Central European Monarchs Clash

1. Central European Monarchs Clash Chapter 5 Section 3

2. DLT: • I can explain how the clash of Central European monarchs led to war. • I can describe the impact of the Thirty Years War. • I can analyze how the causes of war are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

3. Huh? Religion causes war? Maybe. • Peace of Augsburg • German princes determined religion of their states • Tension • Both Lutherans and Catholics felt threatened by Calvinism • Protestant Union • Lutherans joined together • Catholic League • Catholics joined together a year later • Alliances are formed…waiting on the spark!

4. The spark…was Ferd a turd? • Ferdinand II, future HRE and head of the Hapsburg family ruled Bohemia • He was Catholic, they were protestant • Bohemians did not trust ol’ Ferd • He was a foreigner and a Catholic • Ferd closed some Protestant Churches • The Bohemian Protestants revolted • Ferd sent in an army to crush the rebellion • Several German Protestant princes took this chance to challenge their Catholic emperor

5. Opinion Poll on Ol’Ferd

6. The Thirty Years’ War Begins • 1618-1648 • Conflict over religion, territory, and power among European ruling families • Two main phases of the war… • Hapsburg Triumphs • Hapsburg Defeats

7. Hapsburg Triumphs • First twelve years • Hapsburg armies from Austria and Spain crushed the armies of the German Protestant princes • Hapsburg put down a Czech uprising and defeated the German Protestants who supported the Czechs

8. Hapsburg Defeats • Tide turned in 1630 with Protestant GustavusAdolphus of Sweden and his army of 23,000 • Drove Hapsburgs out of northern Germany • The French Cardinals, Richelieu and Mazarin, joined the Protestants • WHY?

9. Results of War • Great damage to Germany • Population dropped from 20 million to 16 million • Trade and agriculture were disrupted • Economy was ruined • Long, difficult recovery • Germany would not be a unified state until the 1800s

10. Peace of Westphalia 1648 • Weakened the Hapsburg states (Spain&Austria) • Strengthened France (gave German territory) • German princes independent of HRE • Ended religious wars • New method of peace negotiation that we still use today

11. Most important results • Catholic Empire would no longer rule over most of Europe • Europe was a group of equal, independent states • Marked the beginning of the modern state system

12. Economic Contrasts with the West • Serfs in Western Europe slowly won freedom and moved to towns during the late Middle Ages • Serfs in Central Europe restricted from gaining freedom and moving to cities • This way the nobles could produce a large harvest and sell the surplus to Western Europe at a great profit

13. Several Weak Empires • Nobles held down the serfs, but also blocked the development of strong kings • Kingdom of Poland • Little income, no law courts, no standing army • Holy Roman Empire • Weakened by the 30 Years’ War, no control of German states, HRE had no real power • Ottoman Empire • Reached its peak in 1529 and declined

14. Austria Grows Stronger • Hapsburgs took steps to become absolute monarchs • 1st Conquered Bohemia and wiped out Protestantism, new Czech nobility pledged loyalty to them • 2nd Ruler centralized govt and created standing army • 3rd 1699 they had reclaimed Hungary from Ottomans • 1711 Charles VI ruled a diverse group • Czechs, Hungarians, Italians, Croatians, and Germans • Wore the Austrian, Hungarian, and Bohemian crowns to keep the empire together

15. Maria Theresa Inherits Austria 1717-1780 • Charles VI’s eldest daughter • Charles had bargained with other leaders, making an agreement to ensure a peaceful reign • Instead, she faced years of war • Her main enemy: Prussia (north of Austria)

16. Prussia Challenges Austria • Ruling Family: Hohenzollerns • Their ambition threatened to disrupt the delicate balance of power in Europe • Their land: German states of Brandenburg and Prussia

17. Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg 1640 • “Great Elector” • Decided that having a strong army was the only way to ensure safety • 80,000 men to protect their lands • Permanent taxation • Weakened representative assemblies • Junkers resisted, but were then offered military positions

18. Frederick (II) the Great 1712-1786 • His father believed he was soft (made him witness friend’s death) • Followed his father’s military policies • Softened some laws • Religious toleration • Legal reform • Believed ruler should be a father to his people

19. War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748 • Frederick the Great wanted the Austrian land of Silesia because of its rich natural resources • He assumed Maria Theresa wouldn’t fight back • She went to the Hungarian nobles for aid • Great Britain also joined the Austrians to fight their long time enemy (France), who was helping Prussia • Maria Theresa stopped Prussia, but lost Silesia in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle • With Silesia, Prussia became a major European power

20. Seven Years War 1756-1763 • Maria Theresa made an alliance with France • Frederick then signed a treaty with Britain • Now Austria, France, Russia, and others were allied against Britain and Prussia • 1756 Frederick attacked Saxony (Austrian ally) • Every great European power joined the war • Fought in Europe, India, and North America (French and Indian War) • Didn’t change territories in Europe • British won, as France lost its colonies in North America, and British gained economic dominance of India