Enlightenment cont.

Mary Wollstonecraft (English, Married)

Advocate for women's rights. Believed that men controlling women was wrong, in the same way that governments controlling people was wrong. Believed that because women have the ability to reason they are entitled to the same rights as men.

Cesare Beccaria

Opposed excessively cruel punishments and capital punishment. Famous book: On Crimes and Punishments.

Adam Smith

Economist and philosopher, he believed that governments should not interfere in the economy (Laissez faire). famous book is called The Wealth of Nations. 

Enlightened Despots

Rulers who want to be enlightened and help the people, but they also want to keep power and support of the nobles.

Catherine the Great (Russia)

Liked the Enlightenment reforms but did not enact them. Did attempt new law code to recognize equality of all under the law. Did not enact reforms because they would have weakened her base of support.

Laissez Faire

“hands-off” approach to economics

Frederick of Prussia positive reforms

A. Judicial: Abolished torture except for treason. Limited corruption in the legal system.

B. Religious: toleration of catholics, jews, and muslims

C. Freedoms: limited freedom of the press and speech

D. Economic: Promoted agriculture to end food insufficiency and began grain handout program.

Frederick of Prussia negative policies

A. Kept serfdom and Prussia's rigid social system intact.

B. Misogyny: Excluded women from high government positions and from his court. Invaded Austria in 1740 because he did not recognize the new ruler of Austria because it was a woman!!

C. Imposed heavy taxation

Maria Theresa

1. Re-organized the tax structure to ensure income and created an office to facilitate tax collection.

2. Doubled the size of the army.

3. She did try to improve the lives of the serfs but did not offer them freedom.

Pragmatic Sanction

guaranteed the right of succession to a female.

Joseph II of Austria

He is considered the most liberal reformer of the Enlightened despots, guided by philosophy and reason.

Joseph II of Austria Positives

1. Religious: Passed Edict of Toleration in 1781 to protect Protestants and Jews.

2.Sought to end serfdom, reducing peasants labor obligations.

3.Eliminated the death penalty and established equality before the law.

4.Tried to subordinate the Catholic Church by dissolving monasteries not involved in teaching or nursing.

5.Created a public school system.

Joseph II of Austria Negatives

1. Serfs: Joseph ended serfdom but the serfs became angry because they weren’t sure how to survive as free people.

2.The nobles became angry because they lost the free labor that was provided by the serfs.

3.The church/pope became angry at limiting the power and authority of the church.

Catherine the Great Positives

1. she created a legal reform document called the Nakaz. Unfortunately, the Nakaz was accepted and praised but were NOT implemented into law.

2. Catherine instituted educational reform and opened primary and secondary seconds for all including women. The negative to this is that serf children could only attend if they were allowed by the nobles who controlled them. Most did not allow this.

Nakaz

These reforms had a heavy Enlightenment influence and included equality for all before the law. The Nakaz also called for the abolition of torture and capital punishment.

Catherine the Great Negatives

1. A massive serf revolt led to her taking strong measures against the

   serfs (ending any chance of rural reform) to maintain support of the nobles

2. She did not want to change anything that would undermine her power and authority as the ruler.

3 roles of Government

1. Protect the citizens from invasion. ( Army)

2. Defend the citizens from injustice. (Police)

3. Keep up the public works necessary for social interaction and trade. (Roads and canals)

Competition and Government Interference

Competition would benefit without government interference:

1. Prices would be kept lower.

2. Production becomes more efficient as businesses reduce cost to increase profit.

3. Labor and capital are directed to the most profitable industries.

Denis Diderot

Edited writings and ideas of many philosophers in Encyclopedia (Encyclopedie). The 28-volume work attacked govt, Religious intolerance, unjust taxes, church, etc.  Covered everything then known about science, tech, and history. In his work Diderot attacked religious superstition but called for religious toleration.