Chapter 18: The 18Chapter 18: The 18thth CenturyCentury

European States, International European States, International Wars and Social ChangeWars and Social Change

Part 1Part 1

Enlightened AbsolutistEnlightened Absolutistin European States in European States decline of “divine decline of “divine right”right”

• Belief in Natural RightsBelief in Natural Rights– Equality before the lawEquality before the law– Freedom of religion, speech and pressFreedom of religion, speech and press– Right to assemble, hold property and seek Right to assemble, hold property and seek

happinesshappiness

• Rulers should support this and..Rulers should support this and..– Foster arts, sciences and educationFoster arts, sciences and education– Obey and enforce laws fairlyObey and enforce laws fairly

• Distrust of the MassesDistrust of the Masses• Aka “enlightened despots”Aka “enlightened despots”

The Atlantic Seaboard The Atlantic Seaboard StatesStatesDutch power passes to England and FranceDutch power passes to England and France

FranceFrance

Great BritainGreat Britain

DutchDutch

FranceFrance

• Louis XIVLouis XIV– Enlarged territories Enlarged territories

of Franceof France– Left a huge debtLeft a huge debt– 5 year old 5 year old

successorsuccessor

Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France• 11stst regent Duke of Orleans = regent Duke of Orleans =

drunkdrunk• Cardinal FlueryCardinal Fluery

– Pulled back from foreign Pulled back from foreign ventureventure

– Balanced the budgetBalanced the budget– Increase in trade and industryIncrease in trade and industry

• Madame de PompadourMadame de Pompadour• LegacyLegacy

– Loss of empire in Seven Years Loss of empire in Seven Years WarWar

– Increase in taxesIncrease in taxes– Major debtMajor debt– Still party at VersaillesStill party at Versailles

During Louis XVI thing continued downhill

Great Britain – United Great Britain – United KingdomKingdomEngland and ScotlandEngland and Scotlandpower shared between King and Parliamentpower shared between King and Parliament• KingKing– Chose ministers to Chose ministers to

set policies and set policies and guide parliamentguide parliament

– Played members off Played members off each other to keep each other to keep powerpower

• ParliamentParliament– Make lawsMake laws– Levy taxesLevy taxes– Pass the budgetPass the budget

House of CommonsHouse of Lords

Landed aristocratsPeers for life

Landowners similar economic interests

Justice of the Peace in CountiesDeputies are chosen from “pocket’ boroughs and counties by based on history no current population

Wealthy had most power.All holders of property worth 40 shillings could vote

British Parliament

George I, II, and III Hanoverian George I, II, and III Hanoverian Kings of Great BritainKings of Great Britain

• Did not even speak EnglishDid not even speak English

• Relied greatly on advisors therefore Relied greatly on advisors therefore the beginnings of the modern the beginnings of the modern “cabinet”“cabinet”

Ministers of the Hanoverian Ministers of the Hanoverian KingsKings

• William Pitt the ElderWilliam Pitt the Elder

• « quotes« quotes

• Gained Canada and Gained Canada and India in Seven Years India in Seven Years WarWar

• Robert Walpole: Duke of Robert Walpole: Duke of NewCastleNewCastle– Peaceful foreign policy to avoid new Peaceful foreign policy to avoid new

taxestaxes– Increase in trade and industryIncrease in trade and industry– Middle class favored expanding Middle class favored expanding

trade and world empiretrade and world empire

““The press is like the The press is like the air, a chartered air, a chartered libertine.libertine." " ““Poverty of course is Poverty of course is no disgrace, but it is no disgrace, but it is damned annoying.damned annoying." " “U“Unlimited power nlimited power corrupts the corrupts the possessor.possessor." "

““Wilkes and Liberty”Wilkes and Liberty”• Lord Bute minister under George IIILord Bute minister under George III

– Strengthened authority of the Strengthened authority of the monarchymonarchy

– Now more literate public wanted Now more literate public wanted reform of patronage and electoral reform of patronage and electoral systemsystem

• John WilkesJohn Wilkes– Middle class member of HoCMiddle class member of HoC– Outspoken journalistOutspoken journalist– Expelled from ParliamentExpelled from Parliament– Won next election, but denied seatWon next election, but denied seat– Above slogan beganAbove slogan began– Supported by commoners w/o voting Supported by commoners w/o voting

rights and freeholdersrights and freeholders• HoC focus on reducing strength of HoC focus on reducing strength of

monarchy which had grownmonarchy which had grown• George III puts in William Pitt the Younger George III puts in William Pitt the Younger

who delays reformswho delays reforms

King George IIIKing George III

• King during the King during the American American RevolutionRevolution

• Periodic bouts of Periodic bouts of insanityinsanity– Caught talking to a Caught talking to a

tree thinking it was tree thinking it was the King of Prussiathe King of Prussia

The Decline of the Dutch The Decline of the Dutch RepublicRepublic

• Economic decline Economic decline

• Struggle between oligarchists and Struggle between oligarchists and OrangistsOrangists

• Burghers called Patriots are anti-Orange Burghers called Patriots are anti-Orange and want more democracyand want more democracy

• Prussia gets involved since King’s sis is Prussia gets involved since King’s sis is Stadholder and old system is reestablishedStadholder and old system is reestablished

Prussia: The Army and Prussia: The Army and BureaucracyBureaucracy

• First King, Frederick William I (r. 1688 - 1713 )First King, Frederick William I (r. 1688 - 1713 )– Established the General DirectoryEstablished the General Directory

• Supervised military, police, economy, budget and Supervised military, police, economy, budget and administration of governmentadministration of government

– Civil Service Workers (closely supervised)Civil Service Workers (closely supervised)• Obedience, honor, and service to the stateObedience, honor, and service to the state

– Prussian militarism – military virtues exhaltedPrussian militarism – military virtues exhalted– Class systemClass system

• Junkers: (landed nobility) were only officers in Army (4Junkers: (landed nobility) were only officers in Army (4thth largest)largest) great loyalty to the King, big on military great loyalty to the King, big on military virtuesvirtues

• Peasants: worked the land and/or in the army, needed perm. Peasants: worked the land and/or in the army, needed perm. of Junker to marryof Junker to marry

• Middle Class: civil servantsMiddle Class: civil servants

Frederick II (the Great)Frederick II (the Great)

• Best educated & Best educated & most culturedmost cultured

• ““11stst Servant of the Servant of the State”State”Military involvement:Military involvement:Took over Silesia – Took over Silesia – War of Austrian War of Austrian SuccessionSuccessionSeven Years’ War – Seven Years’ War – “The Great”“The Great”Kept Silesia and Kept Silesia and gained more land gained more land around Polandaround Poland

FREDERICK THE GREATFREDERICK THE GREAT• Improved bureaucracy & raising Improved bureaucracy & raising

standards of civil servicestandards of civil service– Severely punishing corruption & Severely punishing corruption &

inefficiencyinefficiency– Promoted principles of mercantilismPromoted principles of mercantilism

•Rebuild industry and agriculture Rebuild industry and agriculture ( destroyed by various wars)( destroyed by various wars)

• As a youth read & later corresponded As a youth read & later corresponded with enlightenment intellectuals – invited with enlightenment intellectuals – invited Voltaire to Berlin Voltaire to Berlin

Frederick the Frederick the GreatGreat

• ReformsReforms– Single code of lawsSingle code of laws

– Freedom of Freedom of Press & Press & speech (limited)speech (limited)

– Torture only for Torture only for treason or murdertreason or murder

– promoted educationpromoted education

– Religious toleration Religious toleration for Christiansfor Christians

• Non-reformsNon-reforms– Serfs had no Serfs had no

reliefrelief– Less power for Less power for

those not noblethose not noble

MARIA THERESAMARIA THERESAAUSTRIA/HABSBURGAUSTRIA/HABSBURG

• Departments of Foreign Departments of Foreign AffairsAffairs

• Curtailed roles of diets in Curtailed roles of diets in taxes and local taxes and local administratorsadministrators

• Clergy and nobles had to Clergy and nobles had to pay tax to royal officialspay tax to royal officials

• Divided area into 10 Divided area into 10 provinces and them into provinces and them into districtsdistricts

• Enlarged and modernized Enlarged and modernized the armythe army

Maria Theresa & Her FamilyMaria Theresa & Her Family

Her Notable Children:

HRE Joseph II

HRE Leopold II

Queen Marie Antoinette (Fr.)

Her Notable Children:

HRE Joseph II

HRE Leopold II

Queen Marie Antoinette (Fr.)

JOSEPH IIJOSEPH IIAUSTRIA/HABSBURGAUSTRIA/HABSBURG

Joint ruler (1765 – Joint ruler (1765 – 1780), then ruled 10 1780), then ruled 10 more yearsmore years

• Strengthened Strengthened monarchy & reformed monarchy & reformed societysociety

• Religious freedom for Religious freedom for Protestants, Greek Protestants, Greek Orthodox & JewsOrthodox & Jews

Joseph’s PoliciesJoseph’s PoliciesEconomyEconomy

– No internal trade barriersNo internal trade barriers– No monopoliesNo monopolies– No restrictions on guildsNo restrictions on guilds

• LegalLegal– No death penaltyNo death penalty– All are equal before the lawAll are equal before the law

• SocialSocial– Reduced influence of Roman Catholic ChurchReduced influence of Roman Catholic Church– Closed monasteriesClosed monasteries– Did away with seminariesDid away with seminaries– Tried to abolish serfdom and give them hereditary rights to Tried to abolish serfdom and give them hereditary rights to

their holdingstheir holdings

Reactions to Joseph’s Reactions to Joseph’s policiespolicies• Reforms - expensive and both nobles Reforms - expensive and both nobles

and peasants revoltedand peasants revolted• Joseph died thinking himself a failureJoseph died thinking himself a failure• Joseph’s brother, Leopold II was Joseph’s brother, Leopold II was

forced to repeal much of Joseph’s forced to repeal much of Joseph’s measuresmeasures

CATHERINE THE GREATCATHERINE THE GREATRussiaRussia

• Peter IIIPeter III

• Determined to Determined to promote promote enlightenmentenlightenment

• Founded two hospitalsFounded two hospitals

• College of MedicineCollege of Medicine

• Public libraryPublic library• Corresponded with Corresponded with

DiderotDiderot• Brought Beccaria to Brought Beccaria to

rewrite criminal coderewrite criminal code

Russia under CatherineRussia under Catherine

• InstructionInstruction: written to guide deliberations on new laws: written to guide deliberations on new laws– Addressed issued of serfs, torture, capital punishment and equality Addressed issued of serfs, torture, capital punishment and equality

under the lawunder the law– No firm resultsNo firm results

• Divided Russia into provincesDivided Russia into provinces– Ruled by noblesRuled by nobles– Made things even worse for lower classesMade things even worse for lower classes

• Brought in Western art, architecture, literature, music and ideasBrought in Western art, architecture, literature, music and ideas

• Limited use of tortureLimited use of torture

• Extended religious freedomExtended religious freedom

• Advocated inoculation against smallpoxAdvocated inoculation against smallpox

Pugachev Revolution (1773 –Pugachev Revolution (1773 –74)74)

– Granted nobles absolute Granted nobles absolute control of serfs.control of serfs.

– exempted nobles for exempted nobles for taxationtaxation

– Revolt by peasants in Revolt by peasants in Southern areasSouthern areas

– Wanted freedom from Wanted freedom from oppressive taxes and oppressive taxes and military servicemilitary service

– Seized estates and Seized estates and killed more than 1500 killed more than 1500 noblesnobles

– Pugachev betrayed and Pugachev betrayed and capturedcaptured

– Even worse than beforeEven worse than before

Legacy of Catherine the Legacy of Catherine the GreatGreat• Expand territoryExpand territory

– Westward into PolandWestward into Poland– South into Black SeaSouth into Black Sea

• Defeats TurksDefeats Turks

• Treaty of Kuchuk-Treaty of Kuchuk-KainaijiKainaiji– LandLand– Protect Greek OrthodoxProtect Greek Orthodox– Right to sail on Turkish Right to sail on Turkish

waterswaters

• 50% of Poland50% of Poland

Destruction of PolandDestruction of Poland

Government organizationGovernment organizationking elected by nobles with greatly limited king elected by nobles with greatly limited powers (limited revenue, small bureaucracy, powers (limited revenue, small bureaucracy, army couldn’t have more than 20, 000army couldn’t have more than 20, 000

Divided among Austria, Russia, and PrussiaDivided among Austria, Russia, and Prussiaat first still a little Poland (controlled by at first still a little Poland (controlled by Russia)Russia)

Polish rebellion lead by General Thaddeus Polish rebellion lead by General Thaddeus Kosciuszko resulted in destruction on PolandKosciuszko resulted in destruction on Poland(many cite this as example of why a strong (many cite this as example of why a strong absolutist state is necessary)absolutist state is necessary)

SpainSpain• Dynasty changed from Habsburgs Dynasty changed from Habsburgs

to Bourbons (temp rejuvenation)to Bourbons (temp rejuvenation)• Philip VPhilip V• Castillian laws, admistration and Castillian laws, admistration and

languagelanguage• French style ministriesFrench style ministries• Treaty of UtrechtTreaty of Utrecht

– Lost land in Italy and Lost land in Italy and NetherlandsNetherlands

– Spain better offSpain better off• Charles IICharles II

– More control over Catholic More control over Catholic ChurchChurch

– Aristocrats very powerfulAristocrats very powerful

• PortugalPortugal– Begins long declineBegins long decline– Marquis of PombalMarquis of Pombal

• Chief minister for Chief minister for several yearsseveral years

• Curtailled nobility Curtailled nobility and churchand church

• Revival of empire, Revival of empire, but only while he but only while he was alivewas alive

ItalyItaly• Treaty of UtrechtTreaty of Utrecht

– Austria replaces Austria replaces SpainSpain• MilanMilan

• SardiniaSardinia

• NaplesNaples

– Sicily goes to SavoySicily goes to Savoy– Venice and Genoa Venice and Genoa

are independent are independent but powerlessbut powerless

SwedenSweden

• Decline in power after Battle of Poltara 1709Decline in power after Battle of Poltara 1709• After death of Charles XIII After death of Charles XIII

– Power in hands of NoblesPower in hands of Nobles– Nobles were split between supporting France and Nobles were split between supporting France and

RussiaRussia• Gustavus III (one of most enlightened)Gustavus III (one of most enlightened)

– Freedom of religion, press, speechFreedom of religion, press, speech– No tortureNo torture– Laissez faire (lower tariffs, no tolls, encourage trade Laissez faire (lower tariffs, no tolls, encourage trade

and agriculture)and agriculture)– Assasinated by angry nobles, but they were unable Assasinated by angry nobles, but they were unable

to totally regain lost powerto totally regain lost power

DenmarkDenmark

• Christian VII Christian VII

• Chief Minister John Chief Minister John Frederick Frederick StruenseeStruensee

• ReformersReformers

• Aristocrats resisted Aristocrats resisted and killed and killed StruenseeStruensee

Enlightened Absolutism Enlightened Absolutism RevisitedRevisited

• Joseph II only trueJoseph II only true

• Frederick the Great and Catherine Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great wanted to be thought of as the Great wanted to be thought of as enlightenedenlightened

• AllAll– Put state power firstPut state power first– Current systems and aristocrats made Current systems and aristocrats made

reforming very difficultreforming very difficult