impact of the enlightenment enlightened absolutism, war of austrian succession, seven years war
TRANSCRIPT
Impact of the Enlightenment
Enlightened Absolutism, War of Austrian Succession, Seven
Years War
Enlightened Absolutism
• Rulers tried to govern using Enlightenment principles while maintaining royal powers
• Monarchs allowed religious toleration, freedom of speech and press, rights of private property
• They obey laws and enforce laws fairly
Enlightened Monarchs
• Frederick the Great
• Maria Theresa
• Joseph II
• Catherine the Great
Map of Europe 1700’s
Frederick the Great
• Monarch of Prussia (1712-1786)
• Well versed in Enlightenment ideals
• Abolished use of torture, granted limited freedom of speech and press, granted some religious toleration
• Kept system of serfdom
Maria Theresa
• Austrian Monarch – 1740
• Not open to calls for reform
• Did improve conditions for serfs
• Supported a strong monarchy and their right to rule
Joseph II
• Austrian Monarch• Son of Maria Teresa• Believed need to sweep
away anything that stood in way of reason
• Abolished serfdom, eliminated slavery, enacted religious toleration
• Most everything he did, failed and was overturned upon his death
Catherine the Great
• Monarch of Russia (1762-1796)
• Seemed to favor reform early
• Did not enact any Enlightenment reforms
• Expanded serfdom to new territories
War of Austrian Succession
• 1740-1748• War that set up Seven Years War• Frederick II of Prussia did not recognize
Maria Theresa as Austrian ruler• He tried to take over Silesia• Alliances formed – France & Prussia vs
Austria & Enland• War ended with Prussia keeping control of
Silesia
Seven Years War (Europe)
• 1756-1763
• Major rivalry between Britain and France
• Alliances – Britain & Prussia vs France, Austria, & Russia
• War was fought over control of European territories
• War ends in stalemate – Austria recognizes Silesia as Prussian
Seven Years War (India)
• Known as Great War for Empire
• Britain defeats France in India
• Britain maintains control over India
Seven Years War (N America)
• Fought between Britain and France over control of N America
• British defeat France
• France turns over Canada, Spanish turn over Florida
• Britain becomes world’s leading colonial power