· Wars of the 18th Century
o Louis XV
§ Not terribly interested in matters of state & increased spending
o War of Jenkin’ Ear (England)/Silesian War/War of Pragmatic Sanction
o War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748)
§ Reflects 18th century warfare
· Most humane warfare in history, least gruesome warfare, not going after civilians, who are merely affected economically
· Power, prestige, practical interest, commercial dominance at stake
· Slow, methodical warfare with the goal of outsmarting opponent & making surrender seem like the best option
§ Supply problems; lines of communication were hard to maintain
§ 1740-Maria Theresa came to power in Austria, Frederick came to power in Prussia
§ Frederick ignored the Pragmatic sanction, & took Silesia from Austria
· Industrious territory for Eastern Europe with resources & exclusively German
· Austria becomes ‘less’ German
§ Bohemia began trying to break away from Austria
§ French get involved because they want Belgium
§ English don’t want French to get Belgium, because an economically developed Belgium threatens British trade & could be the launching point of an invasion; back the Austrians & Dutch
§ Bavarians wet up a puppet government in Bohemia
§ Hungary
· Always want to break away
· Maria Theresa visits Budapest
o Gets crowned with Crown of St. Stephan
o Addresses crowd-says they agreed to pragmatic sanction & thus she is the legal sovereign
o Hungarians moved by speech & pledge themselves to Empress
§ British & French preoccupied with war in Americas & India-all about commercial interests
§ Frederick forces Maria Theresa into a separate peace, securing Silesia; Prussia, the country that started the war, is the first to back out of it
§ French temporarily acquired Belgium
§ British checked French interests in Americas, India, & Europe
§ Aix-la-Chapelle Peace Treaty-1748
· Any change in territory was to be undone-everything should go back to original owner, except for Silesia
§ Britain has an impressive navy, political system, & funds-in strongest position possible
· French navy can’t compete with the British
§ Other powers have to abide with what Britain wants
§ Maria Theresa wanted Silesia back, but Britain would not negotiate for it
o Count Kaunitz-Austrian foreign minister-suggests Austrian alliance with France
§ Diplomatic Revolution
· England & Prussia allies
· Austria & France allies
o Deeply unpopular in France
o Seven Year’s War (1756-63)
§ Same stakes
§ War in Europe, India, & Americas
§ War actually starts in Americas-hostilities between French & British
§ Frederick attacked by Russians, French & Austrians
§ Elizabeth of Russia died; Peter III took throne
· Germany ruler; pulled out of war
§ Maria Theresa doesn’t regain Silesia
§ French & Indian War
· British very strict over trade conditions
· Native Americans preferred French
· Ohio Company-British settlers west of Alleghenies in French territory
· British victorious; France surrenders all of its continental territory to either Spain or England
§ India
· British general is Robert Clive
· French general is Dupleix
· Competition for commercial control of India; French East India Company vs. British East India Company
· Dupleix recruited sepoys
o Indians preferred French & fought against British
· Clive able to drive out Dupleix’s interests
· Britain has huge advantages
· British East India Company able to take over all of Indian subcontinent
· Britain gains so much control Mughal empire is useless
· Clive becomes administrator in British East India Company
§ Prussian/British victory
§ 2 treaties:
· Peace of Paris
o British/French rivalry
o No French presence on American mainland
o French East India Company forced out of India; English East India Company gains control
§ Mughal empire will weaken
§ Working commercial advantages
§ More colonialism/commercialism
o Britain is the big winner
o France loses, but still has Caribbean holdings
· Peace of Hubertesburg
o Prussian/Austrian rivalry
o Frederick keeps Silesia
§ Territory that helps make Prussia into Prussia
§ Russians pulled out, giving Frederick an advantage
o Legitimized Prussia’s claim on Silesia
§ Break law but win conflict, it’s okay
o Establishes German dualism
§ Habsburg Austria
· Multiethnic
· Weakened
§ Hohenzollern Prussia
· Looks more German
· Frederick II
o Frederick The Great (1740-1786)
o Takes Silesia from Austria, disregarding the Pragmatic Sanction
o Turned army into aggressive fighting force
o One of the great enlightened despots
§ Wrote about history, philosophy, military tactics
o Made Prussia a major power through war
o Recognized something heinous about hereditary subjugation, so alleviated the condition of the serfs on the crown domain
§ Didn’t try to make other Junkers do the same
§ Can’t upset the Junkers because they are the army officers-no Prussia without army
o Died without an heir; nephew became king
