1. 18th Century Dynastic Rivalries and Politics
The Philosophes condemned war as a foolish waste of life and resources in stupid quarrels of no value to humankind
Rulers, however, ignored this
By the 18th century the European system of self-governing, individual states was grounded in self-interest
18th century concept of balance of power was predicated on how to counterbalance the power of one state by another to prevent one state from dominating the others
This did not imply a desire for peace though
Emphasis on dynastic interests
Reason of state  long term future of the state is important as well

2. Austrian Succession
When Charles VI died with no male heir, daughter Maria Theresa assumed the Habsburg throne
Frederick the Great seizes Austrian Silesia
Maria Theresa gets help from Hungary
Recognizes they are separate kingdom
Other states drawn into the war
England enters to prevent French power on the Continent
1748- Treaty of Aix-la Chapelle ended the war
Prussia keeps Silesia
British return French fort in America
War of Austrian Succession reflected absolutist aggression Chares VI had no son, but did not want to see Habsburg rule end- in 1713 tried to get European powers to recognize the Pragmatic Sanction, which asserted the indivisibility of the Habsburg domains and recognized the right of female as well as male succession
After Charles’s death the Pragmatic Sanction is conveniently pushed aside- especially by Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick the Great coveted Silesia – textile, mining, and metallurgical industries
The vulnerability of Maria Theresa pushed France to join the war against Austria
King George II became the last British monarch to fight in battle
In North America- British capture French fort – Louisbourg at the St. Lawrence River
1745- Battle of Fontenoy was bloodiest of the century until French Revolution
By all countries exhausted and agreed to stop
Prussia’s refusal to return Silesia guaranteed another war, at least between Prussia and Austria

3. War of Austrian Succession, 1740-1748

4. Diplomatic Revolution of 1756
France and Britain continued the struggle in the Ohio River Valley and Upper New England
Prelude to French and Indian War
Britain joins forces with Prussia and France joins Austria

5. Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) Two rivalries
Britain and France over colonial empires
Austria and Prussia over Silesia
France with Austria and Russia saw Prussia as a threat so aligned with France
Great Britain in alliance with Prussia
First global conflict
Commercial interests of France and Britain clashed in N. America
Frist time war not just of kings, but of nations (Britain v France)
Push for more efficient management of war for national interest
In what became Canada, French and British fighting over control of territory
French had informal Native American allies
ended domination of France on continent and made way for British expansion
Treaty of Paris- 1763
France and England go through a surge of patriotism
Fighting spreads to India- British secure control
British pumped money to Frederick to make sure he won
British get Canada, Ohio River Valley, Eastern Mississippi
Austria recognizes Prussia absorbing Silesia
Spain gets western Mississippi area from France (Louisiana Territory)
War left Britain heavily in debt- will lead to American Revolution

6. Seven Years’ War in Europe
With superb army and military power, Frederick the Great able for some time to defeat the Austrian, French, and Russian armies
Under attack from essentially three sides wore the Prussians down and gradually faced defeat
Death of Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia brought relief Peter III came to power
He admired Frederick the Great and withdrew Russian troops
Peace of Hubertusburg in 1763 all occupied territories returned, Austria officially recognized Prussia’s permanent control of Silesia

7. War in India Great War for Empire
French had returned Madras to Britain after the Austrian Succession
Constant power struggle in India as British and French supported opposing Indian princes
British under Robert Clive won out because were more persistent
With the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the French left India and the British had total control

8. The French and Indian War
Greatest conflicts of Seven Years’ War took place in North America
Two areas of contention
Waterways of the Saint Lawrence
Ohio River Valley
French found allies among the Native Americans, they considered the French less threatening than the British settlers
British efforts revived by William Pitt the Elder  convinced had to destroy French colonial empire for success of British empire
Defeat of French fleets gave the British advantage
French forced to make peace
Treaty of Paris, 1763
Ceded Canada and lands east of Mississippi to British and Spain gave Florida to British
Great Britain becomes world’s greatest colonial power
As the French moved south from the Great Lakes and north from their garrisons along the Mississippi, they began to establish forts from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River
To British settlers in the 13 colonies to the east, this French activity threatened to cut off a vast area for British Expansion
Due to Pitt’s ideology, emphasized focus on North America vs Europe concentrating resources, especially the navy, in the colonial war
British captured Louisbourg and Duquesne
In Sept 1759, took Quebec
Went on to seize Montreal, Great Lakes area, and the Ohio Valley

10. American Revolution Impact of the French and Indian War (7 Years’ War)
Proclamation of 1763
Britain in debt- increase taxes on the colonists
Believed the war had benefitted them the most
Various Acts passed
Stamp Act
Declaratory Act
Townshend Acts
Tea Act
Intolerable Acts
Colonists wanted representation
Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party
1775- first open fighting – Concord and Lexington

11. Involvement of other European Nations
France joins
Spain and Netherlands give support
American victory in 1781 at Yorktown
Treaty of Paris, 1783

12. “This vast continent which the seas surround will soon change Europe and the Universe.”- French observer in 1789

13. Poland an excellent example on why a strong monarchy was needed in early modern Europe
The Polish king was elected by the Polish nobles and forced to accept drastic restrictions on his power, including limited revenues, a small bureaucracy, and a standing army of no more than 20,000 soldiers.
For Polish nobles, these limitations eliminated an absolute king, for Poland’s powerful neighbors this was an open invitation

14. Division of Poland
The destruction of the Polish state in the 18th century resulted from rivalries of Austria, Russia, and Prussia
To avoid war, the leaders decided to compensate themselves by dividing Poland
To maintain the balance of power in central and eastern Europe, broke Poland into equal territories
1772- Poland lost 30 percent of land and 50% of population
Austria got agricultural center of Galicia
Russia Eastern Poland
Prussia West Prussia (united two major sections of Prussia)
The remaining Polish state was technically independent but it was dominated by the Russians
After the Poles attempted to establish a stronger state in 1791, the Russians gained the support of the Austrians and Prussians and intervened militarily in 1792
The next year there was a second partition of Poland (Russia and Prussia)

15. Division of Poland
Polish rebellion in under General Thaddeus Kosciuszko
Obliterated by Austria, Prussia, and Russia and Polish state removed by third partition in 1795
Many historians point to Poland’s demise as an example of why building a strong, absolute state was essential to surviving the 17th and 18th centuries