18th Century 18th Century European StatesEuropean States

18th Century 18th Century European StatesEuropean States

Enlightened AbsolutismEnlightened AbsolutismEnlightened AbsolutismEnlightened Absolutism

Enlightenment idea of natural laws brings discussion on natural rights

Rulers were obviously aware of the writings of the philosophes

How enlightened they became debatable by historians

Enlightenment idea of natural laws brings discussion on natural rights

Rulers were obviously aware of the writings of the philosophes

How enlightened they became debatable by historians

FranceFranceFranceFrance

Louis XIV - enlarged territory, debt, unhappy public dies 1715

Louis XV(1715-1774) - 5 yr old great-grandson

loss of empire 7 Yrs War, taxes, lavish lifestyle

Louis XVI (1774-1792) - 20 yr old grandson

little gov. knowledge, lacked energy

he & wife Marie Antoinette out of touch

Louis XIV - enlarged territory, debt, unhappy public dies 1715

Louis XV(1715-1774) - 5 yr old great-grandson

loss of empire 7 Yrs War, taxes, lavish lifestyle

Louis XVI (1774-1792) - 20 yr old grandson

little gov. knowledge, lacked energy

he & wife Marie Antoinette out of touch

GB - HanoverianGB - HanoverianGB - HanoverianGB - Hanoverian

William & Mary - share power w/ Parliament

Parliament dominated by landed aristocracy

H of Lords - traditional nobility

H of Commons - landed gentry

Queen Anne no heir - passes to George I (1714)

German Protestant state of Hanover

William & Mary - share power w/ Parliament

Parliament dominated by landed aristocracy

H of Lords - traditional nobility

H of Commons - landed gentry

Queen Anne no heir - passes to George I (1714)

German Protestant state of Hanover

War & DiplomacyWar & DiplomacyWar & DiplomacyWar & Diplomacy

Philosophes condemned war as foolish waste

International rivalry and centralization of European states made war inevitable

International relations based on balance of power - prevent one state dominating

Philosophes condemned war as foolish waste

International rivalry and centralization of European states made war inevitable

International relations based on balance of power - prevent one state dominating

War of Austrian SuccessionWar of Austrian Succession1740-17481740-1748

War of Austrian SuccessionWar of Austrian Succession1740-17481740-1748

Habsburg emperor Charles VI (1711-1740) no male heir - Pragmatic Sanction

Ignored by Fred II of Prussia looking to take adv of Maria Theresa

Fred Invaded Austrian Silesia

Habsburg emperor Charles VI (1711-1740) no male heir - Pragmatic Sanction

Ignored by Fred II of Prussia looking to take adv of Maria Theresa

Fred Invaded Austrian Silesia

War of Austrian SuccessionWar of Austrian Succession1740-17481740-1748

War of Austrian SuccessionWar of Austrian Succession1740-17481740-1748

France (Austria enemy) entered on side of Prussia

GB ally w/ Austria prevent French dominance

1748 all sides exhausted treaty of Aix-la Chapelle

return all occupied territory except Silesia

France (Austria enemy) entered on side of Prussia

GB ally w/ Austria prevent French dominance

1748 all sides exhausted treaty of Aix-la Chapelle

return all occupied territory except Silesia

The Seven YearsThe Seven Years’’ War War1756-17631756-1763

The Seven YearsThe Seven Years’’ War War1756-17631756-1763

Maria Theresa not happy about Silesia loss

Diplomatic Rev as she gets France to jump ship

Daughter Marie Antoinette to Louis XVI

Russia not cool w/ Prussia also joins

Austria, France & Russia vs Prussia and GB

1st WorldWar...?

Maria Theresa not happy about Silesia loss

Diplomatic Rev as she gets France to jump ship

Daughter Marie Antoinette to Louis XVI

Russia not cool w/ Prussia also joins

Austria, France & Russia vs Prussia and GB

1st WorldWar...?

EuropeEuropeEuropeEurope

Fred the Great (P) - early victories

warn down by fighting on 3 sides (A,F,R)

Russian withdraw – stalemate

Tsar Peter III admired Fred the Great

Peace of Hubertsburg 1763

return of occupied territory

Austria recognized Prussia control of Silesia

Fred the Great (P) - early victories

warn down by fighting on 3 sides (A,F,R)

Russian withdraw – stalemate

Tsar Peter III admired Fred the Great

Peace of Hubertsburg 1763

return of occupied territory

Austria recognized Prussia control of Silesia

Anglo-French StruggleAnglo-French StruggleAnglo-French StruggleAnglo-French Struggle

Treaty of Paris 1763 left India to British

French & Indian War

French/British Rivalry in Europe & Am

Britain gained Canada and E of MS River and Sp FL, France gave Sp Louisiana

Treaty of Paris 1763 left India to British

French & Indian War

French/British Rivalry in Europe & Am

Britain gained Canada and E of MS River and Sp FL, France gave Sp Louisiana

World War 1…?

Enlightened DespotsEnlightened DespotsEnlightened DespotsEnlightened Despots

3 associated w/ concept: Joseph II, Frederick II, and Catherine the Great

Different degrees of attempted reform

**Desire to build stronger state superseded Enlightenment in practice**

3 associated w/ concept: Joseph II, Frederick II, and Catherine the Great

Different degrees of attempted reform

**Desire to build stronger state superseded Enlightenment in practice**

PrussiaPrussiaPrussiaPrussia

Frederick William I (1713-1740)

General Directory - civil bureaucracy

continued policy of supporting Junkers

military expansion***

Prussia was not a country w/ an army but an army with a country...

Frederick William I (1713-1740)

General Directory - civil bureaucracy

continued policy of supporting Junkers

military expansion***

Prussia was not a country w/ an army but an army with a country...

Frederick II the Great Frederick II the Great (1740-86)(1740-86)

Frederick II the Great Frederick II the Great (1740-86)(1740-86)

well educated, Voltaire spent time in court

Open to reform of philosophes

single code of laws, eliminated use of torture

granted limited freedom of speech & press

complete religious toleration

well educated, Voltaire spent time in court

Open to reform of philosophes

single code of laws, eliminated use of torture

granted limited freedom of speech & press

complete religious toleration

Fred the Great cont.Fred the Great cont.Fred the Great cont.Fred the Great cont.

Militarist like predecessors, dependent on Junkers

did not interfere w/ serfdom

reversed policies allowing commoners to rise to power in bureaucracy

Expansion gains him title “the Great”

Silesia (War of Austrian Suc & 7 Yrs War)

partitions of Poland

Militarist like predecessors, dependent on Junkers

did not interfere w/ serfdom

reversed policies allowing commoners to rise to power in bureaucracy

Expansion gains him title “the Great”

Silesia (War of Austrian Suc & 7 Yrs War)

partitions of Poland

AustriaAustriaAustriaAustria

Pragmatic Sanction keeps Maria Theresa in line for crown (1740-1780)

Maria T - remained Catholic and conservative - not open to major reforms but son would be

2 wars Austrian Suc & 7 Yrs War

1765 begins to let son Joseph II share throne

Pragmatic Sanction keeps Maria Theresa in line for crown (1740-1780)

Maria T - remained Catholic and conservative - not open to major reforms but son would be

2 wars Austrian Suc & 7 Yrs War

1765 begins to let son Joseph II share throne

Joseph II (1780-1790)Joseph II (1780-1790)Joseph II (1780-1790)Joseph II (1780-1790)

Believer in Enlightenment, called for reforms: abolished serfdom, equality before law, religious toleration (Toleration Patent 1781), abolished torture and ended death penalty

Alienated nobility when freed serfs

serfs unhappy as too drastic of change

Alienated Catholic Church

Alienated non-Germans w/ intro of German as official language

Believer in Enlightenment, called for reforms: abolished serfdom, equality before law, religious toleration (Toleration Patent 1781), abolished torture and ended death penalty

Alienated nobility when freed serfs

serfs unhappy as too drastic of change

Alienated Catholic Church

Alienated non-Germans w/ intro of German as official language

RussiaRussiaRussiaRussia

After Peter the Great, 6 bad successors

Last of 6 was Peter III w/ German wife Catherine

Peter assassinated 1762

Catherine II the Great 1762-1796

Patronized philosophes & western culture

After Peter the Great, 6 bad successors

Last of 6 was Peter III w/ German wife Catherine

Peter assassinated 1762

Catherine II the Great 1762-1796

Patronized philosophes & western culture

Catherine Catherine Catherine Catherine

Influenced by Enlightenment called for an assembly to discuss reform but little to no progress

Divided Russia 50 provinces, & smaller districts

local nobility in charge of day-to-day gov

Charter of the Nobility 1785

Influenced by Enlightenment called for an assembly to discuss reform but little to no progress

Divided Russia 50 provinces, & smaller districts

local nobility in charge of day-to-day gov

Charter of the Nobility 1785

PugachevPugachev’’s Rebellion 1773-s Rebellion 1773-44

PugachevPugachev’’s Rebellion 1773-s Rebellion 1773-44

Gov tried to restrict peasants in boarder districts

Cossacks - tribes of warriors initially fought for Russia against Turks, now fought against

Emelyn Pugachev (cossack) led mass revolt

issued a manifesto 1774 - calling for free all peasants from oppressive taxes and military service

Gov tried to restrict peasants in boarder districts

Cossacks - tribes of warriors initially fought for Russia against Turks, now fought against

Emelyn Pugachev (cossack) led mass revolt

issued a manifesto 1774 - calling for free all peasants from oppressive taxes and military service

Rebellion cont.Rebellion cont.Rebellion cont.Rebellion cont.

Peasants killed 1500 estate owners and families

Gov suppressed revolt - Catherine more harsh

serfdom expanded

Peasants killed 1500 estate owners and families

Gov suppressed revolt - Catherine more harsh

serfdom expanded

PolandPolandPolandPoland

Good ex. of why strong monarchy necessary in Europe 17th & 18th c

1772-1775 3 rivals split Poland: Austria, Russia & Prussia

Thaddeus Kosciuszko (Am Rev hero) tried to save but failed

Good ex. of why strong monarchy necessary in Europe 17th & 18th c

1772-1775 3 rivals split Poland: Austria, Russia & Prussia

Thaddeus Kosciuszko (Am Rev hero) tried to save but failed

Partition of PolandPartition of PolandPartition of PolandPartition of Poland

Failure of Enlightened Failure of Enlightened DespotismDespotism

Failure of Enlightened Failure of Enlightened DespotismDespotism

Did not remove basic causes of discontent against absolutism

Autocracy

Class distinctions

Unfair taxation

Frequent Wars

Did not remove basic causes of discontent against absolutism

Autocracy

Class distinctions

Unfair taxation

Frequent Wars

Failure of Enlightened Failure of Enlightened DespotismDespotism

Failure of Enlightened Failure of Enlightened DespotismDespotism

Could not assure good gov. by successors

In time European people rebelled against royal absolutism, enlightened or not!

Could not assure good gov. by successors

In time European people rebelled against royal absolutism, enlightened or not!