Paths to PowerPaths to Power

Central and Eastern Europe Central and Eastern Europe

France after Louis XIVFrance after Louis XIV French resources had been drained by French resources had been drained by

the many wars of Louis XIVthe many wars of Louis XIV Subsequent rulers struggled with Subsequent rulers struggled with

financial and economic issuesfinancial and economic issues 1719 – financial management was 1719 – financial management was

responsibility of John Lawresponsibility of John Law Scottish mathematician and gamblerScottish mathematician and gambler Served under Louis XV … economic Served under Louis XV … economic

recovery was goalrecovery was goal

The Mississippi BubbleThe Mississippi Bubble

Law believed an increase in paper Law believed an increase in paper money would stimulate the economymoney would stimulate the economy

Law organized the Mississippi CompanyLaw organized the Mississippi Company

Mississippi Co. also took over Mississippi Co. also took over management of the French national debtmanagement of the French national debt

Company offered shares of its own stock Company offered shares of its own stock in exchange for government bondsin exchange for government bonds

To exchange large quantities of bonds, To exchange large quantities of bonds, Law encouraged speculation in Law encouraged speculation in Mississippi Co.Mississippi Co.

Stock rose … smart investors cashed in Stock rose … smart investors cashed in … these same investors when paid in … these same investors when paid in paper money sought to exchange it for paper money sought to exchange it for gold … bank did not have enough goldgold … bank did not have enough gold

All gold payments were halted in France All gold payments were halted in France … money became near worthless … Law … money became near worthless … Law fled the countryfled the country

““Mississippi Bubble”, as it was called had Mississippi Bubble”, as it was called had burstburst

This fiasco brought disgrace to the This fiasco brought disgrace to the French governmentFrench government

Subsequent monarchs were burdened Subsequent monarchs were burdened with this legacy, an ailing economy and with this legacy, an ailing economy and royal waste and scandalsroyal waste and scandals

Great Britain Great Britain 1714 George I (House of Hanover) 1714 George I (House of Hanover)

became Kingbecame King– Act of SettlementAct of Settlement

•Whigs and Tories

•Two political “parties”

•Tories – overtures of peace toward France

•Whigs sought favor of King George

•Tories favored “Stuart Pretender” (James Edward)

•George clearly favored the Whigs

Tories v. WhigsTories v. Whigs

Strong MonarchyStrong Monarchy Low taxes for land Low taxes for land

ownersowners Firm support of the Firm support of the

Anglican ChurchAnglican Church

Parliamentary Parliamentary emphasisemphasis

Urban commercial Urban commercial interestsinterests

Religious tolerationReligious toleration

Robert WalpoleRobert Walpole

Robert WalpoleRobert Walpole– Managed economic recovery and Managed economic recovery and

stability for George Istability for George I– Became considered first Prime Minister Became considered first Prime Minister

of GBof GB– Controlled government patronage and Controlled government patronage and

managed bureaucracymanaged bureaucracy– ““Let sleeping dogs lie”Let sleeping dogs lie”

Robert Walpole

Let sleeping dogs lie

Sweden

Sweden had played a major role in the Thirty Years’ War

Sweden consolidated control of the Baltic Sea

Sweden had one of the better armies in Europe

Economic concerns … weak

Charles XII

Ruled 1697 – 1718 Stubborn and insane Opposed Russian expansion in the

Baltic region Great Northern War (1700-1721) Charles led a vigorous and brilliant

campaign

Great Northern War

Sweden defeated Russia at Narva (1700)

1708 invasion of Russia … bogged down in harsh Russian winter (a recurring theme)

Charles died in 1718 … war exhausted Swedish resources and Army

Outcome of the Great Northern War

Russia gained foothold in Baltic Prussia gained Pomerania Swedish nobles quarreled over

power and Sweden faded into the European background

Russia & Sweden After the Russia & Sweden After the Great Northern WarGreat Northern War

POLAND Polish armies had rescued Vienna from a

Turkish siege in 1683 Following this glorious effort, Poland faded

in influence Internal squabbling amongst nobles and a

fierce desire for autonomy prevented centralized authority

Diet No king, but the nobles did have a

legislature (diet) Nobles ONLY Liberum veto … a single member could

demand the body disband … “exploding the diet”

Requirement of unanimity doomed Poland Poland disappeared by the end of 1700s

Hapsburg AustriaHapsburg Austria

Spanish and Austrian branches of the Spanish and Austrian branches of the Hapsburg family became officially Hapsburg family became officially split after the Treaty of Westphaliasplit after the Treaty of Westphalia

Austrian Hapsburgs retained title of Austrian Hapsburgs retained title of Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman Emperor

Hapsburgs used military to extend Hapsburgs used military to extend power into Netherlands and northern power into Netherlands and northern ItalyItaly

Pragmatic SanctionPragmatic Sanction

Hapsburg line eventually ran out of Hapsburg line eventually ran out of heirs after Charles VI (1711-1740)heirs after Charles VI (1711-1740)

Pragmatic Sanction Provided the Pragmatic Sanction Provided the legal basis for a single line of legal basis for a single line of inheritance through Charles VI’s inheritance through Charles VI’s daughter Maria Theresadaughter Maria Theresa

This worked for political stability, but This worked for political stability, but foreign aggression was a threatforeign aggression was a threat

Prussia and the HohenzollernsPrussia and the Hohenzollerns

Hohenzollerns took territory in Hohenzollerns took territory in Brandenburg and expanded it into the Brandenburg and expanded it into the large entity called Prussia (among German large entity called Prussia (among German states of HRE)states of HRE)

Second only to the Hapsburgs in HRESecond only to the Hapsburgs in HRE

Frederick William, The Great Frederick William, The Great ElectorElector

1640-1688 … forged Prussia into a 1640-1688 … forged Prussia into a modern statemodern state

Junkers – Prussian nobles – supported Junkers – Prussian nobles – supported Frederick in taxation and military ventures Frederick in taxation and military ventures against Poland and Sweden in return for against Poland and Sweden in return for his support of their holdings and rights his support of their holdings and rights regarding their surfsregarding their surfs

Frederick William IFrederick William I

Son of the Great Elector (r. 1688-1713)Son of the Great Elector (r. 1688-1713)Built a great army that soon became the Built a great army that soon became the

trademark of Prussian powertrademark of Prussian powerFrederick William seldom used the army, Frederick William seldom used the army,

the mere threat of it worked wondersthe mere threat of it worked wondersArmy was symbol of power and instrument Army was symbol of power and instrument

of pride and national unityof pride and national unity

Frederick William I