The Old Regime

1. The society of estates
   1. Main characteristics
      1. Priviledge

         Nota:

         • It was for the nobility and clergy. They had major advantages. 
      2. Lack of mobility

         Nota:

         • In exception of the clergy Personal estate was determined at birth.
   2. Estates
      1. Nobility
         1. High nobility

            Nota:

            • Received rents. Occupied higher social position.
         2. Low nobility

            Nota:

            • Less money.
      2. Clergy
         1. High clergy

            Nota:

            • They normally from noble families
         2. Low clergy

            Nota:

            • Were from commoner families
      3. Commoners
         1. Bourgeoise

            Nota:

            • Wealthy, but limited political power.
         2. Peasantry

            Nota:

            • They worked for the nobles. Little social influence. Paid many taxes.
2. Agriculture

   Nota:

   • Was the main economic activity. Subsistance farming ( mainly grew grains using basic tools),very dependant crops and widespread famine. Lands belong to nobility and clergy.
3. Artisanal activity
   1. Guilds

      Nota:

      • Controlled the price the production and the quality of the products in cities.
   2. Domestic system

      Nota:

      • Merchants give materials and tools to the peasants,who made the products, merchant collect and sell it
   3. Royal factories

      Nota:

      • Belonged to the monarchy. Made weapons and luxury products
4. Trade
   1. Foreign trade

      Nota:

      • Trading companies.Monopolies and importers.Huge profits
   2. Triangular trade

1. Absolutism

   Nota:

   • Monarchs had the three powers. Divine rights of kings. Administrative centralisation. Mercantilism. Gold and silver determined the country´s welth.
2. English parliamentarism

   Nota:

   •  After English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution , England is a parliamentary monarchy with separation of powers The Bill of Rights of 1689.
3. The Dutch Republic

   Nota:

   • The political power in the republic was held  by the bourgeoise. Each province had their own parliament. Estates Generales were assembled to take decisions.

1. Reason is a applied in all areas of life,criticising the Old Regime
2. Natural rights for all human being
3. Knowledge was the key of happiness, great importance in education
4. The basis of coexistance is the tolerance
5. The Enlightenment thinkers
   1. Montesquieu

      Nota:

      • Separations of powers.
   2. Voltaire

      Nota:

      • Strong monarchy with respect for civil liberties. Freedom of expresion.
   3. Rousseau

      Nota:

      • Freedom and equality. Believed society corrupts people. Sovereignty reside in people

Nota:

• In foreingn policy he recovered Naples and Sicily

1. Fernando VI (1746-1759)
   1. Carlos III(1759-1788)
      1. Carlos IV(1788-1808)

         Nota:

         • Worried about the enlightene could lead in a revolution.
         1. Manuel Godoy , minister

            Nota:

            • Censor the revolutionary ideas and aislacionate Spain.
         2. Wars
            1. with other countries against revolutionary France

               Nota:

               • End in 1795 ,France win Santo Domingo.
            2. with France , against England

               Nota:

               • Defeat in the Battle of Trafalgar1805. Lost of its navy and marine hegemony.
      2. Initiated a wide-ranging reform.
      3. Esquilache Riots

         Nota:

         • Reason: Attemped to modernise traditional clothing.
      4. Reforms
         1. The Church was consider an obstacle

            Nota:

            • The Jesuists were expelled from Spain and Italy. The Inquisition was reduce 
         2. Economic development

            Nota:

            • Free trade with America . New farmed land . Creation of Royal factories
         3. Education

            Nota:

            • New schools were built and expansion of primary education.
         4. Economic Societies of Friends of the Country

            Nota:

            • Enlightened thinkers discuss important subjets.
      5. Foreign policy

         Nota:

         • Spain recovered Menorca and participated in American Revolutionary War
   2. Continued the reforms and strengthened the navy
   3. Catastro of Ensenada(1749)

      Nota:

      • Large scale census
2. Centralised administration

   Nota:

   • Following the French model.
3. Nueva Planta decrees

   Nota:

   • Abolished the institution of Aragón.
4. Used the secretary of state Fernando VI

1. Bourbon
   1. Philippe, Duke of Anjoy
      1. Winner
         1. Became Felipe V
2. Habsburg
   1. Archiduke Charles
3. vs
4. International conflict and civil war
5. Treaty of Ultrech
   1. Austria

      Nota:

      • Receive Spanish territories in Flanders and in Italy
   2. England

      Nota:

      • Receive Menorca and Gilbratar

1. Absolutism with enlightened ideas
   1. New educational institutions
      1. Modernised their bureaucracies
         1. Centralised administration
            1. Expropiate land from the nobles and the Church for farming