All Pain, Little Gain

A) Louis XIV's Wars

Louis XIV vs Everyone

• WHY???

• Absolute ruler (Louis XIV) wants to expand French land and culture so he (the state) looks cool

• WORTH IT??
• YES... French language and CULTURE SPREAD to other nations
• NO... Monarchy in DEBT (leads to RUIN)

• WAR of SPANISH SUCCESSION (1701-1713) 



Louis XIV after reading Charles II's Will

• Who: Grand Alliance (English, Dutch, Austrians, & Prussians) vs. French & Spanish

• Why:
• 1698 - Europe agrees to divide SPANISH territories between France and Holy Roman emperor.
• PROBLEM:
• CHARLES II (SPANISH KING) - will leaves entire Spanish empire to Louis XIV's grandson (Philip) but forbids union between Spain and France.
• ALL LAND going to one guy would upset BALANCE of POWER
• "Pyrenees no longer exist" Means Spanish and French could be united (never happens though thanks to war)



France to all of Europe After War

• The END: PEACE of UTRECHT
• NO CLEAR WINNER (but France lost the most)
• Completes balance of power by dividing lands
• Ended Spanish Empire & expanded England
• Introduced international cooperation
• France ends expansionism and gives up foreign lands

• CRITICAL THINKING: Would Spanish Succession Wars have started if Spain had no overseas territory?
• New World territories gave Spain prestige since land was power.
• People still would have cared since Spain had the history of being a strong empire. Without America, part of that monarchy would be missing and people might not have gone to the same lengths (like a full war), but actions still would have been taken since Spain is still a large country on its own and the balance of power is still upset.

B) SPAIN'S PAINS

Spain Realizing They Have No More Money

• Why is Spain in a BAD PLACE??
• Bad Leadership - Decadence (overspending) of Habsburg (Monarch)
• Paying taxes was frowned upon by wealthy - NO MIDDLE CLASS (expelled with Jews and Morse) left ALL TAXES on POOR
• Effect: Spain is BROKE, clings to OLD GLORIES
• Don Quixote - satire about the Spanish to IDEALIZE THE PAST and live in this alternate reality like FOOLS.

C) Intro to Constitutionalism (it's not Democracy) 

Constitutionalism - Limiting government through the use of laws.

Me prepping for Constitutionalism

• 2 types:
• Monarchy - KING possess authority but obeys laws 
• Ex) England
• Republic - ELECTORATE has power, more stable
• Not democracy because common people cannot vote.