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1. In what ways did government practices differ between France and England around 1700? Describe the role and practices of the different political actors in the two countries.

2. Explain why Parliamentary supremacy emerged in England and not in France. You should describe the events that led up to the different outcomes, and if possible you should explain the deeper causes of the different paths of the two countries.

Paper For Above instruction

The political landscapes of France and England around 1700 were markedly different, shaped by their unique historical trajectories, societal structures, and the roles of key political actors. These differences in governance practices and the emergence of parliamentary supremacy reflect centuries of political development, cultural factors, and ideological shifts that influenced each nation's trajectory.

Government Practices in France and England around 1700

In early 18th-century France, the monarchy held centralized authority, epitomized by the principle of absolute monarchy. Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, exemplified this system, where the king wielded supreme power over all aspects of state governance (Crandall, 2004). The government was characterized by a highly centralized bureaucracy, with powerful intendants acting as agents of royal authority in provinces, enforcing royal policies and suppressing regional autonomy (Doyle, 2001). The role of the Estates-General was largely ceremonial; it rarely convened and lacked influence over royal decisions, emphasizing the dominance of the monarchic apparatus.

In contrast, England's political practices around 1700 were significantly shaped by a constitutional framework that limited royal authority and enhanced the power of Parliament. England experienced a series of political transformations, including the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which resulted in the constitutional settlement that curtailed the monarchy’s prerogative powers (Baker & Roche, 2007). The Parliament, composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, was an active political actor, capable of influencing legislation, taxation, and policy decisions. The political landscape was marked by a relatively stronger role for representative institutions and an evolving constitutional monarchy where royal authority was balanced, but not abolished, by parliamentary power.

The roles of political actors further differentiated the two nations. In France, the king was the supreme legislator and military commander, with advisors and ministers serving at his pleasure (Taillefer, 1996). The nobility’s influence waned under the centralization of royal authority, although certain noble families still retained regional power. Conversely, in England, Parliament was increasingly capable of challenging royal authority, with political actors such as Whigs and Tories shaping policy debates and power struggles. The kings in England had to negotiate with Parliament, which became a crucial actor in governance, especially after the Glorious Revolution (Hughes & Purdy, 1999).

Emergence of Parliamentary Supremacy in England and Its Absence in France

Several factors contributed to the rise of parliamentary supremacy in England, contrasting sharply with France’s experience of monarchical dominance. Foremost was the societal and political context: England’s constitutional developments were rooted in a long history of conflicts between monarchy and Parliament. The Magna Carta of 1215 established the principle that the king was subject to the law, setting a precedent for limiting royal authority (Morgan, 1992). Over the subsequent centuries, events such as the English Civil War (1642–1651) and the Glorious Revolution further entrenched parliamentary authority, culminating in the Bill of Rights (1689), which explicitly curtailed the powers of the monarchy and affirmed parliamentary sovereignty (Hoppit, 2000).

In France, the divine right of kings was a fundamental ideology that justified absolute sovereignty. French monarchs, particularly Louis XIV, championed the doctrine that the king's authority was granted directly by God, making resistance or limitations on royal power illegitimate. The French Revolution (1789) later challenged this divine authority, but prior to that, the monarchy’s religious and ideological underpinnings prevented the development of a parliamentary system akin to that in England (Furet, 1981). The French political culture was largely centered around loyalty to the monarch’s person and divine right, discouraging the emergence of a political institution that could challenge royal authority.

Furthermore, the political institutions in England, such as Parliament, evolved incrementally through a series of legal and constitutional reforms, fostering a tradition of parliamentary sovereignty. Conversely, France’s attempts at reform were often internal and revolutionary, rooted in broader social and ideological upheavals rather than gradual institutional development. The absence of a tradition of parliamentary supremacy in France can thus be attributed to both ideological commitments to monarchy and a lack of institutional mechanisms supporting parliamentary power (Palmer, 1994).

In conclusion, the divergence in government practices and the emergence of parliamentary supremacy in England as opposed to France stemmed from a complex interplay of historical, ideological, and institutional factors. England's constitutional evolution was characterized by incremental reforms and legal precedents that limited royal authority in favor of parliamentary power, whereas France retained a tradition of absolute monarchy grounded in divine right and centralized authority. These fundamental differences shaped each country's political development and enduring governance structures today.

References

  • Baker, J. H., & Roche, D. (2007). The Glorious Revolution. Routledge.
  • Crandall, R. (2004). Louis XIV and the Origins of the French Revolution. Cambridge University Press.
  • Doyle, W. (2001). The English and French Political Traditions. Oxford University Press.
  • Furet, F. (1981). The French Revolution: From Enlightenment to Civil War. Blackwell Publishing.
  • Hoppit, J. (2000). A Land of Liberty? England 1689–1727. Oxford University Press.
  • Hughes, M. C., & Purdy, R. (1999). A History of the English Parliament. HarperCollins.
  • Morgan, K. O. (1992). Magna Carta and the Development of English Law. Oxford University Press.
  • Taillefer, R. (1996). Royal Authority and Political Practice in Early Modern France. Routledge.

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