Transcript Document
BELLRINGER (11/14/14)
Name two key figures of the Enlightenment (bonus if
you can explain what they did/what they are famous for)
Write this in your notes!
TODAY’S CLASS (11/14/14)
Outcome:
Be able to connect how the system of Enlightened Absolutism
emerged from the Scientific Revolution & Enlightenment in the 18th
century.
Agenda:
Bellringer
Enlightenment Packet
Review Enlightenment Packet (Last night’s homework)
Guided Notes: Enlightened Absolutism
ABSOLUTISM
+
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
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ENLIGHTENED
ABSOLUTISM
IMPACT OF THE SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTION
Intellectuals and philosophers of the 18th
century were impressed by the advances and
achievements of the figures of the Scientific
Revolution.
These intellectuals and philosophers would use
ideas of the Scientific Revolution, such as
reason and the scientific method, to reform
society.
THE ENLIGHTENMENT EMERGES
Figures such as Newton, Locke, Montesquieu,Voltaire,
Diderot, and Rousseau all used reason and logic to
influence European political life in the 1700s.
These philosophes believed in natural rights for all
people.
These rights included equality under the law, religious
freedom, freedom of speech, hold property, and pursue
happiness.
PRESERVING ENLIGHTENMENT
IDEAS
With the emergence of these new
Enlightenment ideas, there has to be a
governmental system to establish and
preserve these natural rights.
For this, the philosophes wanted an
enlightened ruler.
ENLIGHTENED RULERS
Enlightened rulers allowed religious toleration, freedom of
speech, and the right to private property.
Above all, they obey the laws and enforce them fairly for
all subjects.
This new system of rulers governing using Enlightenment
ideas while maintaining their royal power is known as
enlightened absolutism.
ENLIGHTENED RULERS
There were 3 rulers who were faced with
the dilemma of being absolute rulers
during the time of the Enlightenment.
These rulers were:
Frederick II – Prussia
Joseph II - Austria
Catherine the Great - Russia
FREDERICK II OF PRUSSIA
In Prussia (northern Germany), Frederick
II (also called Frederick the Great) made
minimal changes to society.
Implemented Enlightenment reforms of
abolishing torture, allowing freedom
of press and speech, and gave greater
religious freedom
But, did not abolish serfdom (slavery),
and kept Prussia’s pyramid-like social
structure.
JOSEPH II OF AUSTRIA
Joseph II’s mother, Maria Theresa, was not
as open to Enlightenment reforms as her
son, but did seek to help the serfs.
Joseph II was much more open to
Enlightenment reforms:
“I have made Philosophy the lawmaker
of my empire.”
Abolished serfdom, eliminated the
death penalty, established equality
before the law, and instituted religious
tolerant policies.
Ultimately, his reform efforts made
enemies with the nobility and the church.
CATHERINE THE GREAT OF RUSSIA
Catherine came to power in 1762 after
her husband, Peter III, was murdered.
She agreed with the Enlightenment
ideas of the philosophes, but her
success as queen required the support
of the Russian nobles.
Due to this, her policies favored the
nobles and not Enlightenment reforms
like abolishing serfdom or instituting
equality before the law.
As a result, her legacy is the expansion
of Russian territory, not
Enlightenment ideas.
WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION
•
Upon the death of Charles VI, Maria Theresa, became the
empress of Austria.
•
Frederick II of Prussia tried to take advantage of the new
female queen by invading part of Austria known as Silesia.
•
In turn, Austria made an alliance with Great Britain to
try to overpower Frederick.
WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION
• France joins the war on Prussia’s side and invades the
Austrian Netherlands.
• The war is fought in three parts of the world India
(between French-British), North America (between
French-British), and Europe.
• Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the war; all lands were
returned except Silesia which Frederick II refused to return.
THE SEVEN YEARS WAR
Frederick’s refusal to return Silesia and Maria Theresa’s
unwillingness to accept its loss resulted in another global conflict
– The Seven Years War.
New alliances formed:
France, Austria, Russia
v.
Great Britain , Prussia
Russia’s unexpected withdrawal from the war in Europe created
a stalemate.
After Britain defeated France in both North America and India,
France was forced to give up its colonies in these areas.
REFLECTION RESPONSE
In a paragraph, explain how the system of
Enlightened Absolutism developed from the
ideas of the Scientific Revolution & the
Enlightenment.