Absolutism
An absolute monarch is a form of government in which the king or queen has unrestricted rule. They believe that all power within their state's boundaries rest in their hands. Their goal was to control every aspect of society. Absolute monarchs believed in the divine right, the idea that God created the monarchy and that they monarchy acts as God's representatives on earth. They answer only to God, not to the people they govern.
Absolutism came about because of a number of reasons.
Firstly, during the Reformation, the people began to question the church and its authority. The Church and the pope began to lose power which was then transferred to the king and princes. An example of this occurred in England during the reign of Henry VIII. When the Act of Supremacy was passed in 1534, King Henry VIII seized the land and wealth from the monasteries in England making him significantly more powerful. Secondly, the decline of feudalism that existed during the Middle Ages helped develop absolute monarchs. During feudalism, power was spread throughout the nobles, knights, fiefs and so forth with each person reporting to their immediate superior. As this concept dismantled, all people began to report to the king and only the king. Additionally, the introduction of mercantilism meant that all taxes went directly to the king. In contrast to feudalism were wealth and services were distributed and exchanged. ___ |