French Revolution Basics
... -Exiles all Protestants living in France *One of Louis XIV’s greatest mistakes* -Wants everyone to be catholic because it is important to him that the people and nobility be unified around the king 3) Image -Ninety percent of people didn’t read or write -Much communication between people and the king was with pictures -Louis XIV paid for portraits of himself to be put in libraries and museums -All of this was to create a good image of him; many pictures portrayed him as Greek god-like 4) Warfare -War of Spanish Succession -1702-1713 -1702 –king of Spain died -Spain is also a catholic nation -Louis XIV had earlier been married to a Spanish princess -Tries to use this right for the Bourbon Dynasty to succeed the Spanish king -King of Spain agrees – Louis’s grandson to become king of Spain –Phillip V -Creates a large block of Bourbon power and Catholic power in Western Europe -Pisses off other European nations -Coalition is formed to stop Bourbon dynasty from taking over Spain -War ends in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrecht -Accepted succession of Bourbon Dynasty in Spain -Treaty of Utrecht -Two countries, France and Spain, had to remain separate independent nations -Louis XIV has to give up some territories -Austria and Prussia get territories -*Most important –from this point until Napoleon Bonaparte France and Spain are allies –remain firm in Catholic faith and in keeping Protestants out -Basic ideas of enlightenment -Emphasis on reason and man’s ability to reason -All about reform and change -Move from a focus on communities, authority and tradition toward individualism -Focus on individual ability, change and reform -1700’s –enlightenment is a period of ideas -Whole idea of democracy is being first formulated 1700’s ENLIGHTENED DESPOTS Catherine II (The Great) -comes to power in Russia -1762-1796 -Wants to Westernize Russia -One of the first things she tries to do is please the people by acknowledging the arts -Puts together a group (commission) of nobles to reform laws -The changes are for greater participation by the people in government -“Supposedly” believes in this stuff –wants to appear open-minded 1789 –Revolutions in France 1793 –King run out and beheaded -Catherine doesn’t want this to happen so does stuff to keep that from happening -Catherine was a skilled diplomat -Increased industry and helped economy -Has good relationships with other nations, especially Poland -Poland id divided up by Russia, Prussia, and Austria -They successfully invade Poland Frederick II -1740 -King of Prussia -First King of Prussia was Frederick I, Fred II is his grandson -Frederick II’s father and grandfather devoted themselves to the military -Very strong military -Fred II had a very wide education -Studied arts and philosophy -Has an open mind to the West -When became king in 1740 wanted to be titled “First servant to the state” -Fred is here to serve the people and the state -People are beginning to identify with the state instead of the king -Period of nationalism -Religion –allows Catholics and Protestants to live together -By the end of his rein devotes himself more to the military -Military more than doubles in size -Requires every male citizen to serve at least three months in the military -Has one of the largest militaries in Europe -Respected as the most efficient military for its size -Voltaire was invited to live in the court of Frederick II -Encouraged Fred II to extend freedom of...