Reform and Political Crisis in Late 18 th Century Europe

Reform and Political Crisis in Late 18th Century Europe A Prelude to Revolution

The Enlightened Despots • Frederick the Great • “first servant of the state.” • Catherine the Great • Did little actual reform • Joseph II of Austria • Most extensive reformer. • Religious toleration and state control. • Agrarian reform (abolished serfdom)

Political Tension in Western Europe • Three social estates • First Estate - clergy • Second Estate - nobility • Third Estate - bourgeoisie, workers, peasants, poor. • Absolutism reduced power of assemblies (Estates General in France had not met since 1614). • Conflict between monarchies and aristocracies developed (particularly in Austrian and Dutch Netherlands) and spread to the commoners.

Political Turmoil in Britain • King George III attempted to “buy” Parliamentary influence. • Gov’t persecution of John Wilkes and other cause backlash. • Calls for reform came from all classes of society.

Rebellion in America • British moved to have costs of American defense paid by colonists. • Colonists wanted to defend their rights as British subjects - “no taxation without rep.” • Theories of popular sovereignty and natural rights along with fluid social system allowed for broad revolution to succeed. • First successful colonial rebellion.

France – The Ancien Régime • Louis XV (r. 1715-74) • Cardinal Fleury chief minister (1726-43) • French state faced major financial problems. • Bureaucracy inefficient. • Nobility began to demand more rights

France – The Ancien Régime • Louis XVI (r. 1774-92) • Attempted to make financial reforms. • Appointed Jacques Turgot financial minister. • Cut spending – hurt some. • Jacques Necker takes his place as financial minister. • Increases spending – problems continue.

Reform and Political Crisis in Late 18 th Century Europe

Reform and Political Crisis in Late 18 th Century Europe

Presentation Transcript

Europe in Crisis – Cultural, Economic and Political Dimensions

Late Medieval Europe and the “Calamitous” 14 th century

Late 20 th Century

Rise of Antislavery Sentiment in late 18 th Century

Realism and Feminism in late 19 th Century

Dynamics of political control in 13 th century Europe

Chp 18 Politics of Late 19 th century America

Land uses in Australia, late 18 th century – mid 19 th century

The Industrial Revolution started in _________ around the late 18 th century.

18 th Century

Late 19 th Century

18 th Century

20 th Century Europe

Chinese pirates of late 18 th Century

Political Reform in the late 19 th Century

18 th Century Europe

London IN 18 th century

Late 19 th Century Funerals

State reform and reform movements, late 19 th century Middle East

Late 20 th Century Art

THE FRENCH DEVELOPMENT DURING THE LATE 18 TH CENTURY

Political Order in the 18 th Century