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Bellwork Thurs 2/6/14. If the Enlightenment was about logic and equality … How do you think the absolute monarchs reacted to it?. Enlightened Despotism. 22.3. What is Enlightened Despotism?.
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Bellwork Thurs 2/6/14 • If the Enlightenment was about logic and equality… • How do you think the absolute monarchs reacted to it?
EnlightenedDespotism 22.3
What is Enlightened Despotism? a form of absolutism (or despotism) in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment & applied (some of) its concepts to their territories
Philosophe’s Influence • Sought to redirect monarch’s power toward: • Logical economic & political structures that helped the whole nation • Freedom of thought (open to new ideas)
Enlightened Despots • Tended to allow: • religious tolerance • freedom of speech and the press • the right to hold private property • Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education • Greater attention to merit & hard work in bureaucracy (instead of the buddy-reward system)
Frederick II of Prussia • r. 1740-1786 • AKA Frederick the Great • Self-described “first servant of the people”
New Policies • Silesia = manufacturing district • Initiated agricultural improvements • Religious Toleration • Catholics & Jews allowed to settle in predominately Lutheran territory
New Policies Cont. • Legal System Reform • Efficiency • Unified regional law to match state law (more central authority) • Decreased nobility’s influence • Abolished torture • School Code of 1763 • All kids 5-13 must go to school
However… • Peasants still burdened by disproportionate taxes
Joseph II of Austria • r. 1780-1790 • Co-ruled w/mom, Maria-Theresa from 1765 until her death in 1780 • In many ways, the most enlightened of all the monarchs…
Centralization of Authority • Austria very diverse (lots of cultures and ethnicities) • Maria-Theresa began some Enl. policies such as: • More efficient tax system • clergy & nobility taxed • Expanded primary education
Joseph II’s Reforms • Goals: • extend his borders • exert his authority over areas his mother chose to stay out (irrational to have more than 1 leader)
Joe’s Reforms (cont.) • Tried to est. German as sole language of the empire (irrational not to all speak the same language) • Didn’t work out, and eventually had to rescind these orders
Joe’s Reforms (cont.) • Religious toleration • Lutherans, Calvinists, & Greek Orthodox treated equally to Catholics • Jews: • Relieved of certain taxes & exclusion • Granted the right to private worship • Still did not have equality with other subjects
Joe’s Reforms (cont.) • Created laws to limit authority of landowners over peasants • Abolished serfdom • Land Taxation (GASP!!) • All landowners pay taxes • Peasants no longer had to bear burden of taxes alone • Died shortly after this decree & it was never implemented (his brother Leopold was forced to repeal it…)
Catherine The Great • r. 1762-1796 • Germanic Princess & wife/widow of Peter III • Approved (& possibly aided in) the assassination of her husband
CTG’s Reforms • Brought West to Russia • Ex.: Diderot - paid him & offered to publish his Encyclopédia in Russia when it was banned by French Gov’t • “Charter of Nobility” • Gave nobles complete control over serfs • Local offices given to local nobles (not royal offices, though)
CTG’s Reforms Cont. • Expansion of the small Russian urban middle class (vital for trade) • Continued drive for warm water ports (fought Ottoman Empire) • Created hospitals & orphanages • Limited religious toleration • Slight restriction of the use of torture by the government
Louis XV • r. 1715-1774 • Great-grandson of Louis XIV • Relatively ineffective king • Drove France into deeper debt
Attempts at Enlightenment • Parliaments • Replaced w/ courts where judges could not own, sell, or inherit office • Portrayed Louis XV as tyrant • Economics • Gave up price controls on grain (1763) to open France to a free market • Reversed in 1770 (grain shortage famine)
Louis XVI • r. 1774-1791 • Restored old parliaments