17.3. THE IMPACT OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT

BIG IDEA: EUROPEAN RULERS WERE GUIDED BY SELF-INTEREST

ENLIGHTENMENT & ABSOLUTISM

Enlightenment influenced politics - natural rights (religious tolerance, freedom of speech, press, etc.)

Needed enlighten rulers to protect natural rights rule by enlightened principles & try

to keep royal powers. Examples to follow

EX: 1 -PRUSSIA: ARMY & BUREAUCRACY

Frederick William I Efficient gov bureaucracy 4th largest European army .

Frederick II / Frederick the Great, Most educated /cultured monarch of the

time. dedicated ruler. Enlightenment Reforms

abolished torture except in treason & murder.

limited freedom of speech & press.

EX:2 -CATHERINE THE GREAT

Favored some Enlightenment Ideals Considered equality of

all before law. Didn’t reform much

needed nobilities support.

Expanded Russian territory

EX: 3- AUSTRIAN EMPIRE

many nationalities-hard to control Maria Theresa

Focus Centralizing & strengthen state. Joseph II

reforms-many failed Abolished serfdom Eliminated death penalty. Equality before law Religious toleration

Angered Catholic Church Freed serfs

Angered nobles-no support serfs unhappy-didn’t understand changes.

BUILD UP TO SEVEN YEARS WAR War of Austrian Succession

Maria Theresa succeeds to Austrian throne Frederick II (Prussia) didn’t recognize her rule –invades

Silesia. Ally -France Maria ally -Britain

(Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle)- Austria regained land (not Silesia) -Angered Maria

Starts 7yrs War –fought in …… Europe- Austria, France & Russian Vs. Britain & Prussia India- Britain & France (Brits win India )- North American (French & Indian War) British & French

Brits win –Ohio River Valley (French) & Florida (Spanish)

Treaty of Paris 1763 ends fighting

SECTION 3 REVIEW

France gave Louisiana to Spain, Spanish Florida came under British control, and Canada became British. These were all outcomes of what in North America?

Seven Years’ War

SECTION 3 REVIEW Diplomatic revolution of 1756 led to

what? A worldwide war Ruler of Russia from 1762-1796 Catherine II Catherine the Great of Russia favored

the landed nobility, expanded serfdom, enlarged what?

The Russian Empire Fredrick the Great of Prussia enlarged

what? The army

SECTION 3 REVIEW Traditional Austrian empress Maria Theresa In the war of the Austrian Succession,

Prussia invaded where? Austrian Silesia The concern of the 18th century

monarchs for balance of power basically involved the desire

to prevent what by one state? domination

SECTION 3 REVIEW

Monarchical rule by Enlightenment principles

Enlightened absolutism