Rise of Austria and Prussia

1
Rise of Austria and Prussia

• Ch. 17 sec. 4

2

• Europe got involved with the Thirty Years War.
• Holy Roman Empire had become a patchwork of
  several hundred small, separate states that paid
  little heed to the emperor.
  
• As several countries in Europe fought in this war
  of Christianity (Protestants vs Catholics), among
  other conflicts. It ended with the Peace of
  Westphalia.
• Murder, torture, disease, famine. 1/3 of the
  people in the German states died in the war.

3
Effects of the War

• France wins much territory on both sides.
• Netherlands and Swiss Federation become
  independent states.
  
• Germany is divided into 360 separate states and
  was still part of Holy Roman Empire.
  
• Each state had its own govt., coinage, state
  church, armed forces, and foreign policy.
  

4
Austria

• Austrian Hapsburg family put Austrian Empire
  together (Bohemia, Hungary, parts of Italy and
  Poland).
  
• Hapsburgs had a tough time uniting these lands
  with all the diversity they possessed (geography,
  culture, and language).
  
• Maria Theresa becomes first Hapsburg woman to
  rule.

5

• She won support of her people by
• Forcing nobles and clergy to pay taxes.
• Tried to ease burden of taxes and labor services
  on peasants.
  
• Austria was a Catholic state.

6
Prussia

• Protestant state.
• Ruling monarchy was Hohenzollern family
• Brought their scattered lands across northern
  Germany together to form Prussia.
  
• Imposed royal power and reduced the independence
  of their nobles called Junkers (YOON kerz).
  
• Put great emphasis on military values.
• Won loyalty of Junkers by giving them positions
  in army.

7

• King Frederick William ruled.
• Strict militarist, enthralled with tall soldiers
  (P. 438).
  
• Frederick II (son) inherited throne at age 18.
• Enjoyed the flute and poetry.
• Father saw him as weak and treated him so badly
  that Freddy II planned to flee Prussia.
  
• Father discovered these plans and put him in
  solitary confinement.
  
• Father took his sons male friend, who had helped
  Freddy II make the plans, and beheaded him.
  
• Father made Freddy II watch his friend die.

8

• Frederick II uses his army and fights with
  Austria (Maria Theresa) over territory that he
  eventually wins.
  
• He becomes known as Frederick the Great for his
  military exploits.