Europe in 18th Century

• War of the Spanish Succession 1701-1714

• War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748
• Seven Years’ War 1754-1763
• American Revolution 1763-1783
• French Revolution 1789-1804
• Napoleonic Era 1804-1815
Europe, pre-War of the Spanish Succession
 War of the Spanish Succession (1701-13)
• 1700 - Charles II, king of Spain
• France Louis XIV
• HRE and Austrian emperor Leopold I
• The electoral prince of Bavaria, Joseph Ferdinand

• Charles II left everything to Bourbon Prince Philip, grandson of King Louis XIV
• If crown is not accepted by grandson of Louis XIV (Philip V), throne will go to
Archduke Charles, Leopold I’s son
War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)
• Louis XIV accepts grandson’s inheritance and treats him as Philip V of
Spain
• Austrians don’t accept this, and begin preparations for war
• as of 1701, fight was only between France and Austria
• but, conflict soon draws in other European powers
• Because Louis XIV begins taking an aggressive stance in order to defend his
grandson’s claim
• The Dutch, many German states, and Britain sought to prevent France
from extending its power in Europe (and the reach of Catholicism).
The Grand Alliance
• 1702, Britain and Holland enter war in support of Austrian
emperor
• in response to French aggression
• along with many states within Germany, especially Prussia
• basic aims of war: each side trying to take control of
territories which make up Spanish Hapsburg lands
Treaty of Utrecht (1713-1714)
• 1713: TREATY OF UTRECHT
• Peace between France, Great Britain, Netherlands
• Treaty of Rastatt, 1714, ended war between France and Austria
• Philip V Became the KING OF SPAIN
• Gibraltar and Minorca ceded to Great Britain by Spain
• Spain gave right to Britain to supply African slaves
• from France, Britain receives Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hudson Bay
territory
The end of the War
• period of peace
• ‘balance of power’ politics.
• restructured overseas commerce
• Anglo-French rivalry
• Savoy and Brandenburg---Sardunia and Prussia
• The international system
• Britain has been most advantageous
• War of the Austrian Succession
1740-1748

• France • Austria
• Prussia • G. Britain
• Spain • Hanover
• Bavaria • Dutch Republic
• Sweden • Saxony
• Saxony • Savoy
• Savoy • Russia
War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748

• Maria Theresa's right to inherit her father Emperor Charles VI's crown
in the Habsburg Monarchy,
• France, Prussia and Bavaria challenge the Habsburg power.
• In December 1740, King Frederick II of Prussia invaded the Austrian
province of Silesia.
• Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic and
Hanover (the Pragmatic Allies. )
• As the conflict widened, Spain, Sardinia, Saxony, Sweden and Russia.
 Maria
Theresa
(r. 1740-1780)

Went to war with

Prussia in the War of
Austrian Succession
 Frederick II (the Great)
(r.1740-1786)

Invaded Austria in the

War of Austrian Succession
and acquired the region of
Silesia from the Habsburgs
Austrian Empire: 1657-1718
The Growth of Austria and Prussia to 1748
War of the Austrian Succession
1740-1748

Austria loses
Silesia to
Prussia
1740
1748
 Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748
• By the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in October 1748, France agreed to leave the
Austrian Netherlands
• Maria Theresa was also confirmed as Austrian ruler.
• In fact, the Peace turned out to be little more than a truce.
• At the end of the War of Austrian Succession,
• Prussia rose to become a military power in Europe.
• The treaty was marked by the mutual restitution of British and French conquests.
• In the commercial struggle between Britain and France in the West Indies, Africa, and
India, nothing was settled the treaty was thus no basis for a lasting peace.

• Diplomatic Revolution
• Austria aligned itself with France,
• Prussia became an ally of Britain.
• The new alliances fought the Seven Years' War in the following decade.
Diplomatic Revolution
 • SEVEN YEARS’ WAR
• France
• Great Britain • Austria
• Prussia • Sweden
vs.
• Hanover • Saxony
• Portugal • Russia
• Spain
1754
NORTH AMERICA, 1754–1763
The North American theater of
the Seven Years’ War is known
as the French and Indian War in
the US and simply as the Seven
Years’ War in English-speaking
Canada. It began 2
years earlier than hostilities in
Europe.
7 Years’ War/French and Indian War (1754-63)
• Early in the war, the French defeated several British attacks and
captured a number of British forts
• In 1758, the tide turned when the British captured Louisbourg
followed by Québec City in 1759 and Montréal in 1760. 
• With the Treaty of Paris of 1763 France formally ceded Canada to the
British
• The Seven Years’ War therefore laid the bicultural foundations of
modern Canada.
• The war provided Great Britain enormous territorial gains in North
America,
• But disputes over subsequent frontier policy and paying the war’s
expenses led to colonial discontent, and ultimately to the American
Revolution.
• In 1753, prior to the outbreak of hostilities, Great Britain controlled
the 13 colonies
• British forces defeated French forces in India, and in 1759 British
armies invaded and conquered Canada.
Results of War
• The French and Indian War was concluded by the
Treaty of Paris of February 10, 1763. It was signed by
England, France, and Spain.
• In the resulting Treaty of Paris (1763),
• Great Britain secured significant territorial gains in North
America, including all French territory east of the
Mississippi river, as well as Spanish Florida
• Britain emerged as the dominant colonial power
• But for the British, the fruits of victory brought seeds
of trouble with Great Britain’s American colonies
Results of War
• The British East India Company acquired the strongest
position within India, which was to become the "jewel
in the imperial crown.”
• The war was described by Winston Churchill as the
first "world war,”
• Because of the British victory, North America and
India developed into English-speaking liberal
democracies.