The Enlightenment Impact On Government Reform

The Enlightenment Impact On Government Reform
The Enlightenment had major impacts on government reform, and Enlightenment ideas began to influence how an absolute monarchy was
structured. Prior to the Enlightenment's influence, absolute monarchy was a form of government that acted upon no specific guideline nor
purpose, and all policies were geared toward a single ruler's individual needs rather than for the benefit of the majority of the people. Enlightened
Despotism, an improved form from absolute monarchy, was a government system where monarchs and rulers pushed for and passed reforms that
benefited the common good. Reforms included the promotion of education for all classes and freedom of religion, speech, and the right to own
individual property. Monarchs were inspired by Enlightenment ideas to be more effective and just rulers by looking after their people. Frederick
the Great of Prussia was considered an enlightened despot. He left an influential legacy for Prussia: he led several successful military campaigns;
promoted the Enlightenment; and was a patron of the arts, supporting many artist and philosophers during the Renaissance. He was an accurate
representation of an enlightened despot and all it stood for, as he considered himself to be a "servant of the state." He created political reforms that
allowed more social classes to obtain government jobs. He opened up new jobs, which led to higher positions of authority being spread out to people
of various classes, which increased diversity and representation in
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Prussian Absolutism Essay
Absolutism; having absolute power over itself and others around. The country that showed a great example of this is Prussia. Even though they went
through hard times such as the Thirty Years' War, which severely decreased the population, Prussians persisted to achieve absolutism. Prussia was
superior to England in achieving absolutism because military, government, and its religion were major factors for absolutism in Prussia. England was
one of the most anti–absolute countered because all that it tried gathered ruler was demoted of power, killed, or banished. It was difficult to do
anything for England because when taxes were raised, the Parliament took over their power to do that along with imprisonment without trials. Military
played ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This lead to absolutism because the Hohenzollern were vicious people that wanted their religion to spread. This motivated and pushed Prussia to
fight for land and spread Protestantism. In acquiring absolutism, Prussia's spread of religion and claiming of land would not only get rid of their
rival, but also improve the chances at attaining absolutism. Because the Reformation of Protestant religion, the Hohenzollerns were all for the
spreading of land and religion. The spreading of religion would drastically make a big change in absolutism because the population and supporters of
the country would significantly go up. This would come with perks such as many more military soldiers which would form a stronger, better army.
This army would be unstoppable as it was a strong during Frederick I was in charge, it got stronger when Frederick II took power, and now it would
top the amount of power and strength it already had over the other countries. The motivation, strength, and confidence that Protestantism gave the
Hohenzollerns and its followers was enough to give Prussia that edge and power which led to the successful absolute

Enlightened Despotism in Prussia
Assignment: 1
Critically examine the main features of Enlightened Despotism in 18th century Prussia.
The Enlightenment refers to an important cultural and intellectual movement of the 18th century, whose goal was to establish knowledge based on an
enlightened rationality. Enlightened Absolutism or Enlightened Despotism as it is more often called can be defined as a form of government strongly
influenced by the wide propagation of ideas and the political philosophy of the Enlightenment. It is a term first used by the Philosophes in the second
half of the 18th century that manifested to describe a particular phase in the development of absolutism. The term 'Enlightened Despot' refers to those
18th century monarchs who were familiar with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Christian Wolff was the first to introduce the ideas of the Enlightenment into German administrative theory. His ideas derive from the Enlightenment.
According to Wolff, the state was a voluntary contract between individuals and the main purpose of the state was to further welfare and security. At the
same time, since the state has the duty to plan and implement measures for security and welfare, it has the right to insist that its citizens obey its orders.
It is emphasized that they are bound to do willingly whatever the authorities deem to be right. These ideas were expounded and elaborated, without
adding anything new, by the German political theorists of the 18th century and particularly by the followers of Wolff.
In practice, Enlightened Absolutism was certainly not so radical. The Physiocrats never got beyond the initial stages in the implementation of their
doctrines. Thus the French doctrine of Despotisme Г©claire remains an interesting trend of thought, but its practical effect was almost nil. The direct
influence of the German 18th century administrative theory was not much as well.
Frederick II of Prussia is often regarded as the first true enlightened despot. He was the first monarch who declared 'the sovereign is the first servant of
the state' and presented Europe with a model of progressive monarchy. Frederick cultivated friendship with several Philosophes and believed that inputs
from them could be used to make the administration of

Enlightment for Fredrick the Great of Prussia and Joseph...
Frederick the Great of Prussia and Joseph II of Austria adopted the newfound ideas of the Enlightenment to different extents with Frederick the Great
advancing the ideas by implementing religious toleration, freedom of speech and press, and setting a single code of laws for all of his subjects and
not advancing them by not abolishing serfdom for fear of upsetting the "Junkers", or Prussian nobility; Joseph II advanced the ideas of the
Enlightenment eagerly by completely abolishing serfdom paying no heed to what it could cause socially and politically and he didn't advance these
ideas in the end because his many reforms caused alienation of the church and nobility and radical changes in social hierarchy.
Frederick the Great of Prussia ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Most of these reforms though were to please the querulous nobility and prevent them from trying to interfere with the government and upset social
balance. Frederick the Great set limitations whilst accepting Enlightenment ideas when it interfered with the good of his subjects, economy and his
beloved military. All of these three topics depended on the Prussian nobility, or the "Junkers" who owned large amounts of land had many serfs to
farm it. Many of these Junkers also held important military ranks in the army. Frederick the Great could have chosen to abolish serfdom but did not
for this would greatly anger the Junkers, the backbone of the Prussian state and military. It was said that Prussia was not a country with an army: it
was an army with a country. In Frederick's military, he did not abolish torture to help install discipline and honesty in his soldiers. Keeping this helped
his army become the fourth strongest army in Europe.
Joseph II of Austria strictly believed that reason was the best and only path to take and so accepted nearly all of the new Enlightenment ideas on his
traditionally run empire causing major issues. One

Catherine The Great: Enlightened Absolutism
During Catherine the Great's rule, she tried to incorporate ideas of European Enlightenment into Russian society. One major aspect of this is her idea of
Enlightened Absolutism (Catherine Instruction, 9). This idea was based off the assumption that she was the only Russian capable of enlightened or
rational thought and thus she was the only person suitable for making decisions on behalf of the country. In what is known as the Great Instruction of
1767, Catherine describes the extent of her power as an Enlightened Absolute ruler as well as justifying its necessity. Although Catherine recognized
that the Autocracy would eventually complicate the progression of a modern state, she did not believe that particular period in Russian history would...
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The only reason members within the Decembrist movement were aware of such worldly developments was due to their societal class. They were
nobleman as well as military officers during the Napoleonic Wars. Being a nobleman, they more likely to have studied in Europe at an early age,
giving them an education and valuable insight into European society. Although many Russians were exposed to European societies for the first time
during these wars, it was primarily educated officers who truly understood the extent to which their liberties were being infringed upon. This is seen
within Bestuzhev's Letter to Nicholas I, where he questions why they had fought to "...free Europe in order to be [them]selves placed in chains?"
(Decembrists, 299). Russian commoners ignorance of foreign developments is also found in Kakhovsky's letter to General Levashev, where he explains
a rumor that during the uprising of December 14, when the rebels were shouting "Long live the Constitution!" ordinary bystanders seemed to have been
unaware of what a constitution was and thought that maybe the rebels were referring to the name Grand Duke Constantine's wife (Decembrists,

Frederick The Great Essay
Throughout history, only a small number of people have accomplished so much that they are known as "The Great", and Frederick II of Prussia was
one such person. Frederick was a capable king, and one of the first monarchs to be "enlightened". As king of Prussia, Frederick led an era of great
change in his nation. Under his rule, "The Enlightenment" spread, and Prussia became a major military power in Europe. During the time of Frederick,
a movement focused on using reason, called "The Enlightenment", swept through Europe. As an enlightened monarch, Frederick helped to usher this
change of thinking. This reason was implemented in a few of Frederick's policies, most notably in how he put the state above his personal desires.
Frederick attempted... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
At the time of his ascension, his father had left a standing army of 83,000, but by the time Frederick died, that number had risen to 190,000. Only
a small portion of these were Prussians, however, as Frederick hired mercenaries so the peasants could continue to work and pay taxes to support
the army. This focus on military allowed Prussia to gain territory and power, but did not help improve the life of the average citizen by any means.
However, Frederick put the state above all else, and needed such a powerful army to ward off his main rivals, Austria and Russia. His "warding
off" generally involved preemptive invasions whenever he felt threatened, so much of the first twenty years of his reign were spent at war. From
these wars, he gained some territory, but the most important gains of land were Silesia, and the land gained from the partition of Poland. Despite
the dominance of his army, Frederick made many enemies, and was almost defeated in the Seven Years' War. Besides his previous feuds with
Russia and Austria, he also angered France when he attempted to make an alliance with Britain. Surrounded on all sides, he only survived when he
signed a peace treaty with the new czar of Russia, and the previous one had died. Thanks to Frederick, Prussia gained a large amount of land and
power, but he almost lost it all due to some of his decisions, and life for the general populace was not

Voltaire's Candide Essay
Candide On November 21, 1694, Francois–Marie Arouet, otherwise known as Voltaire, was born in Paris. The youngest of five, son to Francois and
Marie Arouet, Voltaire grew up in a household that had come to know the pleasantries of upper class french society.
Marie, his mother, had gained the family access to Louis XIV court through her realtives. Because of Voltaire's priviledged lineage he was able to study
under the Abbe de Chateaneuf, at the Louis–le–Grand Jesuit College in Paris. Voltaire spoke very highly of his Abbe in later years. After ten years at
school, he was sent to study law in Paris under his fathers orders. Early the following year, 1715, Frances most famous absolutist monarch died and
five year old ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The man in blue, later takes Candide and fits him with a Bulgar army uniform. His companions find him to be a prodigy because the lashes he
recieves decrease rapidly each day. Once Candide is facing battle he says, " Nothing could have been more splendid, brilliant, smart or orderly then the
two armies. The trumpets, fifes, oboes, drums and cannons produced a harmony whose equal was never heard in hell." (pg 22)
Though Voltaire may not have had this personal experience, the story had been heard many times. Go to war fight and die for the power of a far
off monarch. Candide may be simple, but he is not stuipid. Once he sees the equal attrocities caused by the Bulgars and enemy Avars he takes the
opportunity, provided by chaos, to flee. Many of Voltaires writings are inclusive of the theme of wrongful war. In Charles XII, one of his earlier
works, he addresses the lust for conquest and its consequences. At the age of eighteen, Charles XII had learned his talent for conquest and by the end
of the book he had lost more than he had gained. (green voltaire) Voltaire finds war to be the same everywhere, his use of the words, "international
law," and, " natural law," prove this. "The Bulgars burned the Avars village in accordance with International law."( ) It was declared, by the old woman,
that international law involved searching for diamonds where, "...we women usually allow nothing but the nozzle of an enema."

The Gay Lives of Frederick the Great and William Iii
The Gay Lives of Frederick the Great and William III Frederick the Great of Prussia and William III of the Dutch Republic were two well known
great leaders of Europe. They lived decades apart, William from 1650 to 1702, and Frederick from 1712 to 1786, yet had uncannily similar lives, in
many aspects. These leaders, because of a somewhat controversial past, have lost many important clues about what their lives were really like.
Nonetheless, it is known for sure that both were knowledgeable, great military leaders, champions of justice, and very likely homosexual. One of the
few dissimilarities between Frederick and William was the religion they were raised on, which of course was to influence the rest of their lives,
particularly in... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It is said that his father arranged his marriage with Christine to prove Frederick's heterosexuality in addition to producing an heir. Frederick, as a
military leader, also was known to have relationships with his friends from the battlefield. Though, to his credit, he never allowed any relationships
to interfere with his work or compromise his integrity. Perhaps Frederick's best known and interesting affair was with the famous French poet
Voltaire. Frederick's love for French culture encouraged him to reach out to Voltaire, and in 1736 the 24 year old prince sent a letter to the 22 year
old, already quite famous philosopher. Thus began their friendship, and they kept a close friendship, or possibly more throughout their lives. Still,
there was a conflict of interest between them. Preceding Frederick's coronation, Voltaire "Never tired of comparing Frederick to Apollo, Alcibiades
and the youthful Marcus Aurelius" (Strachey 170). But Voltaire wanted to see a peaceful, united Europe, and once Frederick took the throne of
Prussia he seemed only interested in war. Frederick tried to keep Voltaire around, even offering him positions in the court as he still very much valued
Voltaire's opinions. Voltaire and Frederick still exchanged writings, Frederick's work still often implying

Napoleon Enlightened Despots
Enlightenment cannot happen without a great leader. Enlightened despotism is when there is an absolute ruler who follows the principles of the
Enlightenment or at least they do in their mind. There were four world leaders that were famous for their reigns, Joseph II, Catherine II, Frederick II
and Napoleon I. Between these leaders there raises a question: Who was the most effective at bringing their enlightenment ideas into practice? This
paper will explain those leaders as well as define why Napoleon I was the most effective at bringing enlightenment into practice. Before the
explanation of why Napoleon is the best this paper will bring to light why the others did not make the winners circle. Beginning with Joseph II Holy
Roman Emperor of... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He is regarded to be one of the best and most influential despots in the mix and had a very successful reign in his empire. He had many changes as
far as reformation of various institutions. For instance, he instituted merit based promotions with his newly developed civil service exams. That
changed the norm of those most wealthy being in power or because you wiggled your way into power. Through this system it was based off of merit
so it was a fair and rational system. Frederick had reformations in order to increase the religious toleration of the country though it did limit certain
religions and cultures and favored protestants over most. He was close in involvement with the philosophes, he patronized them and often corresponded
with Voltaire. "Let us admit the truth: the arts and philosophy extend to only the few; the vast mass, the common people and the bulk of nobility,
remain what nature has made them, that is to say savage beasts." –Frederick the great to Voltaire (Karl) It shows his intelligence and enlightened mind
even though it insults those beneath him. It's clear from his comment that he does believe that under proper circumstance and with the proper material
the arts and philosophy would separate someone from the vast majority. That those who practice the enlightenment were above the savage beasts, they
were more rational and separate from

Disadvantages Of Enlightened Despotism
Some of the traits most associated with enlightened despotism include many types of reforms inspired by the Enlightenment made by absolute
monarchs, these reforms were of social, economic, legal, and educational, and religious tolerance. These reforms did not allow for the question of
their central power, or of the accepted social class order. I believe this form of government to an extent could work with today's political climate, as it
has been going. Although, rule, entirely of the monarch, would eventually fall, and absolute power would bring mostly disadvantages. Religious
toleration is something that is needed within all societies, as it should be a promise never to change, because without toleration of religion, any type of
war is able... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The impact that Frederick II's reign had on the geo–political organization of Western and Eastern Europe was his foreign policy. This is where Prussia
gained this province of the West, where the isolation of East Prussia happened by linking with monarchical states. This had made the kingdom more
capable of defense and within its territory, Prussia was more predominantly to the East, and had also made the dividing social and political
differences sharpen with that of the other states of Western Europe.Russia's czarist government in one way, helped protect the rights of nobles and
peasants in the Table of Ranks. This table let all men have the ability to serve the state, and had to longer allow Russia's military to rely on heredity
positions. This gave larger privileges to those who placed higher in the ranks, which can be compared with England's parliamentary democracy of the
protection of their rights, though in order of their services they had committed.This quote follows how King Louis XIV "territorial ambition" did not
suit him in the future as it would the

The War Of Bavarian Succession
Will Vaught, Trevor Lindberg
English 2 (H)
Ms. Gale
April 28, 2017
The War of Bavarian Succession
The War of Bavarian Succession, or sometimes called the "Potato War", was a cultural and country wide conflict between Bavaria, Prussia, and
Austria, as well as its allies. During this conflict, were two conflicting ideals surrounding the people's rights to territory, food, and country wide
patriotism. In addition, these two cultures conflicted politically, economically, and through supplies. Furthermore, when these two countries collided, it
sparked a political and territorial battle that Leading up to the war, Austria was embarrassed by its defeat in failing to take the country of Silesia. This
war was called the Austrian ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Charles II August was a bavarian electorate and was the Duke of ZweibrГјcken, as well as a Duke of surrounding territories and an electorate in Bavaria
or in other terms, an heir to Bavaria. Furthermore, Charles II August and Charles Theodore also had very different ideals for how to run the war.
While Charles Theodore wanted to share resources with Austria and share commercial wealth, Charles August very much disagreed with his
prepositions and statutes. An example of this was when Charles Theodore tried to give Southern Bavaria away in exchange for the Austrian
Netherlands. As a result, not only did this make Charles Theodore mad, but it made other countries made as well, thus deepening the divide, some of
these people include Maria Sophina of Saxony (one of Bavaria's allies in the war), the widow of Maximilian Joseph, as well as prussia and neighboring
minor german states. While Furthermore, Charles II Auguste message resonated very well with the neighboring countries Saxony and Prussia.
Meanwhile, Austria still wanted to re–establish itself as a part of Germany, so what did they decided to do? They Invaded Bavaria. The War of
Bavarian Succession first began when Joseph II of Austria attempted to acquire Bavaria to establish a Habsburg Monarchy within the country. As a
result, Fredrick II of Prussia declared war on Austria, as a retaliation to Austria's actions, and in support of the influential

Pros And Cons Of Enlightened Absolutism
Enlightened Absolutism A number of rulers in18th century Germany began enacting enlightened reforms of their own. Including increased religious
tolerance, an abolition of torture and increased freedom of the press. Whether these reforms were a result of the increased pressure on German rulers
from the bourgeoisie to introduce enlightened policies, or whether they were simply the result of the Royals being influenced themselves by
enlightened thinkers' remains unclear. However, what is clear is that even these enlightened despots continued to harbour a belief in their own divine
right to rule (Coy, 2011). Their measures to implement enlightened reforms were often only carried out with one hand, while the other continued to
adopt a more conservative... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A close friend of Voltaire, during his rulePrussia became a hub for the great minds of the time and his palace in Potsdam hosted ballet and operas. As
a young man he had a keen interest in culture and wrote poetry and prose in French, he once wrote that Machiavelli's principles of remorseless
pragmatism were no longer suitable in the much gentler enlightened age. However, just one year later he found himself on the throne of Prussia and
proceeded to ruthlessly wage wars and exploit diplomatic opportunities with the aim of building Prussia into a great power. He provoked the war of
Austrian Succession by invading the province of Silesia, which he subsequently won, doubling the Prussian population and cementing Prussia's place as
the greatest of the German states. After the end of the war of Austrian Succession, Friedrich the Great began to embrace more enlightened ideas, he was
markedly more tolerant in matters of religion allowing the citizens of Prussia to practice as they wished and he heavily promoted education reform and
published the findings of many scholars (Gates, no date). Despite his demonstrations of, and indeed conviction for, enlightenment the reign of Friedrich
the Great was most memorable for his demonstrations of power and military prowess (Keithly, no

Enlightened Rulers: Frederick the Great vs. Joseph II...
The Scientific Revolution consisted of a time period during which revolutionary ideas dramatically altered the thinking of people. It helped trigger the
Enlightenment in which rulers acted in accordance with the advisement of philosophes who believed that everything should be thought of in a rational
way that was based off of reason, not faith. Frederick the Great of Prussia and Joseph II of Austria were considered to be Enlightened rulers. By
implementing modern changes that supported knowledge, education, and the arts for the betterment of the country and its society, Frederick the Great
and Joseph II furthered the development of Enlightenment principles in contrast to the system that was previously enforced. However, they also
created a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The judicial system was reformed to seek equality for inhabitants, resulting in the abolishment of torture and the termination of the death penalty.
Furthermore, Joseph II abolished serfdom, but by the means of putting a dollar value on freedom. Meaning that, serfs had to purchase their freedom
from nobles. Consequently, neither the serfs nor the nobility were content with this policy. The majority of serfs did not have enough money to buy
their freedom, while the nobility lost power over their property.
Both Enlightened rulers sought to strengthen their state, but had a different approach in order to achieve it. Frederick the Great implemented his
reforms unhurriedly and steadily, whereas Joseph II emphasized his reforms more radically and at a more rapid pace. Frederick the Great trusted the
nobility and thought of them as the foundation of the social structure. Thus, granting the nobility more power over the serfs. On the other hand, Joseph
II believed that allowing serfs to have greater power would, in turn, strengthen the country. By cause of this, Joseph II abolished serfdom. The critical
thinking of the Enlightenment greatly influenced the revived changes that were emphasized in Prussia and Austria. However, not all of the policies
adhered to the standards of the Enlightenment.
The Scientific Revolution led to the creation of the

Enlightened Absolutism In The 18th Century
In late eighteenth century Germany, the concept of enlightened absolutism was predominately absent. Although it may have appeared that monarchs of
the time were using personal power to improve the lives of their subjects, monarchs were doing quite the opposite.
Robert S. Taylor, a professor of political science at the University of California–Davis, believes such rulers only used enlightened ways to get what they
desired. Using German philosopher of the enlightenment era Immanuel Kant as a supporter, Taylor declares: "While [Kant's] support forenlightened
absolutism was sincere, he believed that such rule was enlightened only insofar as it was ultimately self–extinguishing, a process made possible by the
myopic self–interest of the monarch" ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Acquiring land by the division of Poland would benefit Frederick immensely in ways of adding to personal wealth and land acquisition. He does not
state that this gain would be the best for Prussia or the German people as a whole. Instead he concerns himself with personal profit. Additionally, the
separation of Poland is not considered an enlightened action. Ultimately, this situation reinforces the idea that monarchs of the time were in favor of
ruling to benefit themselves and not for their

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Greatness is defined as "wonderful; first–rate; very good; being such in an extreme or notable degree; remarkable; exceptionally outstanding; important;
highly significant or consequential" (dictionary.com). So, using that criteria as judgment, is Gatsby actually great? Historical figures that are
considered "great" add perspective to the controversy of that question, making a model or guidelines for someone to be thought of as "great". Jay Gatsby
shares the title "great", as these leaders do, yet may not fit the mold. Why? That is a sticky subject. Formerly known as James Gatz, Gatsby is
"great" in that he pursues a dream until his death, something many people can't do; however his "greatness" truly lies in the fact that he is defeated by
his desire for a girl that did not belong to him anymore. He chases a dream that isn't in reaching distance. This great failure is Gatsby's legacy that
makes him The Great Gatsby, but what makes Gatsby, or any man for that matter, "great"? Alexander The Great, 356– 323 B.C., is the Macedonian
king that forever lives as a hero. Parented by King Philip II and Queen Olympia, Alex led an army at the young age of 18 and conquered the entire
region from the Mediterranean to India, leaving him to be one of the greatest military leaders the world has known. Strategy, generations of passed
down wisdom, and even Aristotle's mentoring all added up to make him extremely smart and unpredictable. Such a remarkable title for a young man,
many say. The

King Joseph II, The Enlightened Despot
Joseph II, the Enlightened Despot When Maria Theresa – Empress of Austria (1717–1780) – died, her son, Joseph II, became the absolute ruler and
enacted all reforms which he wanted to fulfil, and which opposed those of his mother. Greatly influenced by the Enlightenment ideals of freedom and
equality, his ideas of abolishing serfdom, carrying out the reforms of religious toleration, and promoting welfare for the people best reflected the
Enlightenment ideals.
In the political order of the Holy Roman Empire, neither freedom, religion, nor religious equality were granted. After his coronation, Joseph set reforms
which "notably included important steps towards serf liberation and, most strikingly, increased religious tolerance for most non–Catholics" ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The welfare of the people was of considerable concern to him, and, being a well–intentioned and earnest despot, Joseph II led them to their good by
raising funds, founding orphanages, maternity hospitals and various institutions. His policies contributed to their welfare by "freeing them from the
superstitions and prejudices of the past through exposure to enlightened doctrines" (Davis 166). Moreover, Joseph wrote a system where it was made
necessary that each state had primary education and well paid teachers. He created pension funds for the retired monks as well as for their students,
so that they may help run the government, which would help the empire to grow stronger. Promoting welfare, to Joseph, is aspired to save people
from their own "follies" and for their good, an ideal coincidental with monarchal interests. Therefore, Joseph's government is an Enlightenment ideal
because the government is doing something good for the people, and his power over everything allowed him to work for the welfare of his

How Did Catherine The Great Influence The French Revolution
Empress Catherine the Great ruled Russia for approximately thirty years from 1762 to 1796 when she died. She was known throughout the world as
an unusual ruler, having taken over the throne after the brutal death of her husband Peter the third. There she was made Empress of all Russia, this
was unusual because instead of being made regent for her son they circumnavigated the rules and she was made Empress Regnant. During her time
on the throne she made many radical and life changing decisions. She was a voracious reader and writer, often helping to translate others works into
Russian. She herself was inspired by Voltaire, Diderot, and Montesquieu. All of which culminated in her greatest work "Great Instruction", which was
the beginning of basically all her future endeavors. Catherine the Great was an enlightened ruler who tried to bring about a new way of life in Russia,
by allowing certain freedoms and educating the public. Catherine the Great was able to gain the loyalty of... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After it's publication in 1667 it was read aloud in public every month from cover to cover, thus they were subjected to a flood of unheard of ideas
from their Empress. 6 Some of the more radical statements within the Instruction were her comparing Russia to European power. 7 Meaning that she
was comparing Russia in all ways to that of other European countries, such as Britain, France, and Spain. Catherine tried to make this true by making
what she thought of as "Enlightened" reforms. One of which was to say that "the innocent ought not to be tortured; and in the eye of the law every
person is innocent whose crime is not yet proved".6 Those were just two of a number of statements made within the Great Instruction, which made
way for a whole new slew of ideas and

Similarities Between Frederick And Catherine The Great
Frederick and Catherine the Greats Squared This essay about "the Greats squared" or better known as Frederick and Catherine. I wondered why
they were given the title of "Great", so I began researching both of them. My objective with this essay is to show their greatest achievements and
their worst blunders. Starting with Frederick the Great, he was born on January 24, 1712 in Berlin, Prussia. His father King Frederick Wilhelm I was
a very strict no nonsense kind of guy. When he exhibited a flair for languages and music, his father sent him to military training. Frederick tried to
escape to England at age 18 to get away from his father, however, he was caught, court–martialed, and had to watch his best friend be decapitated
(Frederick... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Eventually Peter III was killed, however it was never proven that she took part in it. In order to keep herself from being ousted from the throne, she
returned land/property to the church while claiming she was following in Peter the Great's footsteps (Catherine II, 2015). This could be where the
"Great" in her name came to be. Like Frederick, she too believed in the Enlightenment ideals and looked to reform the Russian educational system,
even writing some of the materials herself. In addition, she lobbied for governmental reforms, created a Legislative Commission, expanded Russia's
borders with the use of the military, as well as amassing a most impressive art collection (Maranzani,

The Factors And Causes Of Jews During The Black Death
Jews flocked in even larger numbers to Poland during the Black Death, which was a widespread viral epidemic that killed approximately 200 millions
Jews in Eurasia and Western Europe. It was reported that locals believed Toledo Rabbinical Judeans had concocted a plot to murder others and had sent
his henchman to neighboring countries to deliver the virus.
By the 16th century, around 80% of the world's Jewish population had resided in Polish territory. The Jewish people had an unprecedented amount of
freedom. With their own operating legislative councils, they had also been given the freedom to openly worship, create Jewish learning centers, and
wear traditional garb, that was otherwise banned in other regions of the world. Though in 1648, steadfast Jewish life came to a halt. Rioters and
protesters with blood libel began sweeping through towns due to pent up resentment of new Ukrainian leader, Bohdan Khmelnytsky. Approximately
20,000 Jews were murdered in their own streets and mass murdered again 10 years later, under another Cossack revolt.
In the later half of the 18th century, Poland's governmental system began to collapse. Due to an appointed constitutional monarchy and rules allowing
only unanimous decisions in order for legislative approval, the county began to crumble. Neighboring rulers of Catherine II of Russia, Frederick II of
Prussia and Joseph II of Austria, began to take a keen interest in assuming control over the land. After being out battled on all fronts,

Frederick The Great Leadership Qualities
Frederick the Great of Prussia took the throne in 1740 as an enlightened absolute monarch. He greatly enlarged Prussia's territories and raised a
standing army, putting it on Europe's map as a rank of power. Throughout his revolutionary reign, Frederick the Great displayed significant signs of
leadership such as overcoming obstacles, putting his people first, and making tactical decisions as a military commander.
One common characteristic of leaders is the ability to overcome obstacles. When Frederick the Great faced a hardship, he bounced back from it,
Specifically, the loss in 1759 to the Russian army at Kunersdorf, "temporarily reduced him to despair with thoughts of suicide" ("Frederick II"). Even
so, he persevered and the many defeats that came from The Seven Years War ended with Frederick back on top with Silesia in his control ("Frederick
the Great"). This resilience was evident even in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It has been noted that Frederick believed that a ruler should be like a father to his people (Beck 606). Meaning, he did what was in the best interest of
Prussia, while simultaneously increasing its power as an absolute monarch. According to Britannica, listed as the largest and most comprehensive
encyclopedia, "To him [Frederick the Great], it was his duty to protect his subjects from foreign attack, to make them prosperous, and to provide
them with laws that were simple and adapted to their wants and their particular temperament." In order to meet these objectives, Frederick must have
had to prioritize his people, which is a typical trait of some of the greatest leaders. It goes on to say, "Notably, his insistence on the primacy of the
state over personal or dynamic interests and his religious toleration widely affected the dominant intellectual currents of the age." Therefore, it is clear
that he genuinely cared for the wellbeing of individuals and lead Prussia in such a way to keep it

Why Is Frederick The Great An Enlightened Despot
Frederick the Great: Enlightened Despot
Frederick II was an enlightened ruler of Prussia. The enlightenment was a period of time in which the government ran by an absolute ruler. Rulers
made significant changes that affected religious, social, educational, and legal reforms. Frederick II was the son of King Frederick William I who
had ruled over Germany. He would later become a king himself. He became king in 1740 and ruled for over forty years. It was he who drastically
changed Prussia into a powerful force. Frederick II would become to be known by Frederick the Great based on the many positive things he did
during his rule. Two of the biggest achievements, he was able to make was his military skill and religious tolerance. Since almost everyone liked him,
he was able to institute reforms in his country. His enlightenment rule would bring major efforts for both reform and war.... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
As a child of wealth and royalty he had grown up with the best upbringing for his childhood. He was a very talented musician for this time.
Frederick was also a musician that had composed some of his own sonatas and symphonies. Adding to his smart abilities, he also knew over five
languages and spoke them frequently. Also during his tenure as king he had world famous buildings built in Berlin. The most famous that people
visit today is the Berlin Opera House. Education reforms were a very big priority for him. Since he had a strong foundation of learning, it was
necessary only for him to establish Prussia as one of the best education systems in Europe. His cultured knowledge allowed him to be more of an open
person and a free thinker. This benefited him mightily because he was open to more ideas, making him an enlightened

How Is Napoleon Bonaparte An Enlightened Monarch
During the 18th century, a new type of Monarch was beginning to rise, the Enlightened Monarch. During this time, one of the Enlightened Monarchs
was beginning to rise, Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon was the last and greatest enlightened monarch to the extent of draining marshes, restricting
self–government, and freedom of speech. As an Enlightened Monarch, Napoleon had to do specific achievements to be seen as the greatest
enlightened monarch. Napoleon build roads/bridges, codified the laws, reduced the independence of the church, ensure that the people have their
natural rights, freedom of religious worship, promote education, and enforce the law equally. Napoleon was not trying to gain power for himself,
but for his country. He built roads and bridges so that trade could be easier with other countries. Over 20,000 miles of imperial and 12,000 miles of
regional roads were completed. During his time Napoleon did more than just build roads, one of his great programs were the public works. The Public
works would build roads, bridges and canals, dredge harbours; and beautify cities.... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Napoleonic Code is the French civil code established under Napoleon I in 1804. The code denied privileges based on birth, allowed freedom
of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified, or by meritocracy. It codified several branches of law, including
commercial and criminal law, and divided civil law into categories of property and family. The Napoleonic Code made the men the strongest in the
family, and took away the rights of any individual women. All male citizens were also granted equal rights under the law and the right to religious
disagreement, but colonial slavery was reintroduced. The laws were applied equally to all territories under Napoleon's

Catherine The Great : The Failure Of Catherine The Great
Catherine the Great, also known as Catherine II, born Princess Sophie of Anhalt–Zerbst, seized the throne in 1762. When Russia was an absolute
monarchy that was placed at the despotic end of the spectrum which extended through the Prussia to the France and only abstained in 1796 upon
her death. Catherine was known as a 'Cultural Minerva', according to one of Catherines early biographers, Alexander Briickner, "She liked to be
called Minerva. ... She greatly needed to be praised all the time. ... The thought of failure was most difficult for her." It was from this that she
erected the Hermitage in 1764, also in this year she became the the founder and patron of the Russian Academy of Arts. Each of these both show her
to be a woman of great pride, and authority, if it was not for her 'personal vanity' she would not have aimed for these titles. Though this may seem
overtly pessimistic Catherine lost interest quickly in the Academy of Arts after she became its patron. Falconet, a contemporary writer, criticized the
Russian Minerva for neglecting the institution founded under her auspices. Though she did neglect the Academy of Arts due to her vanity, she was a
true collector of antiquities, as the Hermitage was her personal gallery to demonstrate her wealth. It was the Hermitage which imbued power
throughout Russia, the museum was what Foucault would call the perfect "other" place, or "heterotopia," "a kind of effectively enacted utopia in
which the real sites, all the other real sites that can be found within the culture, are simultaneously represented, contested, and inverted.' Other
academics such as Karen Dovey, refers to different forms of power; 'power over' and the 'power under.' Catherine uses the 'power over' as it is the
power over one agent (or group) over another, the power to ensure compliance over the other one's will. This is how Catherine ran her authoritarian
state. Dovey, also speaks about ways in which the 'power over' can be implemented; such as seduction, authority, or domination, which Catherine was
guilty of employing all of those tactics, many of them were just using the Hermitage to intimidate the society by showing her grandeur. The architecture
was a key part in the control over

Essay Military Discipline
Military Discipline
1.General.The word discipline comes from the Latin word disciplД«na which means "to instruct". Discipline is a specific form of instruction which
develops self–control, character, and efficiency. Military discipline is that mental attitude and state of training which renders obedience instinctive
under all conditions. It is founded upon respect for, and loyalty to properly constituted authority. While it is developed primarily bymilitary drill, every
feature of military life has its effects on military discipline. It is generally indicated in an individual or unit by smartness of appearance and action; by
cleanliness and neatness of dress, equipment, or quarters; by respect for seniors; and by prompt and cheerful ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Maybe a whole squadron deserted its post. In this case, the court handed down the famous, the ghastly, sentence of decimation. The tribune called the
legion on parade and ordered to the front those who were guilty of desertion of their ranks. He reprimanded them, called them every name he could
think of. This was not just another sermon. Everyone knew how it was going to end. "Now I want each of you to choose a number," he told them.
And by lot one out of every ten men was chosen to pay the penalty. What penalty? On the tribune's order, the army fell on these men–their
comrades–and clubbed them to death, mercilessly.
The rest of the guilty men were allowed to live, but possibly they thought death was preferable to the humiliation they had to suffer then. They were
told to quarter themselves outside the camp walls, where they were unprotected; and they were given rations of barley–horse food–rather than wheat
for sustenance. Their disgrace would live as long as they did. "But it isn't only your severe punishments that produce right conduct," Polybius told the
Romans. "That alone wouldn't make men brave. You encourage them to act heroically by holding out all kinds of rewards and incentives." A soldier who

How Were Monarchs Influenced By The Enlightenment
Monarchs that were influenced by the Enlightenment and worked to centralize power. By getting peoples interest they could justify their absolute rule.
These monarchs worked toward social, legal, and educational changes. Some of these include Fredrick the Great the King of Prussia, Joseph the II the
King of Austria who ruled with his Mother Maria–Theresa, Catherine the Great Empress of Russia, and Peter the Great. They received input from the
great philosophers such as Voltaire. These people made the first attempt to allow people to be equal and to obtain knowledge rather than stick to a
strict list of beliefs. They were more tolerant and rational when dealing with issues pertaining to religion and speech. For example, Frederick the Great
made... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They worked to make life better for their subjects by promoting religious tolerance, decreasing wasted money, trying to stimulate the economy, and
freeing serfs. The monarchs reduced powers of nobility by legal reform but nobles rebelled which led to a fight with serfs. At this point, Catherine
gave the nobles more power over their serfs to avoid this violence so this change was not successful. Joseph II created freedom of the press and
theatre. Joseph II made multiple changes to improve the life of his subjects but once he died the new emperor changed many of them back to the
old way. Leopold II was hungry for power and the nobles did not like the change in their social status. By improving the life of their subjects, the
Enlightenment leaders believed they would become stronger monarchs and their states would grow more powerful. These leaders also worked
toward a more practical taxation method. The states would benefit by more people adding to the economy. By increasing trade, industry, and
agricultural crops the economy would grow. Most importantly they believed in individuals owning property, which I believe made the greatest
difference in improving the economy. By growing the middle class, they hoped to increase trade. Wars are expensive and the monarchs needed to
grow their military's and an increase of wealth would help to do so. In all honesty, their goals were selfish because in

Essay on Enlightened Despots
Enlightened Despots Enlightened despots believed that political change could best come from above; from the ruler. However, they were encouraged
by the philosophers to make good laws to promote human happiness. How did these monarchs differ from earlier unenlightened monarchs of the past?
The difference lay in tempo. These new despots acted abruptly and desired quicker results. They were impatient with all that stood in the way of their
reforms. In addition, they justified their authority on the grounds of usefulness, not divine right. These new monarchs were rational and reformist and
they regarded political change as possible and desirable. Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, and Joseph II are good examples of Enlightened...
Catherine the Great was the German wife of Peter III. She corresponded actively with Voltaire and other prominent eighteenth–century thinkers, and
paid lip service to their liberal ideas; but she did little to reform or modernize Russia. She introduced such western ideas as pleased her, at the same time
increasing Russian autocracy and military power. In addition, she extended Russia's boundaries southward and westward. Catherine joined with Austria
and Prussia in three partitions that completely eliminated independent Poland. On the death of Charles VI (1740), the Habsburg dominions passed to
his twenty–three year old daughter Maria Theresa. The German princes ignored the Pragmatic Sanction (1713) guaranteeing her succession, and
looked forward to partitioning the Habsburg's lands. Frederick the Great, who had just inherited the Prussian throne, was first to strike. He invaded
Silesia and won solid victories. Maria Theresa soon demonstrated that she had a strong mind and will of her own. She went to Hungary's Magyar
nobles and appealed for support. In exchange for her promise of sovereignty within the Habsburg Empire, the Magyars offered her loyalty and the
troops necessary to resist the invaders. With Hungarian troops and British and Dutch financial aide she was able to fight Prussia to a standstill, but
she did not regain Silesia. The Empress Maria Theresa believed in the need for reform. She increased taxes on

Catherine The Great Biography
Catherine the Great, was born on May 2, 1729, in Stettin, Prussia (now Szczecin, Poland), and became the Russian empress in 1762. During her reign,
Russia expanded its borders, made many political reforms, increased the religious toleration, and modernized exponentially, earning her the title of
"Enlightened Despot." She died on November 17, 1796 in Tsarskoye Selo, or what is now Pushkin.
Catherine, started out as a minor German princess. Her birth name was Sophie Friederike Auguste, and she grew up in Stettin in a small feudal state
called Anhalt–Zebst. Her father, Christian August, was a prince of these insignificant holdings, but he gained fame for his military service. He served
as a general for Frederick William of Prussia. Princess Johanna ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
No finalized laws or reforms came out of the commission, but it was the first time that Russians from across the empire were able to express their
thoughts about the country's needs and problems. Ultimately, the Nakaz became more known for its ideas and as a point towards Catherine's ideals
and progressive thoughts, rather than its actual influence on the country's standing.
A skeptic religiously, Catherine tried to diminish the power of the Orthodox Church. She had given them the land peter had taken back, but she soon
changed her mind. Catherine declared that the church's wealth would belong to the state. To that end, she made the church part of the state, and
therefor all of its holdings, including more than one million serfs.
At the time of Catherine's coup, Russia was viewed as underdeveloped and covered in rural farms by many in Europe. She tried to change this
negative opinion through expanding and upgrading the country's educational systems and artist export. Catherine owned a boarding school established
for girls from affluent families in St. Petersburg, and later called for free schools to be an accessible opportunity for children in towns all across

Frederick The Great Accomplishments
Frederick the Great is best remembered nowadays as the Prussian king who led his country to the forefront of Europe through several wars and his
domestic policies. Being an enthusiastic patron of the arts, he is also remembered as being a talented musician and Enlightened despot who sought to
become the ideal "platonic king". But while Frederick the Great pursued Enlightenment ideas and patronage of the arts, he deserves the title, "The
Great", because of his military and state achievements. While Frederick is remembered as a great military mind, ironically, as a child, Frederick
seemed to shun all of the militaristic views and habits of his father. Against his father's wishes, he was interested in learning poetry, French, and music.
His interests... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He will undoubtedly be remembered for his pursuit of Enlightenment ideas and patronage of the arts, but it was the stories of Frederick's deeds and
speeches far outlived his own life. It was the stories of Frederick rallying the broken ranks at Hochkirch, being hit by a cannonball at Torgau, or
Frederick's rallying speech at Leuthen that were remembered by his men and subjects, not the fact that Frederick was more interested in French than
German, or that he played the flute. It was Frederick's reforms of agriculture, economics, and preservation and expansion of Prussia against all odds
and enemies that people remembered, not the fact that Frederick wrote a commentary on Machiavelli or had a different taste in music. We remember
Frederick II in our textbooks as Frederick the Great not because he was a patron of the arts or considered himself a philosopher king, but because he
used his army and reforms to turn the small backwater country of Prussia into the a feared power in

Explain How Did Frederick The Great Break The Rules
Did Frederick the Great 'break all the rules'?
Several historians have tried to explain the complex figure of Frederick the Great, king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, either stating that he was a
monarch of the Ancien RГЁgime or a symbol of the Modern Age. To this extent, it should be recognized that, despite the ties with the past centuries,
Frederick was a great innovator, especially in the military field. Nevertheless, it is arguable that the attempt to both innovate Prussia and strengthen its
position within the international system does not necessarily mean that he 'broke the rules'. Indeed, it appears legitimate firstly to question whether
there were actual rules at that time or simple conventions and secondly to claim that he did not sought to challenge the system, but only to transform
Prussia into a military state, powerful and worthy enough to become part of the global balance of power in the Eighteenth century. This essay will
discuss the thesis firstly by providing a brief historical contextualisation, enumerating the great powers of the Eighteenth century and mentioning the
significance of warfare in the international system. Then, it will focus on the meaning of the expression 'breaking the rules' by examining the presence
or absence of 'rules' and finally it will analyse both innovations and links to the past in the military and the army, politics and economics, and society
and culture.
To begin with, Frederick William II, known as Frederick the Great, ruled Prussia from 1740 to 1786 and fought in all the major... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
"In Search of Old Fritz." In Frederick the Great. A Military Life. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1985. 2. Haffner, Sebastian. "The Small Great
Power." In The Rise and Fall of Prussia, translated by Ewald Osers. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1980. Pag.

Memoirs of Princess Dashkova
The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova Analysis Eloquent, brilliant, unorthodox, poise, and loyal – all of these unique characteristics allowed Dashkova to
gain the highest regard among the members of the elite society and more importantly, to earn the respect of Catherine the Great. Dashkova is a
peculiar female character. She's fully narcissistic, but at the same time, rejects her recognition and claims herself as unworthy of the credits Catherine
II had given her. In her autobiography The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova, Dashkova justifies her role as a noble woman, her early–life contribution in
helping Catherine rise to the throne, and the frugal life she bore as a widow and a mother of two. Dashkova voiced her significance in a society where...
In Dashkova's memoir, she gave credits to her large role in the plot of overthrowing Peter III; however, Catherine disagreed. She rebutted that it
was her plan of action after the death of the Empress Elizabeth and the vision of the coup was established long ago. My initial observation of
Dashkova is her ability to be extraordinary despite her difficult upbringing. Her intelligence was compelling to the Empress Catherine and the men
that she had encountered during her traveling. Dashkova portrayed herself as a strong, versatile woman, who's not only different from most of the
women during the time period, but can also outperform her male counterparts in various tasks (e.g. surgery, debate, carpenting, etc.) (pg. 144). She
surprised the readers at the first moment when she met Prince Dashkov, a Moscow man. She fell in love with him and got married at the age of 16.
The proposal was informal and emotional unlike the traditional arrangement with its strict regulations. Just 5 years after, Prince Dashkov passed
away, leaving Dashkova 2 children and his mountainous gambling debt. In the most hopeless scenario, Dashkova managed to raise her 2 children and
provided her son a wonderful education while still remaining faithful to the Empress Catherine II. She declared, "My own poverty affected me not at
all" (pg. 149). Ironically, as a member of the aristocratic class, she "wore nothing but the oldest clothes" (pg. 64). According to Dashkova's

Characteristics Of Frederick The Great
The Enlightenment is a period of time located across the world, mainly in Europe, that directly followed the Scientific Revolution. It has been
considered an intellectual movement which has advocated for freedom, democracy, and reason. Many have also considered this time as the organized
activity of French philosophers or also known as the philosophes, who were considered an informal society men of letters that contributed to the
Encyclopedie. The Enlightenment affected the European population as well with more rights being given to the common people, more people
becoming literate, decline in the church, and new formations of religions. One of these philosophies is Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Frederick
was an active follower of the Enlightenment and tried to change Prussia into an Enlightened state through some of these characteristics.
Frederick the Great was ruler of Prussia from 1740–1786. He took over from his father, Frederick William I, who was considered to be coward and
rarely got into wars. Frederick's term was during the Enlightenment, and like other rulers, Catherine the Great, Maria Theresa, and her son, Joseph,
were all "enlightened" by the age and followed it. In the case of Frederick, he turned his court into a learning of the nobility to help out. He believed
that the French learning was the only main learning that people should know, and used French influence in his castle and gardens. He was good friends
with other philosophies such as Voltaire

Battle Of Zorndorf Essay
The Seven Years War had many battles where Generals and soldiers fought in the war. The Battle of Zorndorf is a testimony of Frederick the Great's
idealistic strategy to outwit the enemy, gain the upper hand, and attack when least expected. Unfortunately, the battle was notorious for the many
causalities and weapons lost that occurred between Frederick the Great and General William Fermor, where both men lost 1/3 of their soldiers during
the week–long scuffle. Historians have criticized the Battle of Zorndorf as Frederick's best or worst battle, while others consider it a draw. Despite the
blood–shed, the Battle of Zorndorf was a competition of who would dominate the battlefield. The Battle of Zorndorf was fought on August 25, 1758 in
a Prussian village called modern–day Poland. The fight was between Frederick the Great of Prussia and General William Fermor of Russia. Both
competitors were an even match based on military experience, tactics, and egos. The circumstances of the battle came from Frederick's victories in
Leuthen and Rossbach in 1757, where Austria allied themselves with Russia and under the command of William Fermor took Konigsberg and East
Prussia for revenge. On August 15, 1758, Fermor attack Custrin, Frederick the Great's childhood home, setting off Frederick to go to Custrin to face the
Russians. On August 23, Frederick halted ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For the next six hours, Prussia and Russia fought with limited artillery, multiple causalities, and surprise attacks. At around 6:00 p.m., Russia officially
gave up after the collapse of their army, Prussia would not give chase due to exhaustion and disorganization. However, Fermor comes back with an
army but chickens out and escapes to Zorndorf while Frederick captured Quartschen. Throughout the entire day of the battle, both armies just switched

Enlightened Despot Dbq Essay
Enlightened despots held a crucial role in determining the fate of their countries, as well as the continuation of monarchies as a whole. Their advances
towards making their countries better through enlightenment thinking were what labeled them as great monarchs. Their religious, social, political and
economic changes were all made to help their people grow as a whole. They used their absolute power to change their policies in order to further their
people in religious and economic ways. As any enlightened despot would tell you, an enlightened ruler should remain absolute. Being in complete
control of one's country and governing body was essential to being labeled as an absolute despot. Document 6 reads that in Russia, the Queen Catherine
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The first and most important issue was that of religion. Due to its history of conflict, it was important for all religions to be tolerated and for all to
have equal rights. In Austria, Prussia and Russia, toleration of religious difference was encouraged, leading to religion becoming a personal matter,
and allowed them to move onto more beneficial dealings (Document 1, 2, 12). Another large step towards achieving equality for everyone was to
remove the power that the church and the aristocracy held. This was done by toleration of religion and idea that the upper class was selfish and
holding the people back from their potential of advancement. As a result, both of these lost the large amount of influence that they held over the
people (Document 9). Equality was carried over to immigrants as well. Anyone who settled in Russia were required to follow the same laws as
everyone else in the country. However, they were not required for perform extra civil duties or pay extra taxes than the born citizens did with the
requirement that they take up agriculture or form a business to help the nation (Document 5). In Austria, Joseph II believed that everyone should work
to contribute to everyone's benefit, and not just one's own (Document 11). In this way, equality led to furthered advancements in economy as

I Needed For The State And The Restoration Of The Monarchy
When it came to reforming her own government, she made sure to surround herself with those that actually had the best interest of the territories in
mind. Some of those she credited with her success as a ruler were, Johann Christoph von Bartenstein, Count Friedrich Wilhelm von Haugwitz, Emanuel
Silva–Tarouca, and Ignaz von Koch. She wrote, "Bartenstein and Haugwitz gave me what I needed for the State and the preservation of the Monarchy.
Tarouca and Koch supplied me with consolation, counsel and private information for my own knowledge and correction." It was not by pure luck that
Maria Theresa was able to keep her kingdom alive during the beginning of her unexperienced reign. At first, she was reluctant to make changes even
though she... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Military Maria Theresa, as inexperienced as she was, was able to see the lack of intelligence in the organization of her military forces, less than ten
years into her rule. She wrote, "Each unit had a different order of marching, a different drill, etc. One practiced rapid fire, another slow. The same
words of command were differently interpreted in each unit, and it is really no wonder that ten years before my accession the Emperor as defeated
every time, and the subsequent state of the army beggars description." She was able to see, early on, that not only did she need a better trained
military force, but she also needed a larger force. Through calibration with her advisors, mostly Haugwitz, she was able to obtain the men and money
to have an appropriate military force. Public Opinion
Maria Theresa was generally well–liked as she accomplished much for her people. In 1749, in a letter addressed to FrГ¤ulein Thomasius, Luise
Gottsched spoke of her most amazing visit with Maria Theresa. She starts by saying, "Yes, I have seen her, the greatest among women. She who, in
herself, is higher than her throne." She goes on to explain the event of meeting the Empress and mentions the compliments Maria Theresa gave to both
Luise and her husband. Throughout the

Examples Of Enlightened Despots
Enlightened Despots Embrace New Ideas Throughout the Enlightenment, there were some monarchs that accepted the ideas from the Enlightenment,
while other monarchs still practiced absolutism as they wanted unlimited power for themselves. The monarchs that accepted ideas from the
Enlightenment were known as enlightened despots. These depots were absolute rulers who used their power to bring about political and social
change to their lands. Among these despots, who embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment were Frederick II, Catherine the Great, and Joseph II.
Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great served as the king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. Although he used his power to control people, he
was an interesting man. One fact about Frederick II was that he liked the French language and even built a Rococo palace known as Sanssouci located
in Berlin. Frederick praised the works of Voltaire, who was a French philosopher and writer. He also invited French intellectuals from the
Enlightenment to Prussia. When he became the king ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Joseph's mother Maria Theresa was known to be a despot because she aimed to improve the peasants' way of life. Maria Theresa essentially served
as an inspiration for Joseph II. In fact, Joseph supported religious equality between the Protestants and Jews before the Edict of Toleration. He
believed that a person's belief is their own business. He even allowed free press by ending censorship, He also tried to put the Catholic Church under
royal control, but there were many conflicts. Joseph had actually deprived the bishops of their authority and he also limited their communications
with the Pope. Joseph II wanted to gain his lost lands back, so he started a war in the early 1770s. Eventually, he settled for the partition of Poland,
sharing lands with Russia and Prussia. Joseph also despised and ended serfdom. Sadly, this measure like others had been canceled after Joseph had
died in

Catherine The Great : The Failure Of Catherine The Great
Catherine the Manipulator Known as one of the greatest rulers in history, Catherine the Great was a complex, dignified, and, most importantly,
calculatingly intelligent woman. Despite the negative connotations that come with a word like "calculating," in Catherine's case it was an important
trait to have; it was the close scrutiny and pressure imposed upon her as a royal female figure that forced Catherine to constantly have the upper
hand and look out for herself no matter the cost or the method. Thus it is imperative to remember that the manipulative aspect of Catherine's
personality, which includes the manipulation of her public image, was a necessary component in her survival and ascent to power in a society
where all odds were against her. First and foremost, the mere act of writing this memoir can be seen as a form of manipulation via Catherine's part.
Seeing as this was the not the first version and that each was written differently and heavily edited, it's safe to say Catherine wanted it to eventually
be read and/or published. This is how she wanted the rest of the world to see her. By writing her life story, she had complete control over how she and
the people she wrote about – her mother, her spouse, Empress Elizabeth, and the rest of the court – were depicted; it is clear in her language that she
was biased and tended to make certain people look bad while she made herself look good – a little too polished and composed, even. Not to say she
was not a genuine person

Sociology and Easily Governed Society
Frederick the Great, an eighteenth century Prussian king known for his tyrannical rule, once stated, "An educated people can be easily governed."
When taken in the context in which he spoke, that of a ruler who demanded complete domination over his subjects, one would take his quote with
only one meaning, that more intelligent people can be easily governed. Ignoring the speaker and his reputation, however, this quote then becomes
open for discussion. One could read these words and believe that "easily governed" referred to a people who tend to be more law abiding and can
therefore be more easily controlled through a system of punishments. This could also be applied in a way to state that those individuals would be less
likely to rise... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These well–educated individuals will watch the newscasts, read the articles on governmental action or inaction, and listen to the radio hosts who speak
on the issues and seem to support their way of thinking. They will argue with friends, family or co–workers and utter phrases like "I can't believe
(insert politician name here) did that" or "we really need to fix . . ." or "We need to do something about . . . because they can't get away with it."
Tying in the previous argument that well–educated individuals have more to lose and are therefore, more law–abiding, these individuals will do little
more than debate. These individuals value their socioeconomic status too much to risk it by protesting in the streets demanding for the resignations of
corrupt politicians or politicians who act against the Constitution. This makes for a more easily governed society because they will not rise up against
the government. Nothing negative could be said about a law abiding society. Society would operate much more smoothly without the existence of crime
. An interpretation of the quote above leads one to believe that if only society were well educated, its members would think before engaging in
criminal behavior and logically, there would be an end to crime. Is that really the case though? Based on the events

Powerful Enlightened Depots
Enlightened despotism is defined as "a form of government in the 18th century in which absolute monarchs pursued legal, social, and educational
reforms inspired by the Enlightenment" (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The magnitude of the philosophy movement known as the
Enlightenment sent ripples throughout Western society. The philosophers believed that in order to improve society they had to "enlighten" the
monarchs. The views of the Enlightenment did to find their way inside the palaces of Europe's leaders; however, the monarchs retained their great
power of absolute rule. Among these enlightened despots of the age were Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II
of Austria. These leaders all attempted to bring their respective countries into a new age. The basis of enlightened despotism was the idea of improving
the lives of a country's citizens. This concept of leadership during this time was ultimately a good idea, but it was not successfully exercised to its
fullest extent. From a young age, Frederick the Great took a great liking to culture and literature. He was especially infatuated with the language and
lifestyle of the French. The French philosopher Voltairewas a friend to Frederick and had a great influence on his Enlightenment ideals. He initially hid
his love of the Enlightenment during his reign, but later he began to realize how the philosophies of the movement could actually advance and fortify
his state. He

History Of The Beginnings Of A Successful Ruler: Maria...
The Beginnings of a Successful Ruler
In 1729, Charles Lewis wrote in a letter to his friend, a description of the young Maria Theresa. He wrote, "The eldest Archduchess Maria Theresa
is brought up in the agreeable prospect of the vast dominions possessed by the Emperor. This young Princess has very much of the Air of the
Empress her mother and if Heaven designs her for the Sovereignty of the Empire, God grant she may also resemble in her Virtues!" Maria Theresa
would in fact go on to become the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions, coming into power through succession. According to the New World
Encyclopedia, Maria Theresa's titles from birth to death were, "Her Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (May 13, 1717 – October 20,
1740), Her Majesty The Queen of Hungary and Bohemia (October 20, 1740 – September 13, 1745), Her Imperial Majesty The Holy Roman ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Though there were a few causes of the Seven Years' War, like the long
–time power struggle between France and England and the French and Indian war
technically already beginning in 1754, what more or less sent the war into action was another issue between Frederick the Great and Maria
Theresa. In 1756 Frederick II invaded Saxony, and it was no surprise that he was once again trying to take something that in fact, did not belong to
him. Maria Theresa, on the other hand, was still bitter about losing Silesia to Prussia, and she saw the war as a way to possibly retake Silesia. She
can't really be blamed for wanting to take back what was originally apart of the Habsburg dominions and that which she felt had been unfairly taken
away. Unfortunately for her, Silesia was not recovered and France lost the war with many repercussions, while Austria got more of a slap on the

The Enlightenment Impact On Government Reform

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