Enlightened Absolutism

Evaluating “Enlightened Absolutism”

• To what extent did Enlightenment ideas influence monarchs of the time?

• Is “enlightened absolutism” a useful term to describe these monarchs?

Historiography of the term• mid-19th c: concept of “enlightened absolutism”

develops• 1960s: historians start questioning term’s validity

… see monarchs as pursuing conventional aims of state-building above all – self-defense was key: need strong armies and strong

admin/fiscal systems to support them– enlightened policies existed but were “mere window-

dressing”– enlightened policies were often incomplete & limited

• 1970s/80s: back to the idea that “enlightened absolutism” is a valid term (product of detailed studies on particular countries)

Most historians agree that:

• monarchs did encourage and spread cultural values of Enlightenment

• monarchs believed in change from above & tried to enact reforms

• improvements were only modest• life of peasantry remained very hard

Historians differ on the question of why reform was so limited. Was it that…

• … monarchs were not really sincere in their efforts?

• … powerful nobilities blocked absolutists’ sincere desire to enact reforms?

C’mon, Ms. Muller, what’s the right answer?

Some historians fuse the two ideas:monarchs were committed to reform but humanitarian objectives were secondary.

But what do you think? History is a matter of debate, and you are all budding historians!

Assignment

• For each enlightened monarch (Fred, Cathy, MT & Joe), take notes on:1. policies that were enlightened2. policies that were not enlightened3. foreign policy / territorial expansion

• Write a thesis: To what extent were the policies of the “enlightened monarchs” actually enlightened?

Jewish Enlightenment

• Haskalah: Jewish Enlightenment– 2nd half of the 18th c.– led by Moses Mendelssohn– advocated freedom and civil rights for Jews

How did Jews fare during the Enlightenment?

• There were some reforms:– Britain: repealed a law that denied naturalization– Joseph II: granted Jews eligibility for military

service, admission to higher ed and artisanal trade, removed reqs for special clothing/emblems

How did Jews fare during the Enlightenment?

• Many monarchs did not make reforms:– Fred the Great: no

emancipation of Jews– Cathy the Great: no

emancipation + est. the Pale of Settlement, a territory where most Jews were required to live, 1791-1917.

When, if ever, did Jews gain more rights?

• France, 1791 (French Revolution) – first country to remove all restrictions on Jews

• 19th c: Jews gained more rights around Europe, until the 1870s, when a financial crash hit and Jews became scapegoats