HST 271L Lecture 10: Dutch
Document Summary
The dutch gained their independence during the reign of philip ii of spain. Philip hated the dutch because most of them were calvinist. Philip ii wanted to keep the dutch region because it contained rich dutch merchants and philip always need to take money for some reason or another. Wanted the dutch to pay for palaces and military efforts. The dutch merchants were allowed to participate in the ruling of their cities. Philip ii tried to force the dutch to convert to catholicism. A spanish general was put in charge of forcing the dutch to convert. He executed noble dutch families and the dutch people began fighting back. Began as a federal state each province had its own government. Government provided things to protect common interests such as defense. Member of orange nassau family was head of the state. Member from rich merchant family dewitte was head of the government. Dutch looked to expand commercially and territorially.
