How Did European Society Change Throughout The 17th And 18th Century

Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries new ideas and discoveries led to revolutionary changes. The evolution from the previous ways of thinking to these contemporary innovations developed through numerous adaptations, inspired by significant persons and groups of people. Through the influence of those like Napoleon, Parliament, and the Luddites, there were tremendous progressions in European society. Through outstanding movements and people, many social reforms were instated and adopted over time. Through the progression of individual persons and groups of people, they were able set the foundations that lead us to the modern day. As mentioned in David Smith’s “Change & Continuity in 17th Century English Parliaments,” The Commons
Parliament’s consummation of a balance of power with the monarch was originally obtained through the execution of Charles I. Smith stated, “The Commons could exercise sovereign powers unilaterally, without the consent of either the Crown or the Lords,” which led to their eventual adoption of power over the law making progresses and the ability to determine the personal religion of their monarch. “[The] Crown and Parliament together comprised a single 'body politic', in which Parliament served not only as the 'representative of the whole realm' but also as the 'physician for the ills of the commonwealth'” (Smith). According to Betros, “[Napoleon] abandoned the more authoritarian measures of his rule and instituted new ones that signaled a more liberal and peaceful era. Although short-lived, it provided the foundation of the Napoleonic legend and, through it, the ideological basis for Bonapartism.” He helped lay the foundation France needed to accelerate their reconstruction. Also, with his enforcement of his Napoleonic Code, he developed the main influence on European and Latin civil codes throughout the nineteenth century. The Luddites and other equivalent groups expressed their lust for reform through rebellion. According to Jones, “Angered by the breakdown of an agreement with industrial hosiers about wages, small groups of workers gained illicit
“In 1690, the House of Commons established a Commission of Public Accounts to monitor the fiscal probity of the Crown and its advisers, and to investigate any signs of mismanagement. Linked to this greater accountability was Parliament's much tighter control over how the revenues it had voted were actually spent,” as stated by Smith “The financial leverage that Parliament was able to bring to bear on the Crown [was massively increased].” Also, Napoleon’s “institutional innovation[s] [such as] creating a central bank,” began to reestablish a sense of stability amidst France’s economy (Betros). Enlightened rulers such as Napoleon instated what they deemed appropriate legislation in order to spark progression within their country. The Luddites in particular began rebellion in response to “the increasing prevalence of shearing frames and gig mills to replace their skilled labor” (Jones). According to Jones, although the Luddites revolts were not entirely successful “the new machinery released workers for other parts of Britain's expanding industrial economy and led to textiles becoming more accessible to ordinary