The Significance of the Main Changes in Prussia under Frederick the Great

Frederick the Great’s General Reforms

Frederick the Great, who reigned from 1740-1786, sought to follow in his father’s footsteps in consolidating Prussian power through military efficiency, but he also strained towards the Enlightenment ideals of religious tolerance, cultural development, and administrative efficiency.
His reign contributed significantly to the rise of Prussia as a European great power. He extended and streamlined the bureaucracy, organised more straightforward taxation, and controlled the strong landowning nobility, the ‘Junkers’, by involving them in the state.
Frederick himself was a product of Enlightenment thought and tried to embody an enlightened ruler, conjuring the idea of the enlightened despot - a ruler who used their absolute power for the benefit of their constituents according to Enlightenment principles.

Economic and Military Changes

Frederick followed his father in regarding the military as the centrepiece of the state. He worked tirelessly to expand it, leading to Prussia becoming renowned for having one of the most efficient and disciplined military forces in Europe.
Frederick expanded the Canton system that had been instituted by his father. This allowed the army to grow without resorting to conscription, making Prussia one of the greatest military powers of the 18th century.
To aid the economy, Frederick improved domestic trade by standardising weights and measures across Prussia. He also invested heavily in the development of infrastructure, such as roads and canals, which fostered internal trade and communication.
Frederick encouraged agriculture and industry with protective tariffs, subsidies, and monopolies, following a mercantilist economic policy.

Foreign Policy and Territorial Expansion

Frederick aimed to consolidate Prussia’s territories, especially Prussia’s borders with Austria and Poland. He secured Silesia from Austria in the War of Austrian Succession (1740-48) and participated in the partitioning of Poland.
He sought alliances beneficial to Prussia, such as with Britain in the Seven Years’ War (1756-63), which helped maintain hold of Silesia and increased Prussia’s international standing.

Cultural Impact and Enlightenment Influence

Frederick held Enlightenment values and patronised philosophers and artists, intending to make Prussia a cultural centre, a policy encapsulated in his famous phrase “Give me educated people, I will build you a state.”
Yet, despite his personal commitment to Enlightenment ideals, Frederick’s reforms did not substantially democratised Prussian society. The nobility were strengthened under his leadership, with plenty of power still in their hands. This created a social structure that lasted well into the 19th century, feeding into the idiosyncratic nature of Prussian, and later German, modernisation.

Frederick the Great’s reign was vital in the formulation of Prussian identity and the rise of Prussia as a European power. Understanding his reign allows one to appreciate the complexities of enlightened despotism and the role Prussia would play in European politics and in the formation of modern Germany.