Unit 4 Enlightenmentand Absolutism

Lesson 5 Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)Review of Lessons 1 - 4

1. What is absolutism?

2. What is the divine right of kings?

3. What is a limited monarchy?

4. What is a constitutional monarchy?

5. What is nationalism?

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

Learning Target

Students can explain the reign of the absolute king Louis XIV and his affect on the French society

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

F – Four Years Old King Louis XIII was a weak king (cardinal control)

Cardinal Richelieu was his adviser and he stood against any form of democratic government

Louis XIV, his son, became king at 4 years old

He was too young to rule, he also had a cardinal adviser, Cardinal Mazarin, France became very powerful under the control of these cardinals

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

R– Royal Problem At 23, Louis wanted to rule alone

Believed in the Divine Right and a state religion(He was a Catholic and ended the Edict of Nantes)

Nobles often ignored him and fought against him with their armies

2 problems: There was no central government or national army

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

A– Attitude Change Louis appointed officials to collect taxes in France to be

given to the central government

He reorganized the French Army and gave uniforms to soldiers to show they belonged

The army increased from 100,000 to 400,000 soldiers

This large army made Louis very powerful

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

N– National Pain Louis built a second palace at Versailles (10m from Paris)

Took 30 years to complete & 30,000 men

His love for beautiful things was a burden on the French taxpayers

This served as a house for Louis and his nobles(He could now watch over and distract them from politics)

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

C– Cost of War and Luxury The Taxpayers had to pay for all of this!

He fought many wars to get more land

Wars and luxury drained the French treasury

He referred to himself as the “Sun King” (All of France seemed to revolve around him; he was their “light”)

Absolutism in France (FRANCE)

E– End of the Road At the end of his life, Louis was regretful he had fought so

much

He advised his grandson, the future king, to keep peace and ease the burden on the French people

Reigned for 72 years and became the most powerful ruler in Europe.

Lesson 5 Absolute Monarchy in France

Predict

What do you think?

What could happen to a country like France if an absolute monarch puts too great a burden on the people?