The Dutch Republic:

Constitutionalism

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• Dutch Republic, seven northern provinces of Netherlands, fought for and gained independence from Spain
• Each province was independently ruled, governed by wealthy merchants
• The independence of the Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands was recognized in 1648, in the treaty that ended the 30 years war (Peace of Westphalia)

Defying Rule of Monarch

• Dutch established a republic, a state in which power was given to the people and was exercised through elected representatives
• Within each province an oligarchy of wealthy merchants called “regents” handled domestic affairs in the local Estates and the provincial Estates held all power

• A federal assembly, or States General, handled matters of foreign affairs
• The States General did not possess sovereign authority since all issues had to be referred back to the local Estates, and the States General appointed a representative, the stadholder, in each province

Religious Toleration and Economic Prosperity

• An advantage the Dutch had was religious toleration for Catholics, Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Jews, which promoted commerce
• This toleration would result in economic advancement, attracting a great deal of foreign capital and investment
• Dominated shipping industry by putting profits from their previous industry, herring fish, into shipbuilding
• Able to undersell competitors, allowing them to promote low shipping rates

• In 1602, a group of regents of Holland formed the Dutch East India Company, a joint stock company
• Seized Cape of Good Hope
• Established trading posts