The Liberal State
English Politics and the Right to Revolution
Any single man must judge for himself whether circumstances warrant obedience or resistance to the commands of the civil magistrate; we are all qualified, entitled, and morally obliged to evaluate the conduct of our rulers.
- John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 1689
Paradox…
Absolute rulers and rationalism helped early modern societies to negotiate fundamental social and economic change…
…but that same rationalism would be the source of Absolutism’s strongest critics.
I. Enlightened Despots
A well conducted government must have an underlying concept so well integrated that it could be likened to a system of philosophy…All financial, political and military matters must flow towards one goal…the strengthening of the state and the furthering of its power.
- Frederick II “The Great” d. 1786
A. Science and the state
1. R & D - Académie des Sciences 1666 - Royal Academy 1660
Christopher Wren. d. 1723
B. The Sun King Louis XIV
1. “I am the state”dismissed assembliesdirect rule / appointmentsprofessional armyGallicanism
Edict of Fontainebleau 1685Jansenism
2. “I have loved war too much”
Natural borders
AlliancesHabsburgsWar of the League of AugsburgWar of Spanish Succession
C. Czar of all the Russias
1. Peter I “The Great” 1689-1725- Westernization- Eastern expansion- state service- serfdom
Romanovs
2. Catherine “the Great” r. 1762-1796- un-Enlightenment 1773- Wild, wild East
D. Germany stirs
1. HRE?Westphalia 1648
Siege of Vienna 1683
Leopold I r. 1657-1705
2. Austrian Habsburg Dynasty
Maria TeresaJoseph II 1780-1790
3. Hohenzollerns(Prussia)
- militarism / state service- Frederick the Great
1712-1786
II. The Rights (and Wrongs) of Englishmen
For the king, turning to the gentleman that touched the axe said "Hurt not the axe that may hurt me.“
- Bulstrode Whitelock
A. Constitutionalism (sort of)
1. Norman Conquest 1066
2. Magna Carta 1215
B. Tudor Family Values
1. There’s something about Mary
Henry VIII “Bloody Mary” Elizabeth I r. 1553-58 r. 1558-1603
C. The Ghost of John Calvin
1. Roundheads- anti-hierarchical
- “middle” class
D. Stuart Kings
1. James I 1603-1625
“Divine Right” / Absolutism
King James Bible (1611)
III. English Revolutions, 1640 - 1689
A. Royal Authoritarian
1. Charles I 1625-49
2. Short Parliament 1640
B. English Civil War 1642-1651
1. Culture Wars King v. Parliament Anglican (Catholic) v. Puritan Old v. New “Money”
Oliver Cromwell
2. Execution of Charles I 1649
Liberty at risk
D. Commonwealth (1649-60)
& Restoration (1660-89)
1. Theocracy
2. Charles II
IV. Modern Liberalism
Limited Government
Natural Law
Personal Liberty
Positive Humanism
A. The Glorious Revolution
1. James II 1685
2. Dual Monarchy 1688
- William & Mary
3. Checks & Balances
Rise of Parliament
Toleration Act 1688
Declaration of Rights 1689
B. Justification
1. Remembering Hobbes
John Locke
Two Treatises of Government 1689
- natural rights
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding 1690
- tabula rasa