EnlightenmentMonarchs

David Clayton, Instructor

Philosophes challenged Old Regime

European society

VoltaireCritical of Catholic Church powerCritical of absolute rulersHelped Frederick the Great for 3 years

Philosophes challenged Old Regime

European society

DiderotEncyclopediaSold library to Catherine the Great of Russia“One of many friends of Catherine.”

Philosophes challenged Old Regime

European society

MontesquieuRule of LawSeparation of PowersCatherine based her government reforms on his theories.

Philosophes challenged Old Regime

European society

RousseauHeavy influenced modern philosophy.Emotions and passion are importantNoble savage“Social Contract”Regime system should be abolishedInfluenced American and French Revolution

Enlightenment monarchs tried to be the rational philosopher king educated according to Enlightenment ideals.

Enlightenment MonarchsCatherine the GreatRUSSIAr. 1762-1796

Reforms • Laws• Education• Publishing• Journalism• ExpansionismSemi- Reforms • serfdom• Constitution

Enlightenment MonarchsCatherine the Greatr. 1762-1796

REFORM STOPPED • Pugachev’s Rebellion-Thought to be Peter- Took away freedoms to crush rebellion that were never restored.- Executed

Enlightenment MonarchsCatherine the Greatr. 1762-1796

FUTURE REFORMS• Strengthened aristocratic power.• Extended serfdom

Enlightenment MonarchsFrederick the Greatr. 1740-1786PRUSSIA

REFORMS• First German Law Rational• Eliminated torture.• Death penalty had to be approved by him.• Industrial• Agriculture – potato• Education• “First Servant of the State.”

Enlightenment MonarchsFrederick the Greatr. 1740-1786PRUSSIA

REFORMS• Centralized government• Freedom of Press & religion• Thousands of miles of roads.• Prussian Army Code• American Revolution• Shaped German history through Hitler

Enlightenment MonarchsFrederick the Greatr. 1740-1786PRUSSIA

NEGATIVES• Wasted money• Soldiers mercilessly squandered in war in pursuit of glory.• Old monarch- power.

Enlightenment MonarchsJoseph IIr. 1780-1790Austria

REFORMS• Centralized government• Everyone paid taxes• Abolished serfdom• Religious toleration Dissolved monasteries as anti-Semitic• German language for administrative efficiency.

Enlightenment MonarchsJoseph IIr. 1780-1790Austria

OPPOSED• Roman Catholic Church• Aristocracy• Hungary and Belgium who resented German language requirement.

Enlightenment MonarchsJoseph IIr. 1780-1790Austria

NEGATIVE• Established secret police.• Ruled for only 10 years.• At his death, his brother cancelled most of Joseph’s reforms to bring equality.

Enlightenment monarchs made strides but the real reforms would happen in America