A P P L I C AT I O N T O 1 6 - 1 7

ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM

QUIZ!!

• 1. Give an example of a natural law and natural right.• 2. The United Kingdom is a combination of what nations,

and which family group began to dominate them?• 3. Frederick William of Prussia controlled which group by

linking them with the military and a code of sacrifice?• 4. Did Frederick II’s dad encourage his education of the

enlightenment?• 5. Who was Maria Theresa’s liberal successor that failed in

Austria?• 6. Which group did Catherine the Great favor in her

reforms?• 7. When the peasantry did not receive help from their

Russian leader who led a revolt killing over 1500 people?

Q1

• Natural Laws:• Laws of nature like gravity, motion, inertia etc. (scientific

laws)

• Natural Rights:• Laws of society like life, liberty, property, religion, press

etc.

• Enlightened Absolutism:• Absolute monarchs that emerged after the Enlightenment

period of the 18th century• Tried to reform society to protect natural rights but were

in large a failure : ( • Examples could include Joseph, Catherine, Frederick II

Q2 THE UK

• The United Kingdom is a combination of England and Scotland (sometimes used synonymously with British)

• When the Stuart line came to an end it was replaced by a German line (Hanoverians)

• George I, II, III: Since they were not familiar with the country allowed ministers to run parliament• Parliament had been controlled by bribery and patronage

and controlled by the landowning aristocracy (nobles)

GEORGES’

• George I had called William Pitt Sr. • Won 7 years war, expanded empire

• George III dismisses Pitt and angers the people• Loss of the American colonies• Replaced the favored Pitt with Lord Butte• Loss of the War of 1812• Temporary bouts of insanity• To appease the people he appoints William Pitt the

Younger as Prime Minister

Q3 FREDERICK WILLIAM

• Frederick William I was leader of Prussia (modern Germany)

• “one must serve the king with life and limb, with goods and chattels, with honor and conscience, and surrender everything but salvation”

• Controlled the military and placed nobles (Junkers) in the military as officers to gain loyalty• By doing this he controlled political bureaucracy

Q4 FREDERICK II (GREAT)

• Well educated despite his father (Doc546)

• Enlightened Absolutist?• Laws that did away with torture and gave freedom of

speech• Limited freedom of press and religion• Too dependent on nobles to help the serfs (Slaves)• Made it so peasants could not rise in society politically• Military man to outdo his dad (to be cont. )

Q5

• In Austria the Ruler was . . . A woman?!?

• Maria Theresa: Strong ruler, Strong military, strong catholic, strong control over bureaucracy

• Son Joseph II: Wanted to promote the Habsberg dynasty but felt compelled to do so with natural rights• “I have made philosophy my lawmaker”• NO serfs• Equality before the law• Religious toleration• 11,000 laws• Alienated nobles, church, regulars (language)• “here lies Joseph who was unfortunate in all he undertook”

Q 6

• Catherine the Great (Doc. 547)

• German wife of Peter III

• Enlightened Absolutist?• Had husband killed to gain power by nobles• Assembly to make equal laws, toleration, etc. rejected by

nobles• Nobles had special privileges• Serfs lives got worse• Emelyn Pugachev revolts led to more problems for poor

WAR! WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR

• Philosophes condemned war claiming it was a “foolish waste of life and resources”

• Balance of Power: Nations wanted to grow to insure that others did not become too powerful

• A build up of arms to protect oneself was important to absolutists

WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION (1740-1748)

• Habsburg emperor Charles VI died with no male heir

• Pragmatic Sanction claimed that all surrounding nations would respect his daughter (Maria Theresa) as the next Austrian ruler

• Frederick II invades Silesia and France joins Prussia• Maria Theresa gets help from Britain• Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle says all need to give territory

back

SEVEN YEARS WAR (1756-1763)

• Strained relationships caused new alliances

• France joins Austria with Russia• Prussia and Britain join forces

• In Europe:• Prussians led by Frederick II won a decisive victory at the

Battle of Rossbach but then were worn down• Tsarina Elizabeth dies and her nephew Peter III is made

Czar of Russia (friend of Frederick II so pulls Russia out)• Peace of Hubertusburg ends fighting and gives Prussia

Silesia

SEVEN YEARS CONT.

• In India: Britain and France both pit different Indian rulers against the other and ultimately Britain wins

• French and Indian War: Fought over the Ohio River Valley• Poor George Washington gets involved with Tanacharison

at Jumonville Glen• French up in the beginning • Britain, under Pitt Sr., comes back for the win at Quebec• Gain Canada and Mississippi river territories under Treaty of

Paris

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHANGE

• Growth in Population• Child Care• Marriage and Birthrates• Agricultural Revolution• Methods in Finance• Cottage Industry-New Machines• Peasants • Village-Diet of Peasants• Nobility• Aristocratic Way of Life (Country House)• Aristocratic Way of Life (Grand Tour)• Towns and Cities• Poverty