1. Chapter 10, Section 3 – Impact of the Enlightenment
Agenda:
Bellringer – Absolutism v. Enlightened Absolutism
Section 3 notes Enlightened Absolutists
3. Sections 3 & 4 notes (pt.1)
Outcome: Students will be able to explain how absolutist rulers responded to the ideas of the Enlightenment.

2. Bell Ringer
What do you think are the differences between Absolute and Enlightened rulers. (List 3)

3. Absolutism v. Enlightenment
Complete control speech, religion, press, military, and people
Tools – censorship, torture, imprisonment without trial, military, secret police, etc…
Enlightenment
Equality before the law, religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble, right to own property, trial by jury, due process, no cruel and unusual punishment, etc…

4. Enlightened Absolutist Ideals
Religious tolerance
Economic reform
Legal reform
Rule judged by usefulness to society

5. Enlightened Absolutist Characteristics
No divine right rule
Value philosophy, music, writing
Ruler still had absolute power
Control of all govt. power
Used power for good of people

6. Frederick II of Prussia (r. 1740 –1786)
In Prussia Frederick II (also called Frederick the Great) made minimal changes
Abolished torture (except for treason and murder), allowed limited freedom of speech and press, greater freedom of religion (only to Christians, not other religions)
Improved the country’s schools
But, did not abolish serfdom (slavery) or the social structure

7. Catherine II of Russia (r. 1762 –1796)
Peter the Great was followed by six weak czars
Peter III was murdered and his wife Catherine II became the ruler
Catherine the Great, agreed with the enlightenment philosophes (Remember Diderot?) however, her success depended on the support of the Russian nobility which left her helpless to change things
Some religious tolerance to protestant faiths
Her legacy is the expansion of Russian territory, not enlightenment

9. Joseph II of Austria (r. 1764 –1790)
Of the major rulers of Europe only Joseph II of Austria made enlightenment changes
Abolished serfdom, eliminated the death penalty, equality before the law
Some toleration of Protestant faiths
Removed some restrictions on Jews
Confiscated church land
Reduced power of Pope
Church revenues became state revenues
Ultimately, he made enemies of the nobility and the church

10. Enlightened Absolutism