The Age of Absolutism in Austria and Prussia

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The Age of Absolutism in Austria and Prussia
?Central Europe is the land region located
between France and Russia, and was made up of
unorganized powers in the Holy Roman Empire.
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Absolutism in Austria
I. Thirty Years War A. Continual series of
battles fought between 1618 and
1648. B. This greatly weakened the German
area. C. The Treaty of Westphalia confirmed the
division of Central Europe into Protestant
and Catholic. D. The Holy Roman Empire
remained divided into 300 separate states.
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Absolutism in Austria
II. Austria A. Ruled by the Hapsburg
family. B. Was the strongest of the German
states. C. Gained the Spanish Netherlands and
lands in Italy during the War of Spanish
Succession. D. Charles VI was king, and
in 1713 he convinced European monarchs to sign
the Pragmatic Sanction, where the rulers
promised to accept female succession to the
Austrian throne.
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Absolutism in Austria
E. In 1740, Maria Theresa inherited the throne
from her father, Charles VI. F. During her
rule she was successful in strengthening the
Austrian government.
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Absolutism in Prussia
I. Frederick William (Great Elector) A. 1st
Hohenzollern to rule. B. Wanted a strong
military. C. Prussia was called Brandenburg
during this time.
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Absolutism in Prussia
II. Frederick I A. First to call himself
king. B. Changed the name to
Prussia. C. Prussia is now independent from the
Holy Roman Empire.
III. Frederick William I (Royal Drill
Sergeant) A. Spent mostly all of his money on
the military. B. Doubled the size of the
army from 40,000 men to 85,000.
IV. Frederick II (The Great) A. Wanted to
increase land by taking Austria.
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Absolutism in Prussia
V. War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) A. Prus
sia attacked Theresas Austrian lands. B. They
wanted Silesia for its iron-rich
lands. C. Austria held on to most of their land
as they where aided by the British. D. However
, they did lose Silesia.
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Absolutism in Prussia
VI. Seven Years War (1756-1763) A. Austria,
France, and Russia VS. Britain and
Prussia B. Became known as the French and
Indian War in North America. C. Peace of
Paris Treaty (1763) Austria won nothing and
Prussia still controlled
Silesia. France lost many possessions to
Britain including Canada and India.