Question

In the 1600-1700s the European empires of France, Spain, and England were monarchies (government with a king or queen as a leader). Peasants and the working class believed their royal leaders were chosen by god (divine right). There was no voting, and in England the king was not justin charge of the government, but also the church.The working class were often religious, so they believed that their reward in heaven was waiting for them after death. If you worked for a living, life was expected to be difficult. If the working class could not vote, and they believed their King was chosen by God, how would anything ever change? What would have to change for people to transition from a monarchy to a democracy?

Answer 1

Transitioning from a monarchy to a democracy involves the spread of Enlightenment ideas, shifts in societal attitudes, and economic changes leading to a more equitable distribution of wealth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The change from a monarchy to a democracy is a complex process influenced by multiple social, political, and philosophical factors. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Enlightenment ideas began challenging the notion of leadership being a divine right.

Philosophers like John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu questioned absolute monarchies and proposed theories that advocated a government's responsibility to protect the natural rights of its people and the aristocracy's influence reduction in governance.

Economic changes during the Industrial Revolution also contributed to shifts in class structures, enabling commoners to gain wealth and challenge established orders.

The example of England's transformation into a constitutional monarchy reveals a change in political structures.

The House of Commons became increasingly influential, though it initially represented a small fraction of the population. Gradually, calls for reform grew stronger.

In France, the influence of Enlightenment scholars led to the emergence of the National Assembly and a challenge to the King's power, culminating in the French Revolution, which was underpinned by ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Ultimately, for a transition from monarchy to democracy to occur, there must be a shift in societal attitudes, an expansion of political engagement among the population, and the spread of ideas that promote governmental accountability to the people.

Moreover, economic changes that empower broader segments of society can create the conditions necessary for political change and the eventual establishment of democratic institutions.