europe in 1740 europe in 1740 france dynasty bourbons economy mercantilism two weak monarchs…...
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FRANCE Dynasty Bourbons
Economy Mercantilism
Two Weak Monarchs… Louis XV (r. 1715-74) Louis XVI (r. 1774-92)
Common people suffer from heavy taxes/hunger
Aristocracy grows stronger People distrust French monarchy
Lost colonial empire to British with defeats in War of Spanish Succession & Seven Years’ War
GREAT BRITAIN 1707 Unification of Scotland & England = Great Britain
Economy Mercantilism
British Political System King & Parliament share power
New Dynasty Hanoverians (“Georges” from Germany) Hanover Kings rely on prime minister to handle
Parliament Robert Walpole (1721-42) William Pitt the Elder (1757-61) & the Younger (1783-1801)
Built huge colonial empire in series of wars & alliances vs. France Peace of Utrecht(1713) Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Hudson Bay & the asiento Treaty of Paris (1763) India, Quebec & lands E. of
Mississippi R., including Florida
PRUSSIA Dynasty Hohenzollern
Economy Agricultural with Serfdom
Major Problem lack of territorial integrity
Frederick William I (r.1713-1740) increases Prussia’s power Expands army & bureaucracy (General Directory) Junker nobility dominates serfs Committed to greatness of Prussian militarism (“Sparta
of the North”)
Frederick William’s Successor FREDERICK THE GREAT
Was Frederick the Great an “enlightened monarch”?
Frederick the Great (r.1740-86) Impassioned by the arts as a
young man
Started War of Austrian Succession by breaking Pragmatic Sanction (1740)
Implemented reforms after near defeat in 7 Years’ War Religious toleration (except Jews) Intellectual freedom Improved Prussia’s schools Simplified Prussian law code Abolished torture Demanded impartial legal
judgments
Maintained noble privilege & dominion over serfs
“I am the first servant of the state.”
Austrian Empire Dynasty Hapsburgs
Economy Agricultural with Serfdom
Major Problem nationalities problem
Won Spanish Netherlands, Milan & Naples in War of Spanish Succession
Maria Theresa centralizes power Limited the role of the papacy Strengthened central bureaucracy Improved tax system (even
nobles!) Reduced power of lords over serfs
Maria Theresa Successor JOSEPH II
Maria Theresa (r. 1740-80)
Joseph II (r.1780-90)
Initiated far reaching reform program… Complete religious toleration;
even for Protestants & Jews (Toleration Patent of 1781)
Abolished serfdom Freed serfs given legal rights
over their landholdings Eliminated the death penalty Established the principle of
the equality of all before the law
Made German the official language of the bureaucracy
Radical edicts were canceled after his death
“I have made Philosophy the
lawmaker of my empire.”
RUSSIA Dynasty Romanovs
Economy Agricultural with Serfdom
Major Problem the pendulum of Russian history To westernize or not to westernize?
Six week tsars succeeded Peter the Great fell under control of the Palace Guard
Tsar Peter III executed during coup by Palace Guard CATHERINE THE GREAT becomes tsarina in 1762
Was Catherine the Great an “enlightened monarch”?
Catherine the Great (r.1762-96) Continued westernization of Russia
started by Peter the Great (imported artists & intellectuals)
impassioned by the Enlightenment (corresponded w/ philosophes like Voltaire & Diderot)
Attempted domestic reforms.. Unified law code & restriction of
torture Limited religious toleration Educational improvement Reform of local governments
Abandoned Reform after Pugachev’s Rebellion (1773)… Charter of Nobility (1785) Nobles given absolute authority over
serfs Serfdom extended to Ukraine
“I shall be an autocrat, that’s my trade; and the good Lord will forgive me, that’s his.”
DUTCH REPUBLIC Experienced a period of decline in late 17th c.
Wars w/ England & France put heavy burdens on Dutch finances & manpower
Dutch shipping monopoly challenged by the English Dutch domestic industries, including fishing, stagnated Lack of political unity after death of William III (1702)
weakened system of the States General Power struggle Regents vs. House of Orange
Dutch burghers (“Patriots”) begin to agitate for domestic reforms
Invaded by Prussian king to protect his sister (wife of Orangist stadtholder) crushed Patriots
Only thing keeping Dutch relevant financial system
SPAIN Experienced a Period of Decline during 17th c.
Philip III expels the Morsicos (1609) Revenues from colonies declined Loss of the quinto Spanish currency devalued Aristocracy maintained wealth & power lacked sizable
middle class
New Dynasty in 18th c. Bourbons
Bourbon Kings modeled Spanish state on French monarchy Philip V & Charles III
Aristocratic elite resisted foreign ideas at expense of Spain Mercantilist legislation to promote domestic industry Ideas of Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment
OTHER MEDITERRANEAN STATESPortugal
Been in steady decline since losing the Spice trade to Dutch (late 16th c.)
Briefly revived by marquis of Pombal curtailed power of nobility & Catholic Church
Nobility & Church regained power after removal of Pombal
Italian States Austria replaces Spain as dominant power
on peninsula after Peace of Utrecht (1713)
Independent Italian States impotent in continental affairs
SWEDEN Dominant power in Northern Europe (17th c.)
Loss at battle of Poltava (1709) marked Swedish decline
Swedish nobility regain power in 1718 monarchy reduced to puppet status
King Gustavus III (1771-1792) reasserts power of the monarchy the most enlightened of all European monarchs? Laissez-faire economic reforms Freedom of religion, speech & press New code of justice/abolition of torture
Group of nobles assassinate Gustavus (1792) proved unable to restore rule of aristocracy
Gustavus III (r.1771-92) Restored the principle of strong
monarchy in Sweden via bloodless military coup (Aug.19, 1772)
Known as the “Theatre King”. Strong patron of the arts, poetry, theatre, and opera.
Liberal domestic reforms.. Torture forbidden by law (1772) Death penalty abolished for # of
offenses (1778-79) Relig. Toleration for Catholics & Jews
(1781) Laissez-faire economic reforms
Rescinded freedom of the press Upset nobility w/ increased power
to king and restriction of privileges; assassinated via noble plot in 1792
“ I will never pretend esteem for a man whose principles I deteste.”
War of Austrian Succession (1740-48)
AUSTRIAGreat Britain
WAR PRUSSIAFrance
Cause Frederick the Great ignores the Pragmatic Sanction & invades Silesia
War fought in Europe, Asia & North America Prussia seized Silesia; France occupied Austrian Netherlands
(Europe) France took Madras from Britain (Asia) British captured French fortress of Louisbourg (North Am.)
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) all occupied territories must be returned to original owners except Silesia
This treaty basically guaranteed that another war would be fought!
SEVEN YEARS’ WAR (1756-63)
AustriaFranceRussia
WAR Prussia Great Britain
Causes Prussia refused to return Silesia to Austria; Count Wenzel von Kaunitz engineers Diplomatic Revolution of 1756
Fought on Three Continents – Europe, Asia & No. America
Treaty of Hubertusburg (1763) ends fighting in Europe; returns all occupied territories recognized Prussia’s permanent control over Silesia
Treaty of Paris (1763) Britain gets India, Quebec & lands E. of Mississippi from
France French ally Spain transfers Spanish Florida to Britain French gives Louisiana territory to Spain