There’s lots of them, we’ll handle the most important Wars of the 18th century There’s lots of them, we’ll handle the most important

War of Spanish Succession (1701 – 1714) Other European don’t want France and Spain united under a Bourbon monarch GB, Dutch, Prussia, Portugal and HRE (Austria) vs. France and Spain One of Louis XIV’s later unsuccessful wars Ends in stalemate Treaty of Utrecht Louis’ grandson can inherit Spanish throne but can’t inherit France’s Britain gets Gibraltar and asiento over Spanish New World slave trade

Mid-18th Century Wars 1715-1739 = time of relative peace periods of peace ≠ stability RATHER time to recoup strength to fight again armed conflict often overrides diplomacy Peace is not necessarily better than war.

Nature of Warfare Don’t waste resources! Therefore… Battles of limited objectives Tactical maneuvers over direct confrontation Strict rules of engagement; defeat ≠ capture or destruction “The art of surrendering strongholds honorably after certain conventional formalities.”

Mid-18th Century Wars 1715-1739 = time of relative peace periods of peace ≠ stability RATHER time to recoup strength to fight again armed conflict often overrides diplomacy Peace is not necessarily better than war. 1739 War of Jenkins’ Ear (England v. Spain) Spanish tries to stop English smuggling Jenkin’s shows severed ear as proof of Spanish barbarity English declare war Should have been a minor conflict but sets off a series of European wars that don’t end until 1815 World-wide conflict from 1739-1815

War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Remember the Pragmatic Sanction? upon Maria Theresa’s ascension Frederick the Great reneges invades Silesia Austria cedes Silesia to Prussia = Prussian population doubles Silesia has rich farmland, iron ore and coal deposits France sides with Prussia against traditional Habsburg enemies Mistake? Prussia becomes more powerful Britain now involved vs. France Wants Low Countries under Austrian not French control

War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748)

War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Maria Theresa saves Habsburg empire BUT at what cost? Empowers Magyar (“Hungarian”) nobility Hungary = becomes trouble area for Habsburgs Prussia enters realm of “Great Powers” Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748 All land returned to original “owners” except Silesia Spain renewed Treaty of Utrecht Britain can still import slaves to Spanish colonies

Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 Europeans go Square Dancing Ally Swapping Great Britain fears French attack on Hanover British kings are also Kings of Hanover George I – IV, William IV and Victoria are the Hanover dynasty who succeeded the Stuarts allies with Prussia prevent foreign troops into German states Prussia fears Russian/Austrian alliance Maria Theresa of Austria needs an ally How about you old enemy…I mean frenemy France! Hope is to break Prussia, revenge Silesia By Spring 1757 Russia, Sweden and several smaller German states join alliance all concerned about growing Prussian power Later this alliance is sealed when the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette is betrothed to the dauphin and king to be Louis XVI.

Diplomatic Revolution of 1756

Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) Three areas of conflict = three names Europe = “Seven Years’ War”, 1756-1763 India = “Great War for Empire”, 1756-1763 North America = “French and Indian War”, 1755-1763 Prussia & Great Britain vs. France, Russia, and Austria Prussia under attack on three sides! Berlin is occupied Saved by new Tsar Peter III’s admiration for Frederick the Great Russia pulls out of war Peace of Hubertusburg (1762) all territory returned Prussia keeps Silesia

Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) The First Global War World War Zero

Seven Years’ War (1756-1763)

French and Indian War, 1755-1763 sub-conflict of Seven Years’ War Gulf of the Saint Lawrence River Ohio River Valley French threatening British inland expansion French/Spain ally with Native Americans Native Americans prefer French because they are fur traders not settlers William Pitt the Elder – British must stop French in order to build empire = colonial war more important But funds Prussia to keep France distracted in Europe “America was won on the plains of Germany” Gen. Wolfe defeats Gen. Montcalm at Quebec, 1759 British seize French West Indies French navy succumbs to British navy British seize sugar and slave markets

North America before and after the Treaty of Paris, 1763

Great War for Empire Britain vs. France in India France doesn’t offer enough financial support to troops Battle of Plassey, 1757 Robert Clive (Great Britain), small British force & band of sepoys (Indian soldiers) defeat huge Mughal army allied with France controls Bengal (area around Calcutta) = allows movement into the interior of the India

Great War for Empire

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763 Britain receives: all of Canada (from France) Evicts French Acadians from Nova Scotia Acadians migrate to Caribbean, Louisiana → “Cajuns” All territory east of Mississippi River British East India Co. grows stronger in India increased taxes to cover costs of warfare

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763 France gets back Pondicherry & Chandernagore in India Effectively cut out of Indian market Guadeloupe and Martinique in West Indies France is no longer a great colonial empire during the 1st wave of imperialism Colonial trade falls by 80% France in need of political/financial reform Increases taxation to cover cost of warfare

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763 Habsburgs less powerful dependent on Hungarian nobility Prussia permanently holds Silesia Begins to dominate Northern Germany Eclipses Austria as stronger German state Poland partitioned between Prussia, Austria and Russia Spanish Empire intact BUT Britain intent on breaking it. Receives Louisiana Territory (from France) ALL COUNTRIES increase taxation to cover the cost of warfare

Europe 1766

Growth of Prussia

American Revolution American colonies should pay their fair share for the French and Indian War Leads to “taxation without representation” Sugar, Stamp Tax Proclamation of 1763 Don’t settle West of Appalachian Mountains Colonists used anti-absolutism rhetoric Based on the ideas of John Locke Right of a free people to change a government that doesn’t guarantee their liberty Aligned with Whig party Demonstrated to Europeans Legitimacy came from consent of the governed. Possibility of govt. w/out kings or hereditary nobility Rejection of an aristocratic social hierarchy Radical even though not complete (women, slaves)