The Old Regime, Enlightenment, and Revolutions: A Summary
The Old Regime: Social Structure and Absolutism
The Old Regime was a social system characterized by political and economic estates, absolutism, and an agricultural economy. The society was divided into estates, which were closed social groups. There were two main categories:
- Privileged: These groups did not pay taxes and held powers and political influence. They included the king, the nobility, and the clergy.
- Non-privileged: These groups paid taxes and were barred from political power. They included soldiers, farmers, and craftsmen.
Absolutism was a system of government in which the king held all power.
The Enlightenment: Challenging the Old Regime
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emerged in the 18th century and questioned the principles of the Old Regime. Key thinkers included Isaac Newton, John Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, and Rousseau.
The core principles of the Enlightenment were:
- Separation of powers
- National sovereignty
- Rights and freedoms
Diderot and D’Alembert created the Encyclopedia, a book that sought to compile all knowledge of the time.
The English Revolution
The English Revolution saw Parliament divided into two chambers: the House of Lords (nobility and clergy) and the House of Commons (elected representatives).
In 1649, the Stuart dynasty ruled and attempted to suppress opposition. King Charles I was executed, and Oliver Cromwell took power as a dictator until his death in 1660.
In 1689, the Stuart monarchy ended. William of Orange took power and, as king, limited his powers and subjected some decisions to Parliament.
Enlightened Despotism
Enlightened Despotism is a political doctrine where reform is initiated by the rulers without the participation of the people. The power remains absolute.
The reforms included:
- Nationalization of the state administration
- Education
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Liberalization of trade and production
The American Revolution
The United States, initially comprised of 13 colonies on the east coast dominated by the United Kingdom, sought independence due to:
- The influence of Enlightenment ideas
- British trade monopoly
- Lack of American political representation
In 1773, the “Boston Tea Party” marked the beginning of the war for independence.
In 1776, the Declaration of Independence of the United States was proclaimed, led by Thomas Jefferson. George Washington was named president.
In 1787, the United States Constitution established:
- Separation of powers
- National sovereignty
- A republic
- A federal state
- Democracy (the first in the world)
The War of the Spanish Succession
In Spain and Catalonia, the War of the Spanish Succession unfolded. In 1700, Charles II died without an heir, leaving the Spanish throne vacant. Two candidates emerged:
- Charles of Austria: Supported by Austria, England, Holland, Portugal, and the Crown of Aragon.
- Philip of Anjou: Supported by France and the Crown of Spain.
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. Archduke Charles of Austria inherited the Austrian crown. Austria, England, Holland, and Portugal, in exchange for some possessions, abandoned the Crown of Aragon, which continued fighting against France and the Crown of Spain, ultimately losing.
Philip was appointed King of Naples.
In 1716, the Decree of New Plant was established, imposing an absolutist model on the Crown of Aragon, including:
- Abolition of Catalan institutions
- Appointment of officials by the King
- Division of land into provinces
- Imposition of Spanish language and cadastre (a tax to be paid by the Crown of Aragon).
Despite the defeat, a demographic and economic change occurred through:
- Peace
- Specialization of the vine
- Development of trade
- Development of Indiana (cotton fabric).