Wars and Other Conflicts of the 18th Century

AP European History

Mid 18th Century Wars1715-1739/1740 = time of peace

War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739 (England v. Spain) & War of Austrian Succession, 1740 (Prussia v. Austria) ushers in new wave of conflict

World-wide conflict from 1739-1815

Armed conflict often overrides diplomacy

Periods of peace ≠ Stability RATHER time to recoup strength to fight again

Why war?

Rulers interested inPrinciple of self-interest

Balance of power (in their favor, of course)

Increase territory

Disrupt another’s trade monopoly

Diplomacy advocates two ideasProtection of dynastic line

Maintenance of national dominance

Armies & Navies of the 18th CenturyExpansion of military = taxation = more efficient & effective centralization of gov’t.France, Prussia, Austria and Russia all double, triple, or quadruple military forces!Officers = landed aristocracy; middle ranks = middle class; rank-and-file soldiers = lower classesPrussia & Russia conscript peasants; others use foreignersEngland – Standing army fluctuates in size – Parliament doesn’t want a king w/ a large army! BUT powerful navyAustria & France consist of volunteers and vagabonds/unemployed

Nature of Warfare

Don’t waste resources! Therefore…Battles of limited objectivesTactical maneuvers over direct confrontationStrict rules of engagement; defeat ≠ capture or destruction

“The art of surrendering strongholds honorably after certain conventional formalities.”

War of Jenkins’ Ear, 1739

British / Spanish rivalry over the West Indies

Spanish practiced search and seizure of contraband on English ships

British merchants lobbied Parliament in 1738

Robert Walpole (1st British PM) declared war vs. Spain in 1739

Opened door to ~100 years of world-wide European warfare

War of Austrian Succession, 1740-1748

Remember Charles VI’s Pragmatic Sanction? – WELL upon Charles’ death Frederick the Great violates PS!

1742 Austria cedes Silesia to Prussia = Prussian population doublesDraws in France, Spain, and Great Britain

France (Prussia’s ally) occupies Netherlands and takes Madras in India (from GB)

Mistake? – Prussia becomes more powerful state; GB now involved vs. France

War of Austrian Succession, 1740-1748

Maria Theresa maintains Habsburg empire BUT at what cost?

Magyar nobility now have local authority in HungaryHungary = trouble area for Habsburgs

Maria Theresa allies w/ Great BritainGreat Britain takes Louisbourg at St. Lawrence River in North America (from France)Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748

All land returned to original “owners” except Silesia Spain renewed Treaty of Utrecht w/ Britain so they could import slaves from Spanish colonies

Diplomatic Revolution - European Square Dancing – Ally Swapping

Retaliation after loss of Silesia Three NEW areas of conflict = 3 names

Europe = Seven Years’ War, 1756-1763India = Great War for Empire, 1756-1763North America = French and Indian War, 1755-1763

Great Britain allies with PrussiaConvention of Westminster, Jan. 1756= prevent foreign troops into German states

MT w/ Count Wenzel von Kaunitz allies with France, May 1756

Hope is to break PrussiaSpring 1757 Russia, Sweden and several smaller German states join alliance

Seven Years’ War, 1756-1763

Prussia & Great Britain vs. France, Russia, and Austria

Prussia under attack on three sides!

Saved by Tsar Peter III’s admiration for Frederick the Great

Peace of Hubertusburg, 1762 – all territory returned / Prussia keeps Silesia

French and Indian War, 1755-1763

Greatest conflict of 7 Years’ WarGulf of the Saint Lawrence Ohio River Valley

French threatening British expansionFrench ally with Native Americans & Spain William Pitt the Elder – British must stop French in order to build empire = colonial war more important French Navy succumbs to British NavyGen. Wolfe vs. Gen. Montcalm at Quebec, 1759

North America before and after the Treaty of Paris, 1763

Great War for Empire, 1756-1763

Great Britain vs. France in IndiaFrance doesn’t offer enough financial support to troopsRobert Clive (Great Britain), small British force & band of sepoys defeat huge Mughal army at Battle of Plassey, 1757GB controls Bengal (area around Calcutta) = movement into the interior of the India

Seven Years’ War

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763

GB PM earl of Bute brokers Treaty

GB receives: all of Canada (from France)

Ohio River Valley, eastern half of Mississippi River valley (from France)

British East India Co growing stronger in India

trying to better organize NA territories

increased taxes to cover costs of warfare

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763

France receivesPondicherry & Chandernagore in India

Guadeloupe and Martinique in West Indies BUT no longer great colonial empire

France in great need of political and financial reform

Increased taxation to cover cost of warfare

Results of Treaty of Paris, 1763

Prussia permanently holds Silesia

Habsburgs less powerful – dependent on Hungarian nobility

Spanish Empire intact BUT GB intent on breaking it.

Receives Louisiana Territory (from France)

ALL COUNTRIES increase taxation to cover the cost of warfare