·
Enlightened Despotism
o
Easy to shift to, because the framework of the system is already
in place
o
Did the same things rulers had always done, but the defense of
these actions and the approach of the rulers is new
§ Not
claiming divine right; should be obeyed because of what they do
§ “Difference
in tempo”
o
Any monarch is in power because they are born into it-not
rational
o
Has limitations; questions raised over its practicality
·
Joseph II of Austria
o
Ruled 1780-1790
o
Passed 700 edicts a year
o
Was changing everything
§ Abolished
serfdom
·
Upset aristocrats
·
Serfs rebelled after being liberated-didn’t know what to do-too
unenlightened
§ Imposed
equality of taxation
·
Aristocrats forced to pay fair share
§ Equality
in the eyes of the law
·
Aristocrats punished like everyone else
·
Punishments lessened
§ Established
freedom of the press
§ Imposed
toleration of all faiths, including Jews
§ Clashed
with Pope
·
Made Austrian church into a state institution
·
People rebelled
§ Developed
Austrian Belgium through micromanagement
·
Rebelled
§ Tried
to make German the standard language
·
Magyars rebelled
o
Would go undercover into villages & talk with the people
o
Made no distinction between the necessary and the ideal, and
thus alienated everyone
o
Couldn’t understand why people didn’t want what he implemented
o
Died young without an heir; his brother Leopold undid his
changes
