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Chapter 18 Part 4

Chapter 18 Part 4. Enlightened Despots 1740-1790. Much support for reforms of the Enlightened Despots. Believed absolute rulers should promote the good of the people But also believed (like Hobbes) that people were incapable of ruling themselves. Reforms (to a modest degree).

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Chapter 18 Part 4

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  1. Chapter 18Part 4 Enlightened Despots 1740-1790

  2. Much support for reforms of the Enlightened Despots Believed absolute rulers should promote the good of the people But also believed (like Hobbes) that people were incapable of ruling themselves

  3. Reforms (to a modest degree) Religious toleration Streamlined legal codes Increased access to education Reduction or elimination of the use of torture and the death penalty

  4. Frederick the Great (Prussia)1740-1786) Was one of the greatest rulers in German history Considered French learning to be superior Patronized Voltaire and invited him to live at court in Berlin Was himself a musician and poet Was at war the first 23 years of his reign

  5. The War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748 Frederick invaded and annexed Silesia (which was part of the Hapsburg Empire) Did this in violation of the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 in which the Great Powers of Europe recognized that Charles VI’s daughter, Maria Theresa would inherit the entire Hapsburg Empire

  6. The War of the Austrian Succession • Prussia defeated Austria • Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle: Prussia gained Silesia • Doubled the size of Prussia’s population • Prussia now recognized as one of Europe’s great powers and the most powerful of all of the German States

  7. The Seven Years’ War 1756-1763 Called the French and Indian War in America (1754-63) Cause: Maria Theresa of Austria wanted to regain Silesia and ally her empire with France and Russia Goal: Conquer Prussia and divide it up among the winners

  8. The Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 France and Austria (traditional enemies were now allied against Prussia. Russia also an ally Britain allied itself with Prussia (few troops but much money) Russia was USUALLY an ally of Britain but now enemies

  9. The Sides Austria, France, & Russia against Prussia and England Was the bloodiest war in Europe since the Thirty Years’ War Was considered a world war because it also included the struggle in North America

  10. The Seven Years’ War Prussia was outnumbered by its enemies 15 to 1 Prussia will have 180,000 die Will cause severe social disruptions Berlin was captured twice and partially destroyed by Russian troops In the end, Prussia was on the verge of a catastrophic defeat

  11. 1763 The brand new Russian Tsar, Peter III was a long-time admirer of Frederick the Great and pulled Russian troops out of the war (and out of Berlin) in 1763 This alone saved Prussia from certain defeat Peter III will be assassinated upon his return to Russia and his lovely wife, Catherine will rule

  12. 1763 The Treaty of Paris The most important peace treaty of the 18th Century and the most important since the Peace of Westphalia Prussia permanently retained Silesia France lost all of its possessions in North America to England Britain gained more territory (from France) in India

  13. The Enlightened Reforms of Frederick the Great Claimed that he saw himself as “The First Servant of the State” but will remain an absolute ruler Improvements were encouraged due to the destruction of the war Reforms did little to benefit the peasants All Prussian reforms did increase the power of the state

  14. Religious Reform Allowed religious freedom But to a lesser degree for Jews By 1794 (8 years after Frederick had died) Jews will have total religious freedom

  15. Promoted education To a modest degree

  16. Codified and Streamlined laws Laws were simplified to create a clear and unified national code of law Judicial system became more efficient…cases were decided quickly and impartially Judicial abuses were stopped

  17. 1763 Freed the Serfs on Royal Lands Needed warm bodies for the army Serfs were not eligible for the army Serfdom remained intact on noble estates BUT Frederick ordered an end to physical punishment of serfs by the nobles

  18. Other Enlightened Reforms Improved the Bureaucracy by requiring civil service exams Reduced Censorship Abolished capital punishment (except in the army) Encouraged Immigration Encouraged industrial and agricultural growth

  19. The Social Structure in Prussia Remained highly stratified Serfdom was maintained on noble lands

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