2.3 Burghers in power

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

2.3 Burghers in power

Learning goals

1. You can explain how the Dutch Republic was governed and what was so unusual about it. 
2. You can use examples to explain that the stadholder and regents sometimes had different interests. 
3. You can explain how the Golden Age came to a close 

A new government

Provinces       Regional Council

Foreign affairs (war and peace) 

States General

                                     Stadholder

Maurits of Orange

The government of the Dutch Republic 

The Republic was governed differently in two ways 

1. Most countries were ruled by a monarch 

but in the Netherlands power resided with the Regents. 

2.  The Dutch had no central government 

States General  

Foreign policy, war and colonies. 

Holland was the most wealthy province

Regents and stadholders 

Two powerful positions

Stadholder 

Army commander

Not hereditary 

Pensionary of Holland  

Top official of Holland 

1650 - 1672 no Stadholder

why? 

These two sides could quarrel. 

Religion 

Johan van Oldenbarnevelt 

Johan de Witt

Year of disasters

In the Year of disasters (Rampjaar) 1672 the Republic was attacked from three sides by England, France, Münster and Cologne.

Year of disasters

Causes:

• England > take over the Republic's trade; 
• France > expand its territory as far as the Rhine;
• Both countries > break the Republic's power.

Course of the war:

• At sea admiral Michiel de Ruyter beat the English;
• French and German armies occupied Republic. 

1672 is also called the Year of disaster 

The end of the Golden age 

The people were outraged 

They blamed Johan de Witt

Demanded his resignation 

William III took over as Stadholder drove the enemy back. 

The wars continued, that cost a lot of money 

England and France took over. 

How do we call the highest army commander of the Republic?

1. Grand pensionary
2. Regent
3. Representative
4. Stadholder

What doesn't match the States General?

1. Foreign affairs, war and defence of the country
2. Gelderland was the most powerful province
3. representatives from the Regional councils
4. unanimous decisions

How do we call the regenten the Provincial States would send to the States General?

1. reformers
2. representatives

How do we call the meeting where provinces worked together on bigger political issues, like foreign politics, wars and the defence of the country?

1. Regional council
2. States General

Which answer doesn't belong here?
Each province had its own ...

1. daily government
2. coins, laws and taxes
3. Regional Council
4. States General

The name of the daily government of a province in the Republic led by regent.

1. Regional Council
2. representatives
3. stadholders
4. States General

How do we call rich men who had lot of influence on the daily politics of the Republic?

1. regents
2. stadholders