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During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, there were two forms of government, absolutism and democracy. Absolutism is when a ruler has unlimited power. A democracy is a form of government in which every person can participate in. Many rulers had a democratic government, but absolutism was more beneficial to the rulers because it gave them all the power.
Absolutism was considered the most effective government during the time by giving the rulers unlimited power. Machiavelli, who wrote The Prince, felt that the best way to rule was to be feared by the people. He stated, “Men have less hesitation in offending a man who is loved than one who is feared, for love is held by a bond of obligation which, as men are wicked, is broken whenever personal advantage suggests it” (Document 1). In this quote, it explains how if you were a ruler that was feared, you would receive more respect from the people then if you were loved. King James I also believed that absolutism was the most effective way to rule. In his opinion, kings were Gods and he strongly supported the Divine Right. Divine Right is the belief that kings get their authority from God. "The state of monarchy is the most supreme thing upon earth; for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods" (Document 2). This quote explains how King James I believed he gained his authority from God and if you were chosen to rule, then you must be treated as if you were a god.
Although absolutism was the preferred form of government, many rulers believed in democracy. Democracy is when the people have a say in what goes on in the government. John Locke, writer of Two Treatises of Government, believed that people were reasonable, moral and that everyone had natural rights from the moment that they were born. “When legislators try to destroy or take away the property of the people, they put themselves into a state of war with the people
Absolutism was considered the most effective government during the time by giving the rulers unlimited power. Machiavelli, who wrote The Prince, felt that the best way to rule was to be feared by the people. He stated, “Men have less hesitation in offending a man who is loved than one who is feared, for love is held by a bond of obligation which, as men are wicked, is broken whenever personal advantage suggests it” (Document 1). In this quote, it explains how if you were a ruler that was feared, you would receive more respect from the people then if you were loved. King James I also believed that absolutism was the most effective way to rule. In his opinion, kings were Gods and he strongly supported the Divine Right. Divine Right is the belief that kings get their authority from God. "The state of monarchy is the most supreme thing upon earth; for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods" (Document 2). This quote explains how King James I believed he gained his authority from God and if you were chosen to rule, then you must be treated as if you were a god.
Although absolutism was the preferred form of government, many rulers believed in democracy. Democracy is when the people have a say in what goes on in the government. John Locke, writer of Two Treatises of Government, believed that people were reasonable, moral and that everyone had natural rights from the moment that they were born. “When legislators try to destroy or take away the property of the people, they put themselves into a state of war with the people