Chapter 18: Enlightened Absolutism Flashcards
Madame de Pompadour
Louis XV’s mistress
Intelligent, often made important government decisions and giving advice on appointments and foreign policy
Louis XV (France)
Was lazy and weak, easily influenced, he was very disliked by the populace
Louis XIV (France)
Left France with enlarged territories, and enormous debt, and an unhappy populace
Marie Antoinette
Austrian princess
Wife of Louis XVI (bad king)
Was very focused on court activities
George I
First king of the Hanoverian dynasty of England
Didn’t speak english or understand the british system of government
“Bonnie Prince Charlie”
Bonnie= handsome
Its was James III’s son
Robert Walpole
Was the prime minister of both George 1 and 2
Wanted a peaceful foreign policy to avoid new land taxes
George II
Leader of England
In power for the first half of the second years war
William Pitt the Elder
Replaced Walpole
Furthered imperial ambitions by acquiring Canada and India in the Seven Years War
Fredrick William I (Prussia)
Sought to promote a highly efficient civil bureaucracy
Developed the General Directory which supervised military, police, economic and financial affairs
expanded the army a lot
Fredrick II the Great(Prussia)
Enlightened ruler
Very well educated and cultured
Honest and efficient bureaucracy
Complete religious toleration, limited freedom of speech and press, lowered use of torture
Made Prussia more aristocratic by eliminating lower classes from power
Maria Theresa
Empress of Austria Wanted to reform her country Abolished old power and installed a department of foreign affairs, justice, war, commerce, and internal affairs Taxes payed to royal officials not diets Staunch catholic
Joseph II
Enlightened ruler Abolished serfdom Eliminated trade barriers Equality of all before the law Complete religious toleration Overwhelmed his empire
Catherine II the Great(Russia)
Enlightened ruler
Didn’t eliminate her royal supporters though
Equality if all in the eyes of law
Divided Russia into 50 provinces
The Charter of the Nobility gave them special rights and exemptions
Emelyn Pugachev
illiterate Cossack warrior
Led mass revolt
Issued manifesto that freed all peasants from taxes and military service