We did cut Charles's head off but in a lot of ways the Civil War was fought to prevent the King reclaiming powers from Parliment - parliament temporarily gaining more power was kind of a side effect. And of course with the restoration, that's what the net effect was - the attempt by the Royal Family to regain full control failed and constitutional monarchy continues.
I *think* that the German states were mostly run by Princes/Electors (like George I, who was elector of Hanover) before unification under the Kaiser and were fairly autocratic in character. I don't think German democracy begins until the end of the First World War.
You're definitely right about social mobility though - I remember learning in history A-level that at the start of the 19th century there was a lot of fear that England would follow the French example but it didn't that that's generally put down to the opportunities for entrepreneurship, self improvement etc in England at the time.
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chiming
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Date: February 3rd, 2005 01:19 pm (UTC)From:I *think* that the German states were mostly run by Princes/Electors (like George I, who was elector of Hanover) before unification under the Kaiser and were fairly autocratic in character. I don't think German democracy begins until the end of the First World War.
You're definitely right about social mobility though - I remember learning in history A-level that at the start of the 19th century there was a lot of fear that England would follow the French example but it didn't that that's generally put down to the opportunities for entrepreneurship, self improvement etc in England at the time.