1. Impact of the Enlightenment
10-3

2. Impact of the Enlightenment
Philosophes believed in order to reform society based on Enlightenment ideals, people should be governed by Enlightenment rulers
Should nurture arts, sciences, and education
Should obey laws and enforce fairly
Enlightened Absolutism—rulers governed by Enlightened principles but maintained royal powers

3. Natural Rights Equality before law Freedom of religion
Freedom of speech
Freedom of press
Right to assemble
Right to hold property
Right to pursue happiness

4. Prussia: Army and Bureaucracy
Frederick William I and Frederick II—made Prussia a major power in the 18th c.
Obedience, honor, service to king
FWI  army size doubled (1740), 4th largest
FII (Frederick the Great)  educated/cultured
Friends w/ Voltaire
Abolished torture (except treason/murder)
Allowed limited freedom of speech/press/religion
Kept rigid social structure

5. Austrian Empire Many nationalities, languages, religions, cultures
Empress Maria Theresa (1740)  centralize/strengthen state
Worked to improve conditions of serfs
Son: Joseph II  reason
Reforms: abolished serfdom and death penalty, established principle or equality before law, religious toleration

6. Austrian Empire (con’t)
Joseph’s reforms mostly failed
Alienated nobles and the Catholic Church
Serfs upset about drastic change

7. Catherine the Great Russia After Peter the Great  6 weak successors
Catherine the Great  German wife
Listened to Denis Diderot’s ideas
Considered reformed, but didn’t want to upset nobles

8. Catherine the Great (con’t)
Peasant revolt
Yemelyah Pugachov (illiterate Cossack)
Catherine put down revolt and stopped considering reforms  increased serfdom
Increased Russian territory

9. Enlightened Absolutism?
Only Joseph II actually changed things
Most were too concerned with maintaining power/expanding empire