2.3 Burghers in power

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Memo havo 2 TTO

CH2. The age of regents and rulers

The Golden Age

sec. 2.3 Burghers in power

Learning objectives

• You can explain how other European countries were governed in the seventeenth century.
  
• You can explain how the Republic was administrated.
  
• You can explain that the form of government of the Republic was unusual for that time.
  
• You can use examples to explain that the stadholder and the regents sometimes had different interests. 
  
• You can explain what the causes and consequences of the Year of Disasters (Rampjaar) were.
  
• You know the terms and dates from this section.

Absolutism

In the seventeenth century most European countries were monarchies.

• State administrated by a king.
• Kingship is hereditary.

Charles X (Sweden)

Absolutism

In the seventeenth century Louis XIV and other monarchs managed to increase their power and reduced the nobility's power. 

Absolutism

Form of government in which the king is totally in control.

Louis XIV (France)

Absolutism

According to absolutism the king's power is given by God.

Divine right made the king infallible. The king's laws were God's decrees.

Charles I (England)

The government of the Republic

In the Republic there was no king or other ruler.

Small group of wealthy citizens was in charge of the city governments and Provincial States: regents.

The government of the Republic

Provinces were largely independent. All had their own laws and government (Regional councils)

States General

• Only foreign politics, defence of the country and government of generality lands and colonies.
• Every province had one vote, but in practice Holland the most powerful (wealthiest province, paid most for army and fleet).

The government of the Republic

Important officials

• Stadholder

Army commander and could appoint administrators in some cities.

• Grand pensionary (= raadpensionaris) of Holland

Highest official of Holland, advised the States General on foreign policies of the Republic and maintained contact with other countries.

What matches the Dutch Republic?

1. central government
2. governed by citizens
3. governed by an emperor
4. governed by a king

How do we call rich men who had lot of influence on the daily politics of the Republic?

1. regenten
2. stadtholders

The name of the daily government of a province in the Republic led by regenten.

1. Regional councils
2. representatives
3. stadtholders
4. States General

Which answer doesn't belong here?
Each province had its own ...

1. daily government
2. coins, laws and taxes
3. Regional councils
4. States General

The daily government of the province of Zeeland was carried out by the ....

1. Regional council
2. States General

Regents and stadholder

During the Revolt stadholders, like Maurits and Frederik Hendrik, had status and power.

In 1648 Peace of Münster (peace with Spain). Many regents wanted peace, because war was expensive and bad for trade. Also, they wanted to reduce the power of the stadholder.

In 1650 the army was reduced by the regents. 

Regents and stadholder

Stadholder William II wanted to continue fighting and when the regents reduced the army this led to a conflict.

When William II suddenly died in 1650 the regents decided against appointing a new stadholder. (First Stadholderless Period).

Year of disasters

In the Year of disasters (Rampjaar) 1672 the Republic was attacked from three sides by England, France, Münster and Cologne.

Year of disasters

Causes:

• England wanted to take over the Republic's trade at sea; 
• France wanted to expand his territory as far as the Rhine;
• Both countries wanted to break the Republic's power.

Course of the war:

• At sea admiral Michiel de Ruyter beat the English;
• The French en German armies occupied big parts of the Republic. Their advance stopped at the Waterline.

Year of disasters

Consequences: 

• William III became stadholder;
• Johan de Witt resigned as Grand Pensionary (and was murdered);
• End of the Golden Age for the Republic because France and England continued fighting wars.  Negative effect on trade. Higher taxes needed to pay for the army.

The bodies of the De Witt brothers

Bloeiperiode van de Republiek tussen 1588-1672.

Holland (Amsterdam) werd centrum wereldhandel.

• economische bloei
• culturele bloei (kunst en wetenschap)

How do we call the meeting where provinces worked together on bigger political issues, like foreign politics, wars and the defence of the country?

1. Regional council
2. States General

How do we call the regenten the Provincial States would send to the States General?

1. reformers
2. representatives

What doesn't match the States General?

1. Foreign affairs, war and defence of the country
2. Gelderland was the most powerful province
3. representatives from the Regional councils
4. unanimous decisions

How do we call the highest army commander of the Republic?

1. Grand pensionary
2. Regent
3. Representative
4. Stadholder

How do we call the political advisor of the States General?

1. Grand pensionary
2. Regent
3. Representative
4. Stadholder

Get to work

What? See whiteboard.

How? Alone 

Help? Ask neighbour. Can't figure it out? Ask teacher. 

Time? Until the end of the lesson. 

Done? Learn terms and dates. Ask teacher.