History
4.1
The war of the Spanish Succession
1700, king Charles II of Spain passed away. Before he died there was already a discussion
because he had no children. The most candidates were Louis XIV and Leopold I (brothers in
law). In a testament, Charles II said that the grandson of Louis XIV, Philip, will be the next
king. Louis XIV thought that Philip would be a bad king so Louis XIV wanted to be the king.
England and the Dutch Republic thought that when Louis XIV would be the king, France
would be to powerful so they supported Leopold I. Then France and Spain started to work
together (alliance). When the two alliances were unable to settle this conflict through
diplomacy. A war started: the war of the Spanisch succession. France was defeated
(verslagen) in 1713 and that year the Peace of Utrecht was signed.
Louis XIV = king of France Leopold I = Austrian Holy Roman Emperor.
A new balance of power in Europe
Britain had a profit of this war, England had the right to sell slaves to Spanish America. Austria
(Oosterijk) got some areas in Italy. France lost land, France had also economical problems. Eventually
France had a lot of debts. The loss of money, men, material and territory had made the king
unpopular among his people. Philip got the Spanish throne and he managed to get the France
throne.
End of the golden age
There was still an economical problem that is why the leaders had to cut back on spending. The
economical turndown ended the golden age. The republic didn’t became poor, the upper layer was
still rich and powerful. Another reason of the economical crises is that the Dutch republic had an
unfair concurrention with France, Spain and England. The Dutch economy was relied on trade but
with all the rules it was very difficult. All the European powers used trading companies but the Dutch
republic was not able to do that because they had not the stuff to do that. The Dutch economy didn’t
decrease but also didn’t increase. The only way the Dutch economy could grow was by growing sugar
and coffee, using slave labour.
The ruling class
During this period, the amount of wealth between poor and rich increased. While the Dutch Republic
was ruled by a group of very rich and powerful families. Those regenten got their money during the
golden age by trading. The rich people started to behave like France and English nobility, they also
wore wigs etc. Their jobs started to become inherited (geerfd).
During the early eighteenth century, coffee and tobacco started to replace spices as the main focus
of global trade. This caused a rise in the popularity of coffee houses.
The War of Spanish Succession had changed the dynamics between the European powers.
France and Spain were left relatively weak, while Great Britain and Austria became more
powerful and were able to increase their territory. The Dutch Republic had gone into economic
decline and also ceased to be an international superpower. All the while, international trade
changed and became even more widespread causing further globalisation.
4.1
The war of the Spanish Succession
1700, king Charles II of Spain passed away. Before he died there was already a discussion
because he had no children. The most candidates were Louis XIV and Leopold I (brothers in
law). In a testament, Charles II said that the grandson of Louis XIV, Philip, will be the next
king. Louis XIV thought that Philip would be a bad king so Louis XIV wanted to be the king.
England and the Dutch Republic thought that when Louis XIV would be the king, France
would be to powerful so they supported Leopold I. Then France and Spain started to work
together (alliance). When the two alliances were unable to settle this conflict through
diplomacy. A war started: the war of the Spanisch succession. France was defeated
(verslagen) in 1713 and that year the Peace of Utrecht was signed.
Louis XIV = king of France Leopold I = Austrian Holy Roman Emperor.
A new balance of power in Europe
Britain had a profit of this war, England had the right to sell slaves to Spanish America. Austria
(Oosterijk) got some areas in Italy. France lost land, France had also economical problems. Eventually
France had a lot of debts. The loss of money, men, material and territory had made the king
unpopular among his people. Philip got the Spanish throne and he managed to get the France
throne.
End of the golden age
There was still an economical problem that is why the leaders had to cut back on spending. The
economical turndown ended the golden age. The republic didn’t became poor, the upper layer was
still rich and powerful. Another reason of the economical crises is that the Dutch republic had an
unfair concurrention with France, Spain and England. The Dutch economy was relied on trade but
with all the rules it was very difficult. All the European powers used trading companies but the Dutch
republic was not able to do that because they had not the stuff to do that. The Dutch economy didn’t
decrease but also didn’t increase. The only way the Dutch economy could grow was by growing sugar
and coffee, using slave labour.
The ruling class
During this period, the amount of wealth between poor and rich increased. While the Dutch Republic
was ruled by a group of very rich and powerful families. Those regenten got their money during the
golden age by trading. The rich people started to behave like France and English nobility, they also
wore wigs etc. Their jobs started to become inherited (geerfd).
During the early eighteenth century, coffee and tobacco started to replace spices as the main focus
of global trade. This caused a rise in the popularity of coffee houses.
The War of Spanish Succession had changed the dynamics between the European powers.
France and Spain were left relatively weak, while Great Britain and Austria became more
powerful and were able to increase their territory. The Dutch Republic had gone into economic
decline and also ceased to be an international superpower. All the while, international trade
changed and became even more widespread causing further globalisation.
