Enlightened Despots and Agricultural Revolution

Impact of the Philosophes

Believed the ruler should respect the people's rights
Tried to convince monarchs to rule justly and ensure natural rights
Some thinkers ended up corresponding with or advising European monarchs

Enlightened Despots

Absolutist Monarchs who embraced new ideas and made reforms that reflective of enlightenment ideals
However, it was not about giving up any power
The changes they made were motivated by two desires:
to make their countries stronger
to make their own rule more effective

Despot

An absolute ruler

France Louis XV

Hostile to the philosophes and banned their writings.
Ineffectual Ruler:
costly wars
Unpopular taxes
Loss of France's overseas empire,
affairs with Madame du Pompadour and Madame du Barry made him personally unpopular
Paved the way for the French Revolution of 1789.

Fredrick The Great

Prussia, enlightened despot, religious tolerance, reformed legal system

He wrote letters to Voltaire who came to stay at his court from 1750-53, but the initial enchantment ended and they became enemies.

Fredrick the Great Reforms

Abolished the use of torture, except for crimes such as murder and treason.
Permitted some freedom of speech and press.
Decreed broad religious toleration
Improved Prussia's judicial system by establishing impartial and efficient court procedures.
He reorganized existing laws into a single code.
He reorganized the Prussian economy
He introduced scientific methods
He was less progressive in social reform and defended traditional distinctions of rank and privilege

Catharine the Great of Russia

Married Grand Duke Peter who was the heir to the Russian throne.
A coup led by military officials and some speculate Catherine as well deposed Peter and Catherine became an absolute ruler.
Catherine also participated in the partitions of Poland, with Frederick the Great ensuring a large part of Poland under Russian rule.

Catherine's Enlightenment Connections

She was a patron of writers and wrote letters to Voltaire
She aimed at completing the job started by Peter I- westernizing Russia.
succeeded to a degree with the upper classes, but did nothing for the overwhelming majority of the population--the enserfed peasantry due to Pugachev's Rebellion.
Purchased Diderot's library and hired him as the executor of his library.

Reforms of Catharine the Great

encouraged the modernization of agriculture and industry.
She permitted the establishment of private printing presses and relaxed censorship rules.
She promoted education, increasing the number of state and private schools, and even some schools for girls.

Pugachev's Rebellion

Russian rebellion of peasants and Cossacks against Catherine's policy of favoring the landed nobility Serfs seized estates and killed landowners, but will be put down by the government.

The leader, Pugachev, claimed to be the executed Peter III and rightful leader of Russia. He will be executed for his crimes.

Maria Theresa of Austria

Archduchess of Austria.
She came to the throne by virtue of her father, Charles VI's promulgation of the Pragmatic Sanction.

Will have to ensure her throne through the War of Austrian Succession.

War of Austrian Succession

1740-1748
A war fought between Frederick the Great and Maria Theresa over Austrian Silesia, but will also pull others into the conflict. The precursor to the Seven years war.

Maria Theresa Reforms

Maria Theresa carried out many internal reforms with the aid of her minister Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz.
Centralization of the state administration.
Reduce the powers and privileges of the nobility.
Subordinated the church to the authority of the state.
Abolished the tax exemptions of both the nobility and church.
Initiated agrarian and educational reforms and a system of relief for the poor.

Maria Theresa Beliefs

Disliked Enlightenment ideas but her son, Joseph, became enamored by them.
Upheld the interests of the monarchy.

Joseph II Reforms

Continued centralization of administration and reduced the influence of provincial diets
Abolished serfdom
Established freedom of the press
attempted to establish equality before the law
Granted official toleration to Protestants and Jews
Everything accomplished will be overturned once he passes and his brother takes the throne.

Joseph II Beliefs

Strove to enhance the power of his state and the welfare of his subjects.
Dominated by a desire for reason and order, Joseph was intolerant of opposition.

Seven Years War

a global conflict fought between 1756 and 1763. It involved every European great power of the time and spanned five continents, affecting Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines.
The conflict split Europe into two coalitions, led by the Kingdom of Great Britain (including Prussia, Portugal, Hanover, and other small German states) on one side and the Kingdom of France (including the Austrian-led Holy Roman Empire, the Russian Empire, Bourbon Spain, and Sweden) on the other.
Will end with an English victory.

Partition of Poland

three partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place towards the end of the 18th century and ended the existence of the state, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland and Lithuania for 123 years. The partitions were conducted by the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and Habsburg Austria, which divided up the Commonwealth lands among themselves progressively in the process of territorial seizures.

Agricultural Revolution

INNOVATIONS in FARM PRODUCTION in 18th century that led to SCIENTIFIC and MECHANIZED agriculture. The increase in food production will reduce the overall cost of food leading to the Industrial Revolution.

Enclosure Acts

end the open field system in England and thus begin the agricultural revolution

commons are fenced off, people look for jobs in the city

Cottage Industry

small-scale industry that can be carried on at home by family members using their own equipment

Jethro Tull

Invented the seed drill, which planted seeds in rows rather than scattered, which allowed for a greater growth output.

Charles Townshend (1674-1738)

Created the idea of crop rotation, specifically using turnips. Many of the crops grown absorbed most of the nutrients out of the soil, and previously farmers had to leave sections of their fields fallow for a season in order for the nutrients to return. But by using turnips, which returned nitrogen into the soil, instead of leaving the land fallow, created more nutrient rich soil and could be used to feed farm animals.