12. Peace, War, and Enlightened Despots, 1715-1789

Question 1

What was the most prevalent form of gov’t in 18th C

Answer 1

it remained monarchy

Question 2

Great powers of Europe in18th C included: (5)

What previous powers were no longer considered great? (5)

Answer 2

Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia

- Spain, Holland(Dutch), Poland, Sweden, Ottoman Empire

Question 3

Important changes and characteristics of the wars fought between the great powers IN 18TH CENTURY:

Answer 3

• Professional armies fought based on maneuver and strategy(Introduction of guns) rather than bloody mass combat (swords/blunt)
• There were no religious wars

Question 4

1715 to 1789 can be divided into 3 distinctive periods. describe them

Answer 4

1. Period of peace and prosperity (1715-1740)
2. Warfare (1740-1763)
3. Period of enlightened despotism (1763-1789)

Question 5

The first two Hanoverian monarchs exercised little real power. why?

Answer 5

they spoke little English

Question 6

Who emerged as England’s first prime minister when George I,II of Hanover ruled?

Answer 6

Robert Walpole

Question 7

Who succeeded Louis XIV of France and how strong was he?

What happened?

Answer 7

Louis XV, a weak leader.

So, nobles regained much of the power lost to Louis XIV.

Question 8

How did France stand economically throughout 1715-1740?

Answer 8

Gov’t debts continued to mount

Question 9

What rivalry was developing in early 18th C in central Europe?

Answer 9

Hohenzollerns of Prussia and Hapsburgs of Austria vied for power

Question 10

War of the Austrian Succession years?

Why did it happen?

Answer 10

1740-1748
- Frederick the Great of Prussia (aka Frederick II) ignored the Pragmatic Sanction and seized Silesia, a prosperous region

Question 11

Who supported Prussia and who supported Austria in the war of Austrian Succession?

Answer 11

French supported Prussia, English supported Austria

Question 12

Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the War of Aust. Succ.

what were the terms? what did it mean?

Answer 12

Frederick retained control of Silesia, thus confirming Prussia’s status as a great power and chief rival of Austria in German affairs

Question 13

Vowing to recover Silesia, what did the Austrian chancellor Count Kaunitz do?

Answer 13

Allied with France and Russia.

Question 14

What did Prussia do in response to Austria’s coalition with France and Russia?

Answer 14

Allied with England who wanted to maintain the balance of power

Question 15

What war resulted between Prussian alliance w/England and anti-Prussian alliance?
or in other words, What war came after the War of Austrian Succession?

Answer 15

The Seven Years’ War

Question 16

How did the 7-years’ war events go?

Answer 16

Anti-Prussian alliance almost threatened to crush Prussia, but Prussia was saved when the new tsar of Russia dropped out of the war.

Question 17

What treaty ended the 7-years’ war? year?

Answer 17

Treaty of Paris 1763

Question 18

What were the 2 major results of the Treaty of Paris?

Answer 18

• Prussia kept Silesia

- Britain got stronger

Question 19

In the period of Enlightened Despotism, who were the 3 best-known examples?

Answer 19

• Catherine the Great of Russia
• Frederick the Great of Prussia
• Joseph II of Austria

Question 20

What is Catherine the Great’s story of enlightened despotism?

Answer 20

Attempted it and started pretty well in implementing for the good of the people, but when Pugachev’s Rebellion rolled around, she went back to becoming absolute ruler.

Question 21

How did Poland disappear as an independent nation?

Answer 21

a series of partitions took place between Prussia, Austria, and Russia near the end of 18th C

Question 22

Frederick the Great’s famous quote as an enlightened despot?

Answer 22

“the first servant of the state”

Question 23

What was important about the changes Frederick the Great brought to Prussia as an enlightened despot?

Answer 23

Only affected the top layers of societies. Serfs remained serfs and bound to the land

Question 24

What did Joseph II of Austria do as an enlightened despot?

Answer 24

abolished serfdom but was met with high resistance from the nobles. Thus, it came back with the next emperor