The Old Regime

The Old Regime

1. 18th century´s society

   • The society of estates
     • Main characteristics
       • Priviledge
         • It was for the nobility and clergy. They had major advantages. 
       • Lack of mobility
         • In exception of the clergy Personal estate was determined at birth.
     • Estates
       • Nobility
         • High nobility
           • Received rents. Occupied higher social position.
         • Low nobility
           • Less money.
       • Clergy
         • High clergy
           • They normally from noble families
         • Low clergy
           • Were from commoner families
       • Commoners
         • Bourgeoise
           • Wealthy, but limited political power.
         • Peasantry
           • They worked for the nobles. Little social influence. Paid many taxes.
   • Agriculture
     • Was the main economic activity. Subsistance farming ( mainly grew grains using basic tools),very dependant crops and widespread famine. Lands belong to nobility and clergy.
   • Artisanal activity
     • Guilds
       • Controlled the price the production and the quality of the products in cities.
     • Domestic system
       • Merchants give materials and tools to the peasants,who made the products, merchant collect and sell it
     • Royal factories
       • Belonged to the monarchy. Made weapons and luxury products
   • Trade
     • Foreign trade
       • Trading companies.Monopolies and importers.Huge profits
     • Triangular trade

2. The system of government

   • Absolutism
     • Monarchs had the three powers. Divine rights of kings. Administrative centralisation. Mercantilism. Gold and silver determined the country´s welth.
   • English parliamentarism
     •  After English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution , England is a parliamentary monarchy with separation of powers The Bill of Rights of 1689.
   • The Dutch Republic
     • The political power in the republic was held  by the bourgeoise. Each province had their own parliament. Estates Generales were assembled to take decisions.

3. The Enlightenment

   • Reason is a applied in all areas of life,criticising the Old Regime
   • Natural rights for all human being
   • Knowledge was the key of happiness, great importance in education
   • The basis of coexistance is the tolerance
   • The Enlightenment thinkers
     • Montesquieu
       • Separations of powers.
     • Voltaire
       • Strong monarchy with respect for civil liberties. Freedom of expresion.
     • Rousseau
       • Freedom and equality. Believed society corrupts people. Sovereignty reside in people

4. Felipe V (1700-1746)

   • In foreingn policy he recovered Naples and Sicily
   • Fernando VI (1746-1759)
     • Carlos III(1759-1788)
       • Carlos IV(1788-1808)
         • Worried about the enlightene could lead in a revolution.
         • Manuel Godoy , minister
           • Censor the revolutionary ideas and aislacionate Spain.
         • Wars
           • with other countries against revolutionary France
             • End in 1795 ,France win Santo Domingo.
           • with France , against England
             • Defeat in the Battle of Trafalgar1805. Lost of its navy and marine hegemony.
       • Initiated a wide-ranging reform.
       • Esquilache Riots
         • Reason: Attemped to modernise traditional clothing.
       • Reforms
         • The Church was consider an obstacle
           • The Jesuists were expelled from Spain and Italy. The Inquisition was reduce 
         • Economic development
           • Free trade with America . New farmed land . Creation of Royal factories
         • Education
           • New schools were built and expansion of primary education.
         • Economic Societies of Friends of the Country
           • Enlightened thinkers discuss important subjets.
       • Foreign policy
         • Spain recovered Menorca and participated in American Revolutionary War
     • Continued the reforms and strengthened the navy
     • Catastro of Ensenada(1749)
       • Large scale census
   • Centralised administration
     • Following the French model.
   • Nueva Planta decrees
     • Abolished the institution of Aragón.
   • Used the secretary of state Fernando VI

5. The war of Spanish Succession (1701-1714)

   • Bourbon
     • Philippe, Duke of Anjoy
       • Winner
         • Became Felipe V
   • Habsburg
     • Archiduke Charles
   • vs
   • International conflict and civil war
   • Treaty of Ultrech
     • Austria
       • Receive Spanish territories in Flanders and in Italy
     • England
       • Receive Menorca and Gilbratar

6. Enlightened depotism

   • Absolutism with enlightened ideas
     • New educational institutions
       • Modernised their bureaucracies
         • Centralised administration
           • Expropiate land from the nobles and the Church for farming

Imágenes y archivos del mapa