How did Frederick the Great change Prussia?
Frederick II (the Great) is known as a military leader, but it was not only his military achievements that turned his native Prussia into a powerful power.
Frederick II (Frederick the Great) is primarily known as a military leader who defeated the Austrians, Russians, and French with his military actions in order to strengthen Prussia as a center of power in Europe.
However, what makes a nation great can hardly be defined as the only ability to win wars. Frederick the Great transformed Prussia with his domestic and foreign policies, attention to trade and economy, and supported the revolution in art and culture that transformed Prussia into a nation worthy of emulation and admiration.
The Progressive Policies of Frederick II
A caricature drawing depicting Frederick with the humanist Voltaire, with whom he corresponded frequently, The Atlantic.
Human rights were the cornerstone of Prussian administrative policy during the time of Frederick II.
Judicial brutality was also seen as something in need of reform. Under Frederick II, torture was outlawed, and the death penalty was applied only for the most heinous crimes. Much attention was also paid to other dynamics in the justice system. When Frederick II came to power, there were special courts for different social strata. He hated this inequality and set about reforming the judicial system so that it would be applied equally in all areas.
However, the reforms initiated by the Prussian monarch took a long time and were not fully completed until 1794 after his death.
The Prussian Economy and Support for Local Industry
The badge of the Royal Berlin Porcelain Factory, founded in 1763 by Frederick the Great and still in operation today, Charlton Hall.
Frederick II inherited a country ruled by the rules and laws of mercantilism. In practice, the ideas were restrictive and nationalistic. Mercantilism is inherently based on the ownership of precious metals and more imports than exports. Thus, the model gave rise to a protectionist state of affairs.
Frederick II was a passionate supporter of the mercantilist model and, realizing that Prussia needed to compensate for its import/export relationship, he made great strides in supporting local businesses that had the ability to produce goods that would otherwise have been imported. This move toward self-sufficiency created an economy that was confident in its own national capabilities.
The industries he supported represented a variety of businesses across the economic spectrum. From small handicrafts to heavy industry, everything caught the attention of the monarch. Under the leadership of Frederick II, the processing of sugar, the forging of metals, and the manufacture of armaments became important industries. Two amazing industries that became important to the Prussian economy were porcelain and silk.
The silk industry was of particular interest to Frederick II. He oversaw the planting of mulberry trees, which silkworms feed on, and enacted laws that protected silkworms and made sure they were well cared for. The government was even involved in the production and handling of silk.
Another industry that Frederick II valued very much was the porcelain industry. The Royal Berlin Porcelain Factory was founded by order of Frederick. The porcelain created there was of extremely high quality and was a source of inspiration and imitation throughout Europe, and indeed throughout the world. By paying attention to silk and porcelain, Frederick was able to stop the expensive imports of these goods, which previously had to be shipped from China.
Frederick the Great was an inspirational leader who led from the front and fought several wars for control of the province of Silesia. Napoleon considered Frederick the Great to be the greatest tactical genius of all time; British Battles
When Frederick II annexed Silesia from the Austrians, he immediately set about exploiting the vast wealth of the territory. Steel became a staple product associated with Silesia, and with it came the war industry, which was vital to maintaining the power of the Prussian state. Textiles also became an important feature of the Silesian industry, with a particular focus on linen.
Many industries in Prussia were subsidized and benefited from government incentives, with Frederick taking an active part in each industry, looking for ways to improve business and seek new markets.
Religion under Frederick II
St. Hedwig’s Cathedral is the Catholic residence of the Archbishop of Berlin. The building was sanctioned and partly designed by Frederick II. Its doors opened in 1793; GPS My City
In the time of Frederick II, many industries throughout Europe were associated with different religions. The Jesuits had a reputation for being good teachers, and the Jews, for example, were known as merchants and bankers. Frederick understood that in order to build and strengthen Prussia’s economy, it was necessary to suppress religious prejudice. He welcomed Protestant French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France and made sure that people of other cultures and religions felt welcome in Prussia.
This dynamic was certainly aided by the fact that Frederick II took a scientific approach to religion. Although Frederick was raised as a Calvinist, he rejected many of the mystical and miraculous aspects of the Christian faith and thereby tempered his religious fervor with a sense of tolerance for other faiths. As an absolute monarch, many Prussians saw him as a figurehead, personifying education and wisdom, and a figure to be emulated by the whole country.
Prussia, however, was undoubtedly a Protestant country, and the tolerance of other religions, though extremely progressive for the time, did not reach the point of complete equality. Catholics, for example, were not considered for high positions in the state.
Although Frederick made considerable strides in immigration through his policies, repeatedly declaring that nationality and religion did not bother him, he still secretly harbored prejudices. He expressed concern that there were too many Jews living in some regions and was known to have harshly treated Catholics in conquered territories. On the whole, however, he was more tolerant than his contemporaries in the rest of Europe.
Attention to art
Flute Concerto at Sanssouci by Adolf von Menzel, 1852. This painting depicts Frederick the Great performing for guests through Independent Ireland.
Frederick II was a great lover of art. He was the patron saint of many musicians and composers of the time, including J.S. Bach. He even composed his sonatas and played the flute. His love of classical art extended to opera, which he sought to make more accessible to the general public by making admission to the opera free. During his reign, Frederick built many opera houses throughout Prussia.
His interests also included philosophy, and he corresponded regularly with Voltaire, who referred to Frederick as the “philosopher-king.” However, Frederick was not just interested in the philosophy of others. He wrote his own work called The Works of the Philosopher Sanssouci.
Much of Frédéric’s education was conducted in French, which made him a kind of Francophile. Although he was disgusted by the wealth displayed by the French nobility, he did love the aesthetics and feel of French art and culture.
With his love of art and culture, which also extended to painting and sculpture, Frederick sought to transform Berlin into a cultural center that could rival Paris and London.
Rural Reforms
Der König Überall by Robert Wartmüller, Ascent Learning
Although much attention was paid to urban issues, Frederick understood that the agricultural sector also needed to be significantly improved. His Peuplierungspolitik (population policy) led to huge improvements and expansion of agriculture by draining swamps and opening up new land for agricultural use.
He introduced new crops to Prussia, including potatoes and turnips. The potato was a great success and changed the agriculture of Prussia. For this, Frederick II was nicknamed the “Potato King”, and every year to this day, potatoes are placed on his grave. He also expanded the infrastructure by building canals to transport crops to market.
Frederick the Great’s tomb is often decorated with potatoes to commemorate his commitment to rural reform in the Confessions of a Castelholic.
During his tenure as King of Prussia, more than 1,200 villages were founded and many thousands of jobs were created in the agricultural sector. Although his policies led to the destruction of ecosystems, for a man of his time, his enlightened pragmatism was far more progressive than that of many of his peers. He passed laws on plant protection, and his love for animals allowed him to open the first veterinary hospital in Prussia. He adhered to the philosophy that people who don’t care about animals are likely to be disloyal to their fellow humans either. He refused to wear spurs while riding a horse, and in a letter to his sister Wilhelmina about the treatment of animals and how it affected human nature, he stated that “it is better to be more sensitive than too harsh.”
Biography of Frederick II, Amazon.
Through his military might, Frederick II gained new lands and made Prussia a formidable country, which eventually led to an alliance between Prussia and the disparate German states of the Holy Roman Empire, leading Germany to become the most powerful state in Europe.
None of this, however, could have been achieved without the solid economic foundation that Frederick had built. His policies guaranteed the stability of Prussia’s existence and its independence from the vagaries of the market outside Prussia.
In addition, his love for the finer things in life led to the massive growth of Prussian culture, which was highly respected throughout Europe.
His country’s military needs did not turn him into a sociopathic monster like many other leaders did. He retained a great passion for the people of his country and was not afraid to promote ideals of compassion, especially towards animals. After his death in 1786, he was buried next to his father, despite clearly stating that he would like to be buried next to his dogs.