provincial Rule
- Local Estates
- Each province ruled by an oligarchy - Regents
- Regents were usually wealthy merchants
- These merchant families kept the offices within the family
The Local Estates of each province were governed by the wealthy merchants there. The two most powerful provinces politically and financially were Holland and Zeeland (sometimes spelled Zealand). At first these merchant rulers were elected or chosen in the cities but over time families were able to make these offices more and more hereditary.
National Government
- States General
- Provinces often appointed a stadtholder to be their representative
- Very little sovereignty
- Formed a confederation of states
The States-General met in the Hague and each province, while it could send as large a delegation as it wished, had only one vote. The States-General concerned itself with policies that oriented the Republic towards other nations. It had the power to declare war and make peace, conduct diplomacy, levy tariffs and administer the army and navy. The Stattholder (sometimes spelled Stadtholder or Stadholder) was, in theory, an appointed representative from each province that held executive power at the national level. In practice, the Stattholder often held this title for several provinces at once and since the Dutch Revolt, this individual usually came from the House of Orange and at the national or confederal level he was also appointed Captain-General of the armed forces. This office, however, was not made hereditary until 1747, and should not be confused with the status or power of a King in the Dutch Republic. This strange arrangement can be seen as a cautious response by the Dutch in setting up their government as they had just freed themselves from a powerful Spanish monarchy.
William III of Orange
Stadtholder and Captain General of the Military
William III of Orange who would become King William III of England and rule along with Queen Mary was one of the more powerful stadholders during this time period and tried to replace city council members with his personal supporters in many of the provinces.
The Dutch Golden Age
Commercial Prosperity and Religious Toleration
Johannes Vermeer
View of Delft
17th Century Dutch Society
- Large wealthy merchant class
- Social Mobility and Egalitarian Society
- Status measured by commercial success
- Haven for many Protestant denominations and Jews
The Dutch Golden Age lasted for the duration of the 17th Century, beginning during the struggle for independence from Spain and ending with increased competition from France and England.
Dutch society during the 17th century was defined by the commercial success of a rising merchant class in urban centers. In this society status was much more likely to be determined by income than by birth. The landed nobility of more rural areas often became involved in commercial enterprises or married into prominent merchant families. There was also a large middle class made up of the Protestant clergy, lawyers, doctors and high ranking members of the civil service.
The Dutch enjoyed spectacular wage and living standard gains. One way to measure the quality of life in the Dutch Republic was the opulence of their dinner tables and cuisine. Dinners contained many extravagant dishes and often included tea, coffee, sugar, spices, and fruits from all over the world.
Their success can be directly attributed to the success of the Dutch East India company, established in 1602, which enjoyed a monopoly on trade in the Spice Islands and with Japan.
Dutch society during the 17th century was defined by the commercial success of a rising merchant class in urban centers. In this society status was much more likely to be determined by income than by birth. The landed nobility of more rural areas often became involved in commercial enterprises or married into prominent merchant families. There was also a large middle class made up of the Protestant clergy, lawyers, doctors and high ranking members of the civil service.
The Dutch enjoyed spectacular wage and living standard gains. One way to measure the quality of life in the Dutch Republic was the opulence of their dinner tables and cuisine. Dinners contained many extravagant dishes and often included tea, coffee, sugar, spices, and fruits from all over the world.
Their success can be directly attributed to the success of the Dutch East India company, established in 1602, which enjoyed a monopoly on trade in the Spice Islands and with Japan.
The Decline of the Dutch
Rivalry with France and England
The Golden Age of the Dutch Republic can be tracked closely with the establishment, rise, and fall of the Dutch East India Company. The reasons for the end of the dominance of both can be traced to increased competition and war with England and France and changing trade conditions with Japan, China, and the Spice Islands. It is important to note that while the decline of the Spanish was absolute, the Dutch Republic's decline was relative to it's main rivals, England and Spain.
English Civil War
Roundheads vs. Royalists 1642-1651
Causes
- House of Commons made up of new wealthy capitalists
- Dissatisfaction with Anglican Church and
- Catholic leaning monarchs - James I and Charles I
- King summoning Parliament only to call for new taxes
- Long Parliament - Triennial Act
Oliver Cromwell
New Model Army
Trial and Execution of Charles I
Rump Parliament - 1649
Cromwell as Lord Protector
- Puritanical
- Military Dictatorship - 12 military districts
- Enforced mercantilist policies with Navigation Act 1651
- Military rule ended after Cromwell's death in 1658
The Restoration
- Charles II
- The Cabal - The Cabinet
- Mutual trust between Charles II and Parliament
- Until...Charles II made a secret deal with Louis XIV
- James II his successor also seen as pro-French and pro-Catholic
The Glorious Revolution
1688
Effects
- English Bill of Rights - King must share power
- Religious freedom
- Establishment of the Cabinet
- Defended intellectually by John Locke
- Secures institutional change in favor of wealthy merchant class and agrarian elites
