Absolutism, Constitutionalism, and the Search for Order

1640–1715

The wars over religion not only left bitter memories in late seventeenth-century Europe but also ruined economies and weakened governments. In response, many people sought to impose order on the turbulent world in a variety of ways. All of the documents in this chapter reveal that politically, the quest for stability fueled the development of two rival systems of state building—absolutism and constitutionalism. Despite their differences, rulers within both systems centralized power and expanded bureaucracies, casting an increasingly wide net over their subjects’ lives. The first document shows that the sinews of the state extended into the New World as European nations (in this case France) continued their quest for land, treasure, and cultural influence there. Not everyone submitted willingly to the expansion of state power, however. On the one hand, such resistance could have permanent repercussions, as it did during the English civil war and the ensuing debate over the nature of authority (Documents 2–4). On the other hand, challenges to increased state control elsewhere in Europe ultimately were no match for established governments, as the final document illustrates.