The Dutch Republic was very different from many of the countries that surrounded it during the 17th century because it was a republic instead of absolutist, there was religious freedom that provided refuge for many people from other countries, and they had a great banking system and economy; all of which allowed the Dutch Republic to become one of the most successful countries in Europe.
The Dutch Republic was, as in it's countries name, a republic. A republic is a state where the power lies with the body of citizens who exercise their power by voting for representatives. In Europe during the 17th century, absolutism was the most common form of government. An absolutist government is one where there is complete and unrestricted power in the government. Usually there was one person in the government who had total control. For example, King Louis XIV of France was an absolute monarch, who proclaimed his powerfulness when he said, "L'État, c'est moi," meaning "I am the State." This type of government was not fair to the people of the country. There was no religious freedom and the people of the rich, noble, upper class were given special rights and privileges that the poor peasantry and middle class were not.
The Dutch Republic also allowed it's residents to practice their own religions freely. There was not one religion of the country that everyone had to conform to, unlike countries such as France, where after the Edict of Nantes was revoked, only Catholicism was allowed; and England, where Protestantism was the only accepted religion. Many people of religions that were not allowed in these countries left and went to the Dutch Republic where they would be accepted. This brought in more people, equaling more workers, which equaled more money. The increase in wealth for the Dutch Republic helped them to become successful.
Having more people working in the Dutch Republic allowed the country to produce more of it's main exports, cheese and butter. The Dutch also started exploring the New World in the 17th century, setting up colonies in North America, South Africa, and the East Indies. These colonies brought in more money to the Dutch Republic. Having more money stimulated the economic growth of the Dutch Republic. More money also required the Dutch to develop a good banking system, which they did. Their banking system was so great that the Dutch coin, the florin, was used internationally.
All of these factors allowed the Dutch Republic to become a successful country. Their allowance of people's say in the government, religious toleration, and their great banking system and good economy, made them a very wealthy and popular power in Europe. The Dutch Republic was the place to be in the 17th century.
"The Dutch Republic was very different from many of the countries that surrounded it during the 17th century because it was a republic instead of absolutist, there was religious freedom that provided refuge for many people from other countries, and they had a great banking system and economy; all of which allowed the Dutch Republic to become one of the most successful countries in Europe."
ReplyDelete1) Watch being redundant. You don't have to say that the Dutch Republic was a republic.
2) Getting to your argument: WHY did these things contribute to the Republic being successful? What specifically was different between, say, the middle class in the Netherlands and their contemporaries in France or Spain (i.e. don't just tell me that they lived under a monarchy -- after all, each monarchy is unique). What was it specifically about the Dutch experience?
BTW: I think an essay focusing on something quirky like the Dutch cheese trade (as you cite towards the end of your essay) would be an excellent choice for a research paper.
ReplyDelete