1. Objective: Enlightenment ideas challenged practices related to religious authority, monarchy, and absolutism. ENLIGHTENMENT AND ABSOLUTE MONARCHY

2.  Until the 1700s, people in general had accepted the rule of absolute monarchs.  The exception was England, where, beginning in 1215 with the Magna Carta, the rights of the monarchy had been limited.  But even in England, society was divided into strict social classes. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY DOMINATES THE LANDSCAPE

3.  Below the monarch was the aristocracy, which was the next level of wealth and power.  The majority of people were peasant farmers.  But an emerging middle class of merchants and manufacturers (business owners) soon began to challenge the established social and political systems. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY DOMINATES THE LANDSCAPE

4. Despots=Absolute Ruler ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

5.  Some European rulers became interested in the ideas of the Enlightenment.  They understood the usefulness of these ideas and accepted them, at least to a limited degree.  None of the so-called enlightened despots was willing to relinquish any of his or her power to the people.  Their style of governing became known as enlightened absolutism. ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

6.  Had no intention of giving up any power  Changes made were motivated by two desires  They wanted to make countries stronger  They wanted their own rule to be more effective ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS

7.  Definition of Serf  1. a person in a condition of servitude, required to render services to a lord, commonly attached to the lord's land and transferred with it from one owner to another.  2. a slave.  Synonyms  1. vassal, villein, peasant. SERFS AND SERFDOM

8.  1) Locate your group according to the number on your card  2) Then locate your specific note sheet inside the file folder according to the name on the back of your card.  3) Example=Back of the Card Reads “Catherine: then find the note sheet inside the file folder that reads “Catherine the Great of Russia.”  4) If something big happened at school, how would people find out? How does information spread? Answer on the back of the handout you picked out of the file folder or on a separate sheet of paper by yourself. BEGINNING DIRECTIONS-JIGSAW

9.  Please complete the top third above the line of the handout you picked up today.  Circling and Writing!!! BEGINNING DIRECTIONS-BRAIN EXCLUSION & NOTES

10.  Civil Service System=non-elected permanent government employees collectively  1. Those branches of public service that are not legislative, judicial, or military and in which employment is usually based on competitive examination.  2. The service responsible for the public administration of the government of a country.  3. Members of the civil service have no official political allegiance and are not generally affected by changes of governments. CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM

11.  Write down three words you would use to describe a civil service system:  _________________  Write your own definition for a civil service system-- ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ _______________. CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!!

12. FREDERICK THE GREAT

13.  Prussia  Late 1700s  Influenced by the works of Voltaire FREDERICK THE GREAT

14.  Undertook public works projects to put more land into cultivation and to introduce new crops  These reforms made the peasant farmers more prosperous and enriched Prussia. FREDERICK THE GREAT

15.  Introduced civil service system into the Prussian government  By reorganizing the government according to principles of efficiency and rationality, Frederick actually strengthened his own control over the government and the nation. FREDERICK THE GREAT

16.  Granted many religious freedoms, reduced censorship, and improved education  Reformed the justice system and abolished the use of torture.  Which Enlightened thinkers are represented? FREDERICK THE GREAT

17.  Changes only went so far  For example, he believed serfdom was wrong  But he did nothing to end it since he needed the support of wealthy landowners (Nobles/Estates)  He never tried to change the existing social order  The main purpose of Frederick’s reforms was to make himself more powerful. FREDERICK THE GREAT

18.  Most Radical JOSEPH II

19.  Austria  Late 1700s.  Began wide-ranging program of social, economic, and religious reforms based on Enlightenment ideas. JOSEPH II

20.  Ended serfdom (Most Radical Idea)  Attempted to diminish the power of the nobles and the Roman Catholic Church JOSEPH II

21.  Seized and sold many buildings and much land belonging to the church and established a civil service to run a government.  Joseph wanted to break down the old feudal system of hereditary and clerical power and privilege. JOSEPH II

22.  Legal Reforms  Freedom of press  Supported freedom of worship JOSEPH II

23.  The nobles and church firmly resisted these changes.  Unfortunately, only a few of his reforms continued after his death. (Serfdom Re-Instated) JOSEPH II

24. CATHERINE THE GREAT

25.  Russia  Late 1700s  Admired the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers CATHERINE THE GREAT

26.  Formed a commission to review Russia’s laws  Proposal for reforms based on the ideas of Montesquieu and Beccaria.  Among the changes, she recommended allowing religious toleration and abolishing torture and capital punishment.  Her commission, however, accomplished none of these lofty goals CATHERINE THE GREAT

27.  She made some attempts at reforming Russia’s government.  For example, she granted nobles a charter of rights that strengthened their role in government. CATHERINE THE GREAT

28.  When she first came to the throne, she had hoped to free the serfs (peasants who were legally tied to an estate for life).  However, frightened by peasant uprisings early in her reign, Catherine ended by giving the owners of the estates even more power over their serfs. CATHERINE THE GREAT

29.  In the end, the ideals of the enlightenment proved to be incompatible with the realities of absolute rule. ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS