Crisis & Revolution in Europe

I. Economic Difficulties

questions from your book notes?

II. Witchcraft

causes of this social crisis? uncertainty? see your book notes

who was accused of witchcraft?during the 16th & 17th centuries, between

100,000 & 200,000 people were tried for witchcraft; 50,000 to 100,000 were executed

III. The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)

“the last of the religious wars” (p. 435)review – Peace of Augsburg (1555)Protestant Union(1608) – an alliance formed by

Lutheran princes to protect their territory Catholics responded with the Catholic League (1609)

war began with the defenestration of Prague (May 23, 1618) Protestants threw two of the king’s officials out of a

castle window in Prague – and they survived!eventually, the Thirty Years’ War involved nearly

every European power – EXCEPT England

most of the war was fought on German soilthe war ended with the Peace of Westphalia (1648)

a turning point in European political, religious & social history

all German states could determine their own religion northern German states = Protestant southern German states = Catholic

the 300+ German states became independent states end of the Holy Roman Empire

effects of war on German lands? 1/3 of urban residents & 2/5 of rural residents died destruction of countryside economic instability & terrible inflation

IV. Turmoil in England

Elizabeth I died in 1603, ending the Tudor dynasty her cousin, James I (king

of Scotland) assumed the English throne, starting the Stuart dynasty

divine right of kings – the belief that kings receive their power from God . . . and are responsible only to God James I strongly believed

in this theory, as did most European monarchs

the theory of divine right angered Parliament review – Magna Carta (1215) power of the purse

the next king, Charles I, attempted to govern without Parliament (1629-1640)

religious differences Church of England Catholics Puritans

wanted to “purify” the Anglican Church of its more “Catholic” elements

when Charles I abandoned Parliament in 1629, some Puritans chose to emigrate to the Americas

V. English Civil War (1642-1649)

issue: would sovereignty (the right to govern) belong to the king or Parliament? Cavaliers vs. Roundheads

Cromwell’s forces won the war Jan. 30, 1649 – Charles I executed for

high treason

the Rump Parliament (those reps. friendly to Cromwell) abolished the monarchy & declared England to be a commonwealth

eventually, Cromwell’s rule became a military dictatorship this period is known as the

Interregnum (1649-1660 – the time period between 2 monarchical periods)

VI. The Restoration

Charles II was restored to the throne (r. 1660-1685) both houses of Parliament

were restored as well new crown jewels

unfortunately, religious conflict remained

when the Catholic James II became king in 1685, many feared that England would again become Catholic had a son with his 2nd wife

in 1588 – seemed to ensure a Catholic dynasty

VII. The Glorious Revolution (1688-89)

a group of English noblemen invited James II’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange, to seize power

ended divine right monarchy in Englandpower in England was to be shared between the king &

Parliament the king ruled with the consent of the governed origins of a constitutional monarchy (a limited monarchy)

English Bill of Rights (1689) laws made by Parliament judges would serve terms “during good behavior” no standing army in peacetime freedom of worship for Protestant dissenters required that all English monarchs be Protestant effect on England’s colonies in the Americas?

Westminster Abbey – site of the coronation of English monarchs since 1066