enlightened despotism: absolutism with a smile. what was “enlightened despotism”? definition:...
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Enlightened Despotism:
Absolutism with a Smile
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What was “Enlightened Despotism”?
Definition: Absolutist states influenced by the ideals of the Enlightenment Equality of all under law Support for “natural” rights
religious toleration freedom of speech, press right to private property limits on torture/capital punishment
Patronage of Arts & Education
Europe in the 18th Century Exceptions:
France Britain Poland
Enlightened Despotism: Austria Prussia Russia
France: Louis XV, 1715-1774 Problems left by
Louis XIV Lazy, weak Easily influenced Seven Years’ War Enormous Debt
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Madame de Pompadour
Louis XV
Great Britain: King & Parliament
Parliament Powerful Aristocracy
Peers (H of Lords) Landed Gentry (H of Commons)
Unequal Representation New cities lack MPs “Pocket Boroughs”
King Hanover Dynasty Relied Heavily on
Prime Ministers (Walpole, Pitt)
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George I
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George II
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George III
Important Prime Ministers
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William Pitt, the Elder(1757-61)
•Favored empire•Won Seven Years War
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Robert Walpole(1721-42)
•Handled Parliament•Dispensed Patronage
•Peaceful Foreign Policy•Low Taxes
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William Pitt, the Younger(1783-1806)
•Maintains Patronage system•French Rev & Nap.
•Deals with George III’s insanity
Partition of Poland Rivalry between Austria/Prussia/Russia
First Partition (1772) Second Partition (1793) Third Partition (1795)
Prussia (West Prussia)
Russia (E. Poland)
Austria (Galicia)
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Austria: Maria Teresa War of Austrian Succession
Pragmatic Sanction Prussia gains Silesia
Centralizes tax collection 10 royal districts Modernizes military Very Catholic, not open to
social reforms
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Maria Teresa, 1740-1780
Austria: Joseph II “Philosophy = lawmaker of my empire” 6,000 decrees/11,000 laws
Abolished serfdom Free trade No death penalty Equality of all in law Complete religious toleration Restrictions on Catholic Church
Patronizes arts, music (Mozart)
Alienates upper classes, Church, ethnic minorities
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Joseph II, 1780-90
Prussia: Frederick II (“The Great”)
Highly educated Friend of Voltaire “King = First Servant of State”
Limits on torture Some freedom of speech/press Complete religious toleration
BUT only goes so far Maintains serfdom Strengthens Junker class Militaristic
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Frederick II, 1740-86
Catherine the Great Well-educated Patron of Arts & Literature Friend of Voltaire, Diderot Instruction (1767)
Questioned serfdom Questioned torture/capital
punishment Advocated equality in law
All talk. . . No action!
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Catherine II, 1762-96
Catherine the Great (cont.) Strengthened “boyars”
50 districts controlled by nobles Charter of the Nobility (1785) Pugachev’s Rebellion (1774) repression of peasantry
Expands territory West (Poland) South (Crimea, Black Sea)
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Emelian Pugachev
Red = Russia (c. 1650) Green = acquisitions of Peter the Great Purple = acquisitions of Catherine the Great
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Miscellaneous Nations Sweden: Gustavus III (1771-92)
reasserted power of monarchy enlightened reforms
Spain--Bourbon administrative reforms Portugal
Marquis de Pombal (1699-1782) Limited power of nobles and Church
Netherlands--domination of politics by oligarchs and House of Orange
Final Evaluation How enlightened were enlightened despots? Which went the furthest? What were they most concerned with? What limits on reform existed in these states?