1 / 9

Section 5.25

Section 5.25. The Formation of Prussia. Hohenzollerns. Frederick William (The Great Elector)- 1640-1688 Frederick I (The Ostentatious)-1688-1713 Frederick William I (The Soldier King) 1713-1740 Frederick II (The Great) 1740-1786).

gerodi
Télécharger la présentation

Section 5.25

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Section 5.25 The Formation of Prussia

  2. Hohenzollerns • Frederick William (The Great Elector)- 1640-1688 • Frederick I (The Ostentatious)-1688-1713 • Frederick William I (The Soldier King) 1713-1740 • Frederick II (The Great) 1740-1786)

  3. The Territorial growth of Brandenburg-PrussiaGeographic Factors • Prussia rises from patchwork quilt of Germany • Key Characteristic: Militarism • military values permeated all spheres of life • Why? • Geography • Not a promising location for building a nation • flat open plain, no prominent physical or natural frontiers, shut off from sea • “the sandbox of the HRE” • Territories separated (Brandenburg, Prussia, lands on the Rhine) • Devastated and depopulated during 30 Years’ War • Brandenburg had suffered greatly during 30 Years War • population of Berlin fallen from 14 to 6 thousand since the war started • Estates (representative assemblies) greatly weakened

  4. Frederick William the Great Elector(1620-1688)Political Developments • Member of Hohenzollern Family • An Elector (of the HRE) • A prestigious position but had no other political power • Took power in 1640 • Ignored traditional powers of the Estates • Estates had Power of the Purse • FW forced each region to pay permanent tax without their consent • Purpose was to pay for a standing army • Directed Brandenburg toward a militaristic culture • Created anArmy of being • keep army but not use it • “Speak softly and carry a big stick” policy • 1688 • Population of 1 million • Army of 30 thousand

  5. The Prussian Military StatePolitical Developments • Why was he able to do this? • War created state of crisis • Sweden and Poland (1648) • Wars of Louis XIV • Crimean Tartars (1656-57) • Junkers and Bourgeoisie divided • FW gave royal authority over peasants to nobles • Taxed towns heavily

  6. Frederick William I (1713-1740) • “the soldier-king” • Established Prussian absolutism • Created a military cult in society • Uncouth, disdained French culture, workaholic • cheap except with military, Spartan lifestyle • Focus on the military • always appeared in uniform • loved tall soldiers and collected special unit b/t 6 and 7 feet tall • increased size from 40 to 83, 000 • left surplus of 7 mil Thalers • Strict economic policies led to accumulation of a large war chest

  7. Army and Prussian SocietyPolitical and Cultural Factors • Frederick William I • State of Service • absorbed the landed aristocracy (Junkers) into the army as officers • virtually all Junkers were in military • Built a Prussian identity that unified the various regions • Duty, obedience, service, sacrifice become characteristic of the culture

  8. Army and Prussian SocietySociopolitical Developments • Weakened middle class exists • FW (Elector) heavily taxed them • FWI used them to administer his government • Government worker – civil service • Little money or land • But known for its honesty and duty to the state • FW I used them to create efficient bureaucracy

More Related