Bellwork Thurs 2/6/14

• If the Enlightenment was about logic and equality…

• How do you think the absolute monarchs reacted to it?

Enlightened

Despotism22.3

What is Enlightened Despotism?

a form of absolutism (or despotism) in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment & applied (some of) its concepts to their territories

Philosophe’s Influence

• Sought to redirect monarch’s power toward:o Logical economic &

political structures that helped the whole nation

o Freedom of thought (open to new ideas)

Enlightened Despots

• Tended to allow: o religious toleranceo freedom of speech and the presso the right to hold private property

• Most fostered the arts, sciences, and education

• Greater attention to merit & hard work in bureaucracy (instead of the buddy-reward system)

Enlightened Despots

Frederick the Great King of Prussia

Frederick II of Prussia

• r. 1740-1786 • AKA Frederick the

Great• Self-described “first

servant of the people”

New Policies

• Silesia = manufacturing district• Initiated agricultural improvements• Religious Toleration

o Catholics & Jews allowed to settle in predominately Lutheran territory

New Policies Cont.

• Legal System Reformo Efficiencyo Unified regional law to match state

law (more central authority)o Decreased nobility’s influence

• Abolished torture• School Code of 1763

oAll kids 5-13 must go to school

However…

• Peasants still burdened by disproportionate taxes

Joseph IIKing of Austria

Joseph II of Austria• r. 1780-1790• Co-ruled w/mom,

Maria-Theresa from 1765 until her death in 1780

• In many ways, the most enlightened of all the monarchs…

Centralization of Authority

• Austria very diverse (lots of cultures and ethnicities)

• Maria-Theresa began some Enl. policies such as:o More efficient tax system

oclergy & nobility taxed

o Expanded primary education

Joseph II’s Reforms

• Goals: o extend his borderso exert his authority over areas his

mother chose to stay out (irrational to have more than 1 leader)

Joe’s Reforms (cont.)

• Tried to est. German as sole language of the empire (irrational not to all speak the same language)

• Didn’t work out, and eventually had to rescind these orders

Joe’s Reforms (cont.)

• Religious tolerationo Lutherans, Calvinists, & Greek Orthodox

treated equally to Catholicso Jews:

oRelieved of certain taxes & exclusion oGranted the right to private worshipoStill did not have equality with other subjects

Joe’s Reforms (cont.)• Created laws to limit authority of

landowners over peasantso Abolished serfdom

• Land Taxation (GASP!!)o All landowners pay taxeso Peasants no longer had to bear burden of

taxes aloneoDied shortly after this decree & it was never

implemented (his brother Leopold was forced to repeal it…)

Catherine the GreatEmpress of Russia

Catherine The Great• r. 1762-1796• Germanic Princess & wife/widow of

Peter III• Approved (& possibly aided in) the

assassination of her husband

CTG’s Reforms

• Brought West to Russiao Ex.: Diderot - paid him & offered to

publish his Encyclopédia in Russia when it was banned by French Gov’t

• “Charter of Nobility”o Gave nobles complete control over

serfso Local offices given to local nobles (not

royal offices, though)

CTG’s Reforms Cont.

• Expansion of the small Russian urban middle class (vital for trade)

• Continued drive for warm water ports (fought Ottoman Empire)

• Created hospitals & orphanages• Limited religious toleration• Slight restriction of the use of

torture by the government

Not So Enlightened Despot

Louis XV

• r. 1715-1774• Great-grandson of

Louis XIV• Relatively ineffective

king• Drove France into

deeper debt

Attempts at Enlightenment

• Parliaments – Replaced w/ courts where judges could

not own, sell, or inherit office– Portrayed Louis XV as tyrant

• Economics– Gave up price controls on grain (1763) to

open France to a free market– Reversed in 1770 (grain shortage

famine)

Louis XVI

• r. 1774-1791• Restored old

parliaments