Wars and Other Conflicts of the 18th Century AP European History

Mid 18th Century Wars 1715-1739/1740 = time of peace War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (England v. Spain) & War of Austrian Succession, 1740 (Prussia v. Austria) ushers in new wave of conflict World-wide conflict from 1739-1815 Armed conflict often overrides diplomacy Periods of peace ≠ Stability RATHER time to recoup strength to fight again

Why war? Rulers interested in Diplomacy advocates two ideas Principle of self-interest Balance of power (in their favor, of course) Increase territory Disrupt another’s trade monopoly Diplomacy advocates two ideas Protection of dynastic line Maintenance of national dominance

Armies & Navies of the 18th Century Expansion of military = taxation = more efficient & effective centralization of gov’t. France, Prussia, Austria and Russia all double, triple, or quadruple military forces! Officers = landed aristocracy; middle ranks = middle class; rank-and-file soldiers = lower classes Prussia & Russia conscript peasants; others use foreigners England – Standing army fluctuates in size – Parliament doesn’t want a king w/ a large army! BUT powerful navy Austria & France consist of volunteers and vagabonds/unemployed

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.”

War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 British / Spanish rivalry over the West Indies Spanish practiced search and seizure of contraband on English ships British merchants lobbied Parliament in 1738 Robert Walpole (1st British PM) declared war vs. Spain in 1739 Opened door to ~100 years of world-wide European warfare

War of Austrian Succession, 1740-1748 Remember Charles VI’s Pragmatic Sanction? – WELL upon Charles’ death Frederick the Great violates PS! 1742 Austria cedes Silesia to Prussia = Prussian population doubles Draws in France, Spain, and Great Britain France (Prussia’s ally) occupies Netherlands and takes Madras in India (from GB) Mistake? – Prussia becomes more powerful state; GB now involved vs. France

War of Austrian Succession, 1740-1748 Maria Theresa maintains Habsburg empire BUT at what cost? Magyar nobility now have local authority in Hungary Hungary = trouble area for Habsburgs Maria Theresa allies w/ Great Britain Great Britain takes Louisbourg at St. Lawrence River in North America (from France) Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748 All land returned to original “owners” except Silesia Spain renewed Treaty of Utrecht w/ Britain so they could import slaves from Spanish colonies

Diplomatic Revolution - European Square Dancing – Ally Swapping Retaliation after loss of Silesia Three NEW areas of conflict = 3 names Europe = Seven Years’ War, 1756-1763 India = Great War for Empire, 1756-1763 North America = French and Indian War, 1755-1763 Great Britain allies with Prussia Convention of Westminster, Jan. 1756= prevent foreign troops into German states MT w/ Count Wenzel von Kaunitz allies with France, May 1756 Hope is to break Prussia Spring 1757 Russia, Sweden and several smaller German states join alliance

Seven Years’ War, 1756-1763 Prussia & Great Britain vs. France, Russia, and Austria Prussia under attack on three sides! Saved by Tsar Peter III’s admiration for Frederick the Great Peace of Hubertusburg, 1762 – all territory returned / Prussia keeps Silesia

French and Indian War, 1755-1763 Greatest conflict of 7 Years’ War Gulf of the Saint Lawrence Ohio River Valley French threatening British expansion French ally with Native Americans & Spain William Pitt the Elder – British must stop French in order to build empire = colonial war more important French Navy succumbs to British Navy Gen. Wolfe vs. Gen. Montcalm at Quebec, 1759

North America before and after the Treaty of Paris, 1763

Great War for Empire, 1756-1763 Great Britain vs. France in India France doesn’t offer enough financial support to troops Robert Clive (Great Britain), small British force & band of sepoys defeat huge Mughal army at Battle of Plassey, 1757 GB controls Bengal (area around Calcutta) = movement into the interior of the India

Seven Years’ War

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763 GB PM earl of Bute brokers Treaty GB receives: all of Canada (from France) Ohio River Valley, eastern half of Mississippi River valley (from France) British East India Co growing stronger in India trying to better organize NA territories increased taxes to cover costs of warfare

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763 France receives Pondicherry & Chandernagore in India Guadeloupe and Martinique in West Indies BUT no longer great colonial empire France in great need of political and financial reform Increased taxation to cover cost of warfare

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763 Prussia permanently holds Silesia Habsburgs less powerful – dependent on Hungarian nobility Spanish Empire intact BUT GB intent on breaking it. Receives Louisiana Territory (from France) ALL COUNTRIES increase taxation to cover the cost of warfare