Absolute Monarch
Shelby Quartararo
DBQ- Absolutism and Democracy
10/22/12
Throughout world history many forms of political systems have been used. In countries like France and Russia they had an absolute monarchy. This is when one person had all the power and wealth. In England, people believed in a democracy. This is when there was a limit to royal power to protect the rights of the people. Although both forms of government had their strength and weaknesses, absolutism was the most effective during this time. Absolutism was more effective than a democracy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. An absolute monarch is when there was one ruler over the land. One person that believed in absolutism was Machiavelli. He wrote a book called The Prince. This was a guide for rulers on how to gain and maintain power. His books states one should rule with fear. He believed that if you trusted others they would disobey you. In document 1, Machiavelli “when danger approaches they turn on you”. (Doc. 1) Another ruler that believed in absolutism was King James I. He believed in a divine right. Kings should be like Gods. A king should have the same power over everyone. King James I stated, “Kings are justly called Gods, for that they exercise a… divine power over earth”. (Doc. 2) When Parliament did not agree with King James he dissolved it. He also took matters into his own hands and collected taxes. The last ruler to display an absolute monarch was King Louis XIV of France. He believed that all control should be in one state. (Doc. 3) He used the sun as a symbol for absolute power. Just like the sun is at the center of the solar system, he was at the center of government. To show his wealth and power he built Versailles. This was a magnificent palace where nobles lived. Overall, an absolute power was more effective because all the power was in one person’s hands. With the king being so strong and powerful it was often difficult to overrule him. That is why absolute powers
DBQ- Absolutism and Democracy
10/22/12
Throughout world history many forms of political systems have been used. In countries like France and Russia they had an absolute monarchy. This is when one person had all the power and wealth. In England, people believed in a democracy. This is when there was a limit to royal power to protect the rights of the people. Although both forms of government had their strength and weaknesses, absolutism was the most effective during this time. Absolutism was more effective than a democracy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. An absolute monarch is when there was one ruler over the land. One person that believed in absolutism was Machiavelli. He wrote a book called The Prince. This was a guide for rulers on how to gain and maintain power. His books states one should rule with fear. He believed that if you trusted others they would disobey you. In document 1, Machiavelli “when danger approaches they turn on you”. (Doc. 1) Another ruler that believed in absolutism was King James I. He believed in a divine right. Kings should be like Gods. A king should have the same power over everyone. King James I stated, “Kings are justly called Gods, for that they exercise a… divine power over earth”. (Doc. 2) When Parliament did not agree with King James he dissolved it. He also took matters into his own hands and collected taxes. The last ruler to display an absolute monarch was King Louis XIV of France. He believed that all control should be in one state. (Doc. 3) He used the sun as a symbol for absolute power. Just like the sun is at the center of the solar system, he was at the center of government. To show his wealth and power he built Versailles. This was a magnificent palace where nobles lived. Overall, an absolute power was more effective because all the power was in one person’s hands. With the king being so strong and powerful it was often difficult to overrule him. That is why absolute powers