Enlightened ABSOLUTISM, Explained [AP Euro Review—Unit 4 Topic 6]

Summary

In this video, the concept of enlightened absolutism is explored through the lives of three key 18th-century monarchs: Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine II of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria. While these rulers retained absolute power, they sought to implement Enlightenment ideals such as religious toleration, legal reforms, and societal improvements. However, their efforts often had limitations, especially in areas like serfdom and the treatment of Jews. Despite their attempts at reform, these monarchs faced resistance from nobility and clergy, revealing the complexities of balancing absolute power with Enlightenment ideals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Enlightened absolutism was a new type of monarchy in the 18th century where rulers retained absolute power but were influenced by Enlightenment ideals.
• 😀 Key figures of enlightened absolutism included Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine II of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria, each of whom blended Enlightenment principles with traditional absolutism.
• 😀 Frederick II of Prussia shifted from traditional absolutism to enlightened absolutism after enduring the Seven Years' War, adopting the philosophy of serving the state as the 'first servant' rather than 'the state itself.'
• 😀 Frederick II implemented key reforms including religious toleration, legal reforms such as abolishing torture, and bureaucratic changes that emphasized using state power for societal improvement.
• 😀 Catherine the Great, who came to power through a coup against her husband, was a patron of Enlightenment thinkers and sought to modernize Russia by importing Western culture, supporting philosophers, and promoting limited reforms.
• 😀 Catherine's most significant territorial achievement was her role in the partitioning of Poland, which divided Polish lands between Russia, Austria, and Prussia.
• 😀 Although Catherine supported reforms such as legal changes and religious toleration, her efforts to emancipate serfs were thwarted after the Pugachev Rebellion, leading her to reverse some reforms and increase serfdom.
• 😀 Joseph II of Austria implemented rapid reforms, such as granting religious freedom to Jews and other minorities, increasing press freedom, and reducing the Catholic Church's power, but faced backlash due to his authoritarian approach to these changes.
• 😀 Joseph's attempts to reform Austria created significant domestic unrest because he failed to consult with the nobility or clergy, leading to turmoil during his reign.
• 😀 The Jewish Question was a key issue, with Joseph II being the most progressive monarch in terms of Jewish rights, while Frederick II and Catherine the Great maintained or even increased anti-Jewish policies in their respective territories.

Q & A

What is enlightened absolutism?

Enlightened absolutism refers to the political philosophy of 18th-century monarchs who sought to retain absolute power but also aimed to implement Enlightenment ideals such as religious toleration, legal reforms, and more humane governance.

How did Frederick II of Prussia exemplify enlightened absolutism?

Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great, initially expanded Prussia's territory through military conquest. However, after surviving the Seven Years' War, he adopted more enlightened policies, such as religious toleration, legal reforms, the abolition of torture, and bureaucratic reforms to better serve the state and society.

What role did the Seven Years' War play in Frederick II's shift towards enlightened absolutism?

The struggles Frederick faced during the Seven Years' War led him to reconsider his approach to rule. The war’s challenges prompted him to adopt policies informed by Enlightenment thought, such as viewing himself as the 'first servant of the state' instead of the divine right monarch.

What were some of the reforms implemented by Frederick II during his reign?

Frederick II enacted several reforms, including greater religious toleration, simplified laws, the abolition of torture, and adoption of *cameralism*—a system where the monarchy used its power for the betterment of society.

What was Catherine the Great's approach to enlightened absolutism?

Catherine the Great, also known as Catherine II, embraced Enlightenment ideas such as westernization, legal reform, and religious toleration. She also expanded Russia's territory significantly, including the partition of Poland, but she reversed reforms regarding serfdom after the Pugachev Rebellion.

How did Catherine the Great handle serfdom in Russia?

Catherine initially considered emancipating the serfs, but after the Pugachev Rebellion, a peasant uprising, she reversed her stance and instead increased serfdom’s repression, fearing further unrest.

What reforms did Joseph II of Austria implement during his reign?

Joseph II implemented several progressive reforms, including religious toleration for Jews and other minorities, freedom of the press, and efforts to reduce the power of the Catholic Church. However, his rapid reforms caused significant domestic unrest.

Why were Joseph II's reforms controversial?

Joseph II's reforms were implemented without consulting the nobility or clergy, leading to backlash and unrest. His quick, top-down approach caused turmoil and undermined the effectiveness of some of his reforms.

What were the limits of enlightened absolutism, particularly regarding Jews?

While enlightened monarchs like Joseph II embraced religious toleration, the treatment of Jews revealed the limits of these reforms. Joseph II granted Jews more freedoms, but both Frederick II and Catherine II imposed or maintained restrictions on Jews, such as creating separate districts for them in Russia.

What was the significance of the partition of Poland in the context of enlightened absolutism?

The partition of Poland, orchestrated by Catherine the Great, Frederick II, and Joseph II, was a major territorial expansion for Russia, Prussia, and Austria. It reflected the power dynamics of enlightened absolutism, where monarchs sought to maintain and expand their absolute control, but it also showed the limits of their reforms, as the partition ignored the rights and sovereignty of Poland.