Enlightened Absolutism Rulers and Their Enlightenment Political change
Enlightened Absolutism
Rulers and Their Enlightenment • Political change should come from above • From the ruler, not from the people • Enlighten the monarch, who can then make changes • Government officials were attracted to the enlightenment
Enlightened Absolutism • The rule of 18 th century monarchs • Adopted enlightenment ideals of rationalism, progress, happiness, and tolerance • Without giving up their absolute rule • Most effective changes were in Prussia, Russia, and Austria
Frederick the Great of Prussia • Determined to use the grand army his dad left him • He pounced on a part of Austria known as Silesia, led by Maria Theresa • Doubled the size of the population • Prussia was now a world power
International Opposition • Maria Theresa formed an alliance against him • Seven Years War • Frederick fought off army on all sides • Forced him to think not of territorial expansion, but domestic policies that strengthened his state
Social Change • Allowed people to believe in any religion or philosophy they wanted • Promoted advancement of knowledge • Improved schools • Permitted scholars to publish their findings
Political Change • Laws were simplified • Torture of prisoners was abolished • Judges decided cases quickly and fairly • Reconstructed agriculture and industries
Failure to Keep Going • Still accepted the practice of serfdom • Continued to expand the nobility • Imposed harsh rules on the Jewish community, despite the rise of a new Jewish Enlightenment
The Austrian Maria Theresa • After Frederick took Silesia, she focused on three major domestic changes • One: limited church’s political influence • Two: strengthened government and raised taxes • Three: reduced power of the lords over their serfs
Joseph II • Hit the ground running when he came into power • Abolished serfdom • Instead of working, the serfs could pay off their land with cash • Rejected by nobles and serfs • Joseph died before it could pass
Catherine the Great of Russia • German princess • Her father commanded a regiment of the Prussian Army • Her mother was related to Russian nobles
Ruthless Takeover • Married the emperor of Russia, Peter III • He withdrew his armies in the Seven Years War • Alienated the Russian Army • Catherine conspired with others to kill her husband become the empress
Huge Enlightenment Fan • Had three main goals that gained support from enlightened thinkers • One: westernized Russia • Two: social changes, like religious tolerance and advancement of schools • Three: expand territory
Failure to Keep Going • A gigantic uprising of serfs • Wanted serfdom abolished and taxes lowered • Although they failed, they caused Catherine to regret making changes • Gave absolute power to nobles and worsened conditions for serfs
Conclusion, the Rulers of the Enlightenment • Combined traditional old-fashioned politics with ideals of the enlightenment • Expanded the role of government in social life • Failed to make progress in things we find humane • The support of the enlightened thinkers shows how far they still had to go
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