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The Eighteenth Century I. Enlightened Absolutism Absolute Monarchy and Enlightened Absolutism "enlightened" vs "despotic" Western Europe A. France: Louis XV i. continued to fight Britain -- lost Canada after Seven Years War ii. supported rebels in the American Revolution ii. increased debt B. Great Britain i. limited monarchy ii. ruled through cabinet system iii. power in the hands of nobility and landed gentry not really democratic Robert Walpole chief minister of George I and George II William Pitt the Elder, William Pitt the Younger C. The Dutch Republic Central & Eastern Europe D. Frederick I (1657-1713) first King of Prussia Frederick William I king of Prussia (1713–40) Frederick William I of Prussia Frederick the Great of Prussia i. educational reforms in Prussia ii. allowed limited freedom of speech and press iii. continued support of serfdom iv. seized Silesia from Austria Prussian Absolutism E. Austria Maria Theresa : (1717-1780) the centralization of government Joseph II : (1765-1790) i. abolished serfdom ii. reforms for serfs iii. established idea of equality before the law iv. religious toleration for Jews F. Catherine the Great of Russia i. interest in enlightened thought: Voltaire and Diderot ii. early move toward reform iii. strengthened nobility Catherine and Pugachev -- the Pugachev rebellion Catherine the Great: An Enlightened Despot? The Enlightened Despots II. Wars and Diplomacy A. War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War Economic Expansion and Social Change population growth family, marriage, & birthrate agriculture mercantile empires trade Social Order peasants nobility towns & cities III. enlightenment ideals A. tolerance B. belief in the possibility of progress C. belief in the basic worth of mankind D. support of freedom of the press, rights in politics E. support of humane treatment of prisoners IV. The limits of Reason: the enlightenment, empiricism and skepticism: A. John Locke John Locke An Essay Concerning Human Understanding V. Problems in the Old Regime A. Social order based on privilege i. wealth and power in the hands of a small elite nobles and clergy may have been 2 to 3% of the population ii. masses lived in poverty depending on the country, 80 to 90% were peasants or serfs many suffered from poverty, hunger, disease high mortality rate iii. taxes were the burden of the poor B. Even when monarchs got stronger, people did not benefit i. monarchs failed to end abuses of the nobility ii. governments didn't always maintain order ` C. Louis XIV i. left a legacy of debt: colonial and military expenses expenses at court taxes increased from 1715 until the French Revolution ii. Estates General not consulted since 1614 no representation for commoners led to growing resentment VI. Forces of change A. capitalism grew i. increased population -- increased demand for goods ii. governments expanded, military enlarged iii. colonies shipped goods to European markets iv. inflation increased food prices faster than wages v. as food prices increased, landowners wanted more profits vi. improved farming methods led to enclosure Agriculture and the Cost of Capital enclosure peaked in 1700s in Britain vii. French government opposed enclosure to keep peasants on the land viii. the putting out / domestic system grew small investors provided capital peasants worked in their homes worked with cloth, iron, shoes B. Rising expectations of the middle class i. merchants, lawyers, minor government officials ii. increasing incomes allowed middle class to buy luxuries iii. sought respect and more influence |