Name: _______________________________________

Aim #5: Can an absolute monarch be an “enlightened” ruler?

The Enlightened Despots:

Frederick II of Prussia (part of Germany). Ruled 1740-1786.

Achievements
◦ Provided elementary education
for all children
◦ Abolished torture as a form of
punishment
◦ Supported most forms of
religious tolerance
◦ Reduced censorship
◦Declared himself to be “the first
servant of the state,” considered
his main goal to be helping his
people and strengthening his
country.
Failures
◦ No religious freedom or political
rights for Jews, whom Frederick
was very intolerant towards.
◦ Many peasants in Prussia were
still forced to work as serfs for
wealthy landowners. As a result,
they were bound to the land and
could not leave the estates they
worked on without permission
from the landowners. Frederick
did not want to upset the
landowners, and refused to free
the serfs (even though he
personally thought serfdom was
wrong).

1. Which action taken by Frederick was MOST consistent with the goals of the
Enlightenment? Which philosopher’s ideas did he follow?

2. Which action taken by Frederick was LEAST consistent with the goals of the
Enlightenment? Which philosopher’s ideas did he violate?

3. Ultimately, what letter grade (from A to F) would you give Frederick as an

“enlightened” ruler (A being the most enlightened, F being the least enlightened)?
Why?
Catherine the Great of Russia. Ruled 1762-1796.

Achievements Failures
◦ Exchanged many letters with ◦ The new constitution was never
Voltaire. actually put into practice.

◦ Drafted a new Russian ◦ She intended to free the serfs of

constitution to allow religious
tolerance and abolish torture and
the death penalty.
◦ Gave money to Denis Diderot to
help him finish his Encyclopedia
in 1772. This was a 35 volume
work that brought together the
new Enlightenment ideas about
art, science, government and
religion in one place.
Russia, but wealthy landowners
stopped her.
◦ After the serfs tried to rebel
against her in 1773, she lost all
sympathy for them. She brutally
crushed the rebellion, gave
landowners absolute power over
their serfs, and forced even more
peasants to become serfs.

◦ Expanded Russia’s empire (took

control of the Black Sea, divided
up the country of Poland
between Russia, Prussia and
Austria).

1. Which action taken by Catherine was MOST consistent with the goals of the
Enlightenment? Which philosopher’s ideas did she follow?

2. Which action taken by Catherine was LEAST consistent with the goals of the
Enlightenment? Which philosopher’s ideas did she violate?

3. Ultimately, what letter grade (from A to F) would you give Catherine as an

“enlightened” ruler (A being the most enlightened, F being the least enlightened)?
Why?
Joseph II of Austria. Ruled 1780-1790.

Achievements
◦ Eliminated torture and the
death penalty.
◦ Granted religious tolerance to
Protestants and Jews.
◦ Abolished serfdom, demanded
that peasants actually be paid for
their labor with cash.
Failures
◦ His policies were resisted by the
nobility and the church, and he
gradually lost the support of
these groups.
◦ After he died in 1790, most of
his reforms were eliminated, and
peasants in Austria were forced
to become serfs again.

◦ Supported freedom of the

press, as long as nothing critical
was written about the
government.
1. Which action taken
by Joseph was MOST
consistent with the goals of the Enlightenment? Which Enlightenment philosopher’s
ideas did he follow?

2. Which action taken by Joseph was LEAST consistent with the goals of the
Enlightenment? Which Enlightenment philosopher’s ideas did he violate?

3. Ultimately, what letter grade (from A to F) would you give Joseph as an “enlightened”
ruler (A being the most enlightened, F being the least enlightened)? Why?

Concluding Questions: Write at least 3-4 sentences in response to EACH question.

1. Overall, which ruler do you think was the most enlightened? Which ruler was the least
enlightened? Why?

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2. Ultimately, do you think it is possible to be an absolute ruler and truly follow the ideas
of the Enlightenment? Explain.

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