HIST 201: Revolution and Taxation in Early Modern Europe

Instructor: D'Maris Coffman

[Fulfills research requirement.]

In America today, many believe the government that governs best taxes least. This course considers the beginnings of modern taxation. In 1500, the great European monarchies relied on feudal income to finance their armies and their governments. They rarely collected taxes and then only for specific purposes. By 1815, most had abandoned the old ways in favor of permanent taxation. Disagreements over who should pay taxes and who could impose them often rocked the foundations of political regimes. This process fundamentally altered or destroyed the old monarchies. Students will study the relationship between the revolutions in England and France and the rise of this new "fiscal state." We will consider theories of taxation and property rights and will explore Marxist, Whig and revisionist interpretations. Students should emerge with a better understanding of modern debates about taxes. History, economics, political science, sociology and finance majors should find this course especially useful.

Course requirements include regular participation in seminars (including an oral presentation), a term paper based upon original research (15-20 pages), which uses the European State Finance database to compare the rhetoric and reality of taxation in this period, and a final examination.