Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The Old Regime
- Political, social and economic system.
- Many parts of Europe
- 18th Century
- Based on states
- Had an absolute monarchy.
- Society of States
- 2 main characteristics
- Nobility and clergy had privileges and advantages.
- A person's state was determined at
birth.
- 3 main states
- Clergy
- High Clergy
- Low Clergy
- Nobility
- High Nobility
- Low Nobility
- Commoners
- Bourgeoisie
- Peasantry
- Activities
- Main
- Crop agriculture
- Livestock farming
- Artisanal activity
- Trade
- Triangular trade
- Systems of Government
- Absolutism
- Monarchs held the 3 powers
- English Parliamentarism
- 17th century: Absolute Monarchy
- Parliament opposed, led to English
Civil War (1642-1651)
- Parliament won and monarchy restored in 1660
- New attempts for an absolute monarchy led to
Glorious Revolution (1688). King James II
deposed.
- Parliamentary Monarchy
implemented
- Dutch Republic
- Independence of the 7 provinces of
northern Netherlands officially recognised
by Spain (1648)
- The Enlightenment
- Intellectual movement, spread across Europe and America.
- According to it...
- Reason should be applied to all areas of life.
- Natural rights belonged to all human beings, and the state couldn't
supress them.
- Knowledge wa sthe key to happiness, and it could be achieved if reason was
used.
- Tolerance was the basis of coexistence.
- Many of its ideas changed the foundations of the Old Regime.
- Englightenment Thinkers.
- John Locke
- Highly influential ideas
- Thought the state was a result of a social contract
between the government and the people.
- Montesquieu
- Defended separation of
powers.
- Majors works: The Spirit of Laws
- Voltaire
- Defended a strong monarchy that
respected civil rights.
- Believed in freedom and expression;
hated fanatism and intolerance.
- Major works: Candide,
Teatrise on Tolerance.
- Rousseau
- Defended freedom and equality.
- Thought society corrupts human beings,
who are naturally good.
- Major works: Émile, The social contract.