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Paths To Absolutism A Comparative Study Of Representative Government

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Paths to Absolutism: A Comparative Study of Representative Government, Monarchical
Roles, and Strategies in the English Parliament and French Estates General
Michael Winczner
College of Arts and Sciences, Regent University
HIST 208: Western Civilization II
Dr. Kevin Wolfe
July 6, 2023
Summer 2023
Winczner 1
Abstract
This essay explores the roads to absolutism taken by the English Parliament and the
French Estates General. While a centralized monarchy constrained the French Estates General, the English Parliament steadily evolved towards constitutional monarchy through negotiated accords. Winczner 2
Paths to Absolutism: A Comparative Study of Representative Government, Monarchical
Roles, and Strategies in the English Parliament and French …show more content…

On the other hand, the French Estates
General's difficulties in enacting reform inside a centrally planned monarchy highlight the limitations of representative assemblies when dealing with an absolutist government. The different approaches taken in England and France emphasize the significance of power consolidation vs. negotiated agreements in deciding the speed and form of the move to absolutism. and curtailed the monarch's power. These agreements allowed a controlled transition toward constitutional monarchy and preserved rights and liberties. The participation of various segments of society and the people's consent played a crucial role in shaping the governance of England, contrasting with the more centralized approach taken by the French monarchy.
On the other hand, France experienced a more abrupt shift towards absolutism. Under the reign of Louis XIV, the monarchy adopted a strategy of consolidating power and centralizing authority. The king's assertion of "L'État, c'est moi" ("I am the state") epitomized the absolutist doctrine. Through the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and the imposition of strict …show more content…

It sheds light on the role of representative oversight, monarchical responsibilities, and strategic choices in shaping political systems. The
English Parliament exemplifies a gradual and negotiated shift towards constitutional monarchy, marked by power-sharing arrangements and legislative acts that limited the king's power. The willingness to seek consensus and compromise between the monarchy and the Parliament allowed for a controlled transition and preserving certain rights and liberties.
Reflecting upon these historical cases, we are reminded of the words from the Bible in
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (New International Version), "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven." The divergent paths taken by the English Parliament and the
French Estates General illustrate that different historical contexts and circumstances can lead to varying outcomes in establishing political systems. The slow and negotiated transition in
England and the more centralized approach in France demonstrate the multifaceted factors that contributed to the rise of

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