1. Enlightened “Despots” (Absolutists): Monarchs who were inspired by Enlightenment ideals
Catherine the Great of Russia
Frederick the Great of Prussia
Joseph II of Austria

2. Essential Question: Discuss and Explain the ways in which the Enlightenment ushered in a new political age in 18th Century Europe
And what did these guys have to do with it?
Were they really so GREAT?

3. Assignment #4: Intro to Enlightened Despots Lecture
As you take notes…think about:
What policies did these monarchs have that could be perceived as Enlightened?
What connections can you make between the policies and specific thinkers?
What policies might be seen as “unenlightened”?

4. Frederick the Great He has a palace too – Sanssouci
Grew up in the harsh military state of his father. He had a love for music and literature.
“ I am the first servant of the state” – rejected divine right
Supported religious tolerance
Abolished torture
Hosted “salons” at his palace and was friends with Voltaire
Improved schools and permitted scholars to publish their findings
Built roads and used new scientific thinking to help people have better irrigation practices.
However, he did not free serfs and Jews remained oppressed in Prussia, most of them living in ghettoes.
He has a palace too – Sanssouci

5. Joseph II of Austria – the unfortunate one
Rules:
Religious Toleration
Life of the Peasants
Social Reform
Wanted to also maintain power.
Controlled the Catholic church in order to ensure it produced “better citizens”
Religious rights to both Protestants and Jews
Abolished serfdom and tried to give serfs rights to their land.
New laws that got rid of the death penalty and gave people equality before the law. Drastic religious reforms: complete religious toleration and restrictions on Catholic Church. Issued 6000 decrees and 11,000 laws.
Alienated the nobility because of freeing the serfs, and alienated the church. Even the peasants were unhappy as their situation changed so drastically and so fast.
He was unhappy at his lack of success and wrote on his own gravestone: “Here lies Joseph II, who was unfortunate in everything he undertook.”
Failures of Rule

6. Catherine the Great: Enlightenment has its limits
She arrived in Russia as a minor German princess, wed to Tsar Peter the III who was not a good king and had sociopathic tendencies. He died, and it is almost certain she had a hand in his death.
Like all other Enlightened absolutists, she never questioned that absolute monarchy was the best. She continued Peter the Great’s work of “westernizing” and empowering Russia. She brought western architects and artists to Russia. She published the Encyclopedie in Russia when it was still banned in France, and even sent money to Diderot when he needed it.
She restricted torture, and allowed religious toleration, improved local governments and restrict torture.
However, Jews under her reign were persecuted and forced to live in the “Pale of Settlement” an area on the border of Russia and Ukraine.
Her rule was challenged by a serf rebellion – the Pugachev rebellion. Catherine sent her army, savagely put down the rebellion, and stopped talking about rights for the common people after that.

7. Wait…how did we get through this unit without learning about a bunch of confusing wars?
In AP Euro, you should have learned already there is NO WAY to get through a unit without learning about a bunch of confusing wars. (THAT IS A JOKE…kind of…) As you listen to the mini lecture on the following wars… THINK ABOUT: Does the Enlightenment take any position about war? Why might these absolutists not see a conflict between their Enlightened ideals and their pursuit of territory and power?

8. War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748: Frederick’s power struggle with Austria
Prussia wants territory from Austria
WHY? Balance of Power
Frederick takes the opportunity to invade Silesia when the new queen Maria Theresa (Joseph II’s mother) inherits the throne. Prussia had promised Austria they would respect their dominions, but Frederick saw the opportunity to gain the resource rich territory of Silesia. As we know, Prussia has a well organized and well trained army and Austria proves to be no match for it.
WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN? Remember that wars are fought over balance of power. That absolute monarchy involves enriching the state and gaining power for the monarch.

9. 7 Years War: the power struggle between Austria and Prussia ensnares the rest of Europe
Austria makes aggressive alliance with Russia and France to destroy Prussia
War ends for Prussia when Russia pulls out of war
Further impacts for France and England – loss of territory for France, England becomes dominant naval power.
Although Austria loses the War of the Austrian Succession, it becomes a prequel to a much more destructive war.
Maria Theresa (Austria) takes advantage of an existing rivalry between Britain and France (a competition for colonial domination) and makes an aggressive alliance with France and Russia. The aim of this alliance was to conquer Prussia and divide its territory.
Prussia has to use all the resources of its well trained army and he is only saved at the last minute by Russia pulling out of the war. And Russia only pulls out of the war because a new Czar (Peter III – Catherine’s unfortunate husband) is a Frederick the Great super fan.
Other impacts of 7 Years War:
France accrues big losses: losing territory in Caribbean and Canada
England becomes the dominant naval and colonial power.

10. Partition of Poland: How do Enlightened Despots make peace with each other? Destroy a weak nation and divide the territory
We may remember that Poland was a weak and decentralized monarchy: Constitutionalism at its leas effective. Free veto kept them in deadlock. Poland was an unfortunate casualty of an absolutist world.
Frederick proposed that to keep the balance of power in Europe and avoid costly wars, they all invade Poland and split it up between Austria, Prussia and Russia. This way they all get something and don’t have to fight over land.
Partition Poland until it vanishes from the map.