APEH unit 8: Enlightened Absolutism

Enlightened Absolutism: 18th century monarchs that wanted to rule with absolute power, but also lessened by the ideals of the Enlightenment

Philosophes agreed and understood. They believed Enlightenment ideals could shape politics if only a powerful monarch embodied the ideals.

Frederick II of Prussia/ Frederick the Great

• had inherited a strong army from his father

• expanded his territory under absolutists and seizes hapsburg territory of Silesia in the War of Austrian Succession. This doubled Prussia’s population and increased its power

• Maria Theresa (Hapsburg ruler of Austria): allied with France and Russia to take Silesia back and conquer all of Prussia. (part of the seven years war)

• he began to consider a new kind of rule, enlightened absolutism

• implements policies of religious toleration, legal reforms (abolish torture)

• bureautic reform (cameralism)

Catherine II of Russia

• Married Peter III

• She planned for her husband to be murdered so she could take the crown

• continues to westernize Russia and paid Voltaire, import Western

• Legal reforms: limited religious toleration and abolished torture

• territorial expansion: partition of Poland (agreement to divide the entirety of POlish territory betweeen Austria, Prussia, and Russia

• limit of enlightenment

• Pugachev Rebellion: Emelian Pugachev rounded up serfs and declared himself Tsar of Russia and abolished serfdom, which results in his rebellion being crushed by Catherine’s noble army and Catherine lost all her incentive to want to abolish serfdom.

Joseph II of Austria

• signed edict of toleration which granted religious freedom for jews and other religious minorities.

• increased the freedom of the press

• put strictures on the power of the Catholic church

• UNFORTUNATELY, he enacted these acts without talking to the nobility or the clergy, making them mad. Leading to lots of domestical turmoil

Limits of Toleration: The Jews

• Jewish Enlightenment : Haskalah, arguing the widespread relious intolerance of the Jews was unfitting for the enlightened atmosphere in Europe

• Joseph II accepted Jews, but Frederick II and Catherine II rejected getting rid of anti-Jewish politics in their states, despite their religious tolerance

• For example, Catherine, after the gathering of Jews from the partition of poland, had isolated them in one area where they were required to live

Context of the 7 years war: Frederick the Great (Prussia) seizes Silesia of Austrian territory (1740-1748) Britain and France were included in this war of austrian succession. In the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, it ends in peace and everyone is supposed to return their holdings back, however, Frederick II refuses to give Silesia back.

Seven Years War:

• staged in Europe, India, and North America

• known as first war that involves major powers of Europe

The fighting in Europe began with Prussia allied by Great Britain. Frederick found himself surrounded by Austria, Russia, and France. With the ascension of Peter III to the Russian throne, Russian troops were called off of Prussia.

1763, the parties of the war are exhausted with fighting. Austria regains Silesia.

South Asian Theater of War in India. Britain and France were fighting for control over India. In the war of Austrian Succession, France had seized Madras. Madras was the center of British imperial control in India. The treaty of Utrecht mandated the seized land that was returned. During the seven years war, France withdraws, leaving Britain with control over India.

French and Indian War in North America: Prime minister of England, William Pitt the Elder, was aware that the French colonial empire was the only thing threatening the expansion of Great Britain. Therefore, he focused much of Britain’s resources on this war.

The French allied with North American Indians who saw the French traders as less of a threat than the British settlers. The British navy destroys them.

Treaty of Paris: ended Seven Years’ War, Britain gained lots of land from France’s colonial holdings (Canada, all land east of Mississippi river)

ADDITIONALLY, Spain who was france’s allies in the war, gave Florida to the british as well.

After the Seven Years’ War, Britain is Europe’s major super power.

The American Revolution: In 1776, Britain’s North American colonies wanted independence. The 13 British colonies are aided by France. They help them because they want to get revenge on Britain.

Britain remained in the position of the World’s Greatest super power