1. Enlightened Absolutism and the Balance of Power
Chapter 8, Lesson 3

2. Enlightened Absolutism
Rulers trying to govern by Enlightenment principles while keeping their royal powers
Allow natural rights for all people
Support the arts, sciences, and education
Obey and enforce laws fairly for everyone

3. Natural Rights Equality before the law Freedom of religious worship
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Rights to assemble
Rights to hold property
Rights to pursue happiness

4. Prussia

5. Frederick William I
Created a very efficient bureaucracy of civil service workers
Loyally obeyed, honored, and worked for Frederick
Doubled the size of the army by the end of his reign
Fourth largest in Europe
Most important institution in Prussia

6. Frederick II (Frederick the Great)
One of best educated monarchs of the time
Understood Enlightenment ideas
Dedicated ruler
Increased size of the army

7. Frederick II (Frederick the Great)
Enlightenment ideas
Stopped use of torture except for cases of treason or murder
Allowed limited freedom of speech and press
Provided more religious toleration
Anti-Enlightenment ideas
Kept serfdom in Prussia
Maintained rigid social structure
Avoided any other reforms

8. Austria

9. Austrian Empire One of Europe’s great kingdoms by 1700’s
Difficult to rule
Very large
Many different nationalities, languages, religions, and cultures
Maria Theresa
Worked to strengthen power of monarchy and central government
Worked to improve conditions for the serfs

10. Joseph II Enlightened Reforms Abolished serfdom
Eliminated the death penalty
Put in place policy of equality before the law
Promoted religious toleration and other religious reforms

11. Joseph II Reform program fails Successors undo most of his reforms
Alienated nobles by freeing the serfs
Alienated Catholic Church by starting religious reforms
Made serfs unhappy because they couldn’t understand such a huge change in their lives
Successors undo most of his reforms

12. Russia

13. Catherine the Great Familiar with Enlightenment philosophes
Favored enlightened reforms
Thought about creating a new law code that would make everyone equal under the law
Did nothing in the end
Success depended on support from Russia nobles

14. Catherine the Great Policies favored nobles
Led to worse conditions for peasants
Peasants rebelled against monarchy
Spread across southern Russia but quickly collapsed
Catherine stopped rural reform and spread serfdom to newer parts of the empire
Gained a lot of new territory for Russia

15. Frederick, Joseph, Catherine
Only Joseph II really tried to start radical changes based on Enlightenment ideas
Frederick II and Catherine talked about and tried Enlightenment reforms
Priority was keeping existing power system

16. Frederick, Joseph, Catherine
All three were guided by interest in power and welfare of the state
Used “Enlightenment” reforms to collect more taxes, create armies, fight wars, and gain more power (not to benefit the people they ruled)
Concerned with balance of power
States should have equal power to stop one from dominating the others
Leads to two major wars in 1700’s

17. War of Austrian Succession

18. Setting the Stage for 7 Years’ War
1740, Austrian emperor Charles VI dies
No male heir
Daughter Maria Theresa takes the throne
Frederick II of Prussia takes advantage of confusion in Austria
Invades Austrian-controlled Silesia
Hoped to add it to Prussia
Did not recognize Maria Theresa’s right to rule

20. War of Succession France joins war on side of Prussia
Austria was France’s enemy
Great Britain joins the war on the side of Austria
War is fought in Europe, Asia, and North America

21. Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
After 8 years, both sides are tired of fighting
All sides agree to Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
Gave back all occupied territories to their original owners (except Silesia)
Prussia refused to give back Silesia
Maria Theresa refuses to admit defeat
Built up army again
Worked to separate France from Prussia (its ally)
Sets up the 7 Years’ War

22. 7 Years’ War

23. New Alliances France sides with Austria in the war
Russia joins France and Austria because it sees Prussia as a threat
Britain sides with Prussia

24. Fighting the War Fought in three areas across the world
Europe
India
North America
Known as the French and Indian War in the United States

26. Ending the War (Treaty of Paris)
All occupied areas in Europe were given back to their original owners except Silesia
Austria officially recognizes Prussia’s control of Silesia
French forced to withdraw from India permanently (solely under British control)
French give Canada and lands east of Mississippi to Britain
Spanish-controlled Florida given to Britain