Enlightenment 2
Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796)
As a reformer, perhaps the least "enlightened" of the Enlightened Despots Pugachev Rebellion (1773) a. Eugene Pugachev, a Cossack soldier, led a huge serf uprising. Demanded end to serfdom, taxes and army service. Landlords and officials were murdered all over southwestern Russia. Pugachev eventually captured and executed. b. Catherine needed support of nobility and gave them absolute control of serfs. 1785, Catherine freed nobles forever from taxes and state service. Nobles reached their height of position while serfs were worse off than ever before. Imported western culture into Russia Educational reforms Supported the first private printing presses. The number of books published annually in Russia increased to about 400 during her reign compared to a few dozen prior to her reign. Restricted the practice of torture Allowed limited religious toleration
Seven Years' War (1756-1753)
Cause: Maria Teresa sought to regain Silesia from Prussia and gained Russia and France as allies. Goal of Austria, Russia and France was to conquer Prussia and divide its territories among the winners."Diplomatic Revolution of 1756" . Treaty of Paris (1763)
Treaty of Paris (1763)
Most important peace treaty of the 18th century and most important since the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) Prussia permanently retained Silesia France lost all its colonies in North America to Great Britain Britain gained more territory in India
Social structure in Prussia remained heavily stratified
Serfdom on noble lands maintained The "Junkers" (Prussian nobility) were the backbone of Prussia's military and the state Middle-class found it extremely difficult to move up socially
Reforms of the Enlightenment were modest
1. Religious toleration 2. Streamlined legal codes 3. Increased access to education 4. Reduction or elimination of torture and the death penalty
Territorial growth under Catherine the Great
Annexed Polish territory under the 3 partitions with Prussia and Austria in 1772, 1793 & 1795 Poland's government of nobles was ineffective as the liberum veto required unanimous agreement for the government to act. Gained Ottoman land in the Crimea that was controlled by the Tartars. Began conquest of the Caucasus region. Expansion provided Catherine with new lands with which to give the nobility (to earn their loyalty
"Diplomatic Revolution of 1756"
France and Austria, traditional enemies, now allied against Prussia Britain, a traditional ally of Russia, supported Prussia with money (but with few troops); saw Prussia as a better check on French power than Austria (who had Russia as an ally) Bloodiest war in Europe since the Thirty Years' War of the 17th century. World war that also included England and France's struggle for North America Russian Czar Peter III (an admirer of Frederick) pulled Russia out of the war in 1763. Treaty of Paris (1763).
3. Enlightened Reforms of Frederick the Great
Frederick claimed that he saw himself as the "first servant of the state" Yet, Frederick was an absolute ruler His reforms were mostly intended to increase the power of the state The peasantry did not really benefit from his reforms Allowed religious freedom (although less so for Jews) Jews finally gained religious freedom in 1794, 8 years after Frederick's death Promoted education in schools and universities In reality, gains in primary education were very modest Codified and streamlined laws Numerous existing laws from throughout the provinces in the realm were simplified to create a clear unified national code of law Judicial system became efficient in deciding cases quickly and impartially Freed the serfs on crown lands in 1763 Frederick's motive: peasants needed for the army Serfdom remained in full-force on noble estates although Frederick ordered an end to physical punishment of serfs by their lords Reduced censorship Abolished capital punishment (but not in the army)
Austria
Joseph II (r. 1780-1790) Perhaps the greatest of the "Enlightened Despots" in terms of reforms but in many ways was among the least effective Major reforms Abolished serfdom and feudal dues in 1781 Freedom of religion and civic rights to Protestants and Jews Reduced the influence of the Catholic Church Allowed freedom of the press to a significant degree Reformed the judicial system and sought to make it equal for all citizens Abolished torture and ended the death penalty Established hospitals, insane asylums, poorhouses and orphanages State provided food and medicine to the poor Made parks and gardens available to the public
Empire declined under Joseph's reign
Leopold II was forced to reverse many of Joseph's radical reforms in order to maintain effective control of the empire.
Shortcomings of Catherine's reforms
Only the state and the nobility benefited; the rest of the Russian population benefited little, if at all Nobles gained more legal and financial security from the state Nobles freed from taxes or state service Serfdom became even more severe
Frederick the Great (Frederick II) (r. 1740-1786)
Wars of Frederick the Great a. The first 23 years of Frederick's reign was dominated by warfare War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Cause: Frederick invaded and annexed Silesia, part of the Austrian Hapsburg empire Frederick violated Austria's Pragmatic Sanction (1713) whereby the Great Powers recognized that Charles VII's daughter, Maria Theresa, would inherit the entire Hapsburg empire Prussia efficiently defeated Austria Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle: Prussia gained Silesia (and doubled Prussia's population in the process) Prussia was now recognized as the most powerful of all the German states and as one of Europe's "Great Powers"
