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18th Century European States

18th Century European States. Enlightened Absolutism. Enlightenment idea of natural laws brings discussion on natural rights Rulers were obviously aware of the writings of the philosophes How enlightened they became debatable by historians. France.

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18th Century European States

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  1. 18th Century European States

  2. Enlightened Absolutism • Enlightenment idea of natural laws brings discussion on natural rights • Rulers were obviously aware of the writings of the philosophes • How enlightened they became debatable by historians

  3. France • Louis XIV - enlarged territory, debt, unhappy public dies 1715 • Louis XV(1715-1774) - 5 yr old great-grandson • loss of empire 7 Yrs War, taxes, lavish lifestyle • Louis XVI (1774-1792) - 20 yr old grandson • little gov. knowledge, lacked energy • he & wife Marie Antoinette out of touch

  4. GB - Hanoverian • William & Mary - share power w/ Parliament • Parliament dominated by landed aristocracy • H of Lords - traditional nobility • H of Commons - landed gentry • Queen Anne no heir - passes to George I (1714) • German Protestant state of Hanover

  5. War & Diplomacy • Philosophes condemned war as foolish waste • International rivalry and centralization of European states made war inevitable • International relations based on balance of power - prevent one state dominating

  6. War of Austrian Succession1740-1748 • Habsburg emperor Charles VI (1711-1740) no male heir - Pragmatic Sanction • Ignored by Fred II of Prussia looking to take adv of Maria Theresa • Fred Invaded Austrian Silesia

  7. War of Austrian Succession1740-1748 • France (Austria enemy) entered on side of Prussia • GB ally w/ Austria prevent French dominance • 1748 all sides exhausted treaty of Aix-la Chapelle • return all occupied territory except Silesia

  8. The Seven Years’ War1756-1763 • Maria Theresa not happy about Silesia loss • Diplomatic Rev as she gets France to jump ship • Daughter Marie Antoinette to Louis XVI • Russia not cool w/ Prussia also joins • Austria, France & Russia vs Prussia and GB • 1st WorldWar...?

  9. Europe • Fred the Great (P) - early victories • warn down by fighting on 3 sides (A,F,R) • Russian withdraw – stalemate • Tsar Peter III admired Fred the Great • Peace of Hubertsburg 1763 • return of occupied territory • Austria recognized Prussia control of Silesia

  10. Anglo-French Struggle • Treaty of Paris 1763 left India to British • French & Indian War • French/British Rivalry in Europe & Am • Britain gained Canada and E of MS River and Sp FL, France gave Sp Louisiana

  11. World War 1…?

  12. Enlightened Despots • 3 associated w/ concept: Joseph II, Frederick II, and Catherine the Great • Different degrees of attempted reform • **Desire to build stronger state superseded Enlightenment in practice**

  13. Prussia • Frederick William I (1713-1740) • General Directory - civil bureaucracy • continued policy of supporting Junkers • military expansion*** • Prussia was not a country w/ an army but an army with a country...

  14. Frederick II the Great (1740-86) • well educated, Voltaire spent time in court • Open to reform of philosophes • single code of laws, eliminated use of torture • granted limited freedom of speech & press • complete religious toleration

  15. Fred the Great cont. • Militarist like predecessors, dependent on Junkers • did not interfere w/ serfdom • reversed policies allowing commoners to rise to power in bureaucracy • Expansion gains him title “the Great” • Silesia (War of Austrian Suc & 7 Yrs War) • partitions of Poland

  16. Austria • Pragmatic Sanction keeps Maria Theresa in line for crown (1740-1780) • Maria T - remained Catholic and conservative - not open to major reforms but son would be • 2 wars Austrian Suc & 7 Yrs War • 1765 begins to let son Joseph II share throne

  17. Joseph II (1780-1790) • Believer in Enlightenment, called for reforms: abolished serfdom, equality before law, religious toleration (Toleration Patent 1781), abolished torture and ended death penalty • Alienated nobility when freed serfs • serfs unhappy as too drastic of change • Alienated Catholic Church • Alienated non-Germans w/ intro of German as official language

  18. Russia • After Peter the Great, 6 bad successors • Last of 6 was Peter III w/ German wife Catherine • Peter assassinated 1762 • Catherine II the Great 1762-1796 • Patronized philosophes & western culture

  19. Catherine • Influenced by Enlightenment called for an assembly to discuss reform but little to no progress • Divided Russia 50 provinces, & smaller districts • local nobility in charge of day-to-day gov • Charter of the Nobility 1785

  20. Pugachev’s Rebellion 1773-4 • Gov tried to restrict peasants in boarder districts • Cossacks - tribes of warriors initially fought for Russia against Turks, now fought against • Emelyn Pugachev (cossack) led mass revolt • issued a manifesto 1774 - calling for free all peasants from oppressive taxes and military service

  21. Rebellion cont. • Peasants killed 1500 estate owners and families • Gov suppressed revolt - Catherine more harsh • serfdom expanded

  22. Poland • Good ex. of why strong monarchy necessary in Europe 17th & 18th c • 1772-1775 3 rivals split Poland: Austria, Russia & Prussia • Thaddeus Kosciuszko (Am Rev hero) tried to save but failed

  23. Partition of Poland

  24. Failure of Enlightened Despotism • Did not remove basic causes of discontent against absolutism • Autocracy • Class distinctions • Unfair taxation • Frequent Wars

  25. Failure of Enlightened Despotism • Could not assure good gov. by successors • In time European people rebelled against royal absolutism, enlightened or not!

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