Germany: Key Project
PART 1 Friedrick The Great
Frederick II of Prussia was known as Frederick the Great. Through diplomacy and brilliant
military campaigns, he greatly expanded Prussia's territories and established the empire as
a key military power in Europe. He began to revamp and standardize Prussia’s justice
system, banning torture and arguing for a uniform national criminal code. He liberalized
control of the press and supported a moderate level of religious freedom. He worked to
economically improve Prussia, building canals to encourage trade and enacting protective
tariffs. Frederick built up Berlin as a cultural capital with grand buildings and rejuvenated the
scientific work of the Berlin Academy.
DATE EVENT
JAN 24 1712 Frederick II was born in Berlin. During his
childhood, his mother introduces him to a wide
range of Enlightenment ideas, while his strict
father enrolls him in military training.
AUGUST 1730 Frederick and his best friend, Hans Herman von
Katte, attempt to escape to England,in part
because of Frederick's miserable home life.
They are caught in Kustrïnand and Frederick is
forced to watch Hans' execution.
NOV 18 1730 Frederick's father pardons him and releases him
from prison. He is forced to remain in Kustrïn
and study political administration in preparation
for his future leadership.
JUNE 12 1733 Frederick's father arranges for him to marry
Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern, a
purely political alliance. The marriage is
ultimately unsuccessful.
MAY 13 1740 Frederick's father dies and he ascends the
throne as King in Prussia, taking over his
father's powerful army and funds. He is
immediately swept up into conquering more of
Europe.
DEC 16 1740 Frederick invades the Austrian territory of Silesia
without provocation, thus beginning the First
Silesian War.
, JUNE 11 1742 Frederick makes peace with Silesia and
becomes the ruler of nearly the entire region.
Between 1744 and 1745 Austria attempted to
retake Silesia from Prussia, but in the Treaty of
Dresden, Frederick forced Austrian ruler Maria
Theresa to adhere to previous boundaries.
AUGUST 29 1756 Hoping to preempt a conspiracy between
Prussia's neighboring countries, Frederick
invades Saxony, allied with Austria, and begins
the Seven Years' War, along with his ally, Great
Britain. Despite several victories, the war soon
turns into a stalemate for Prussia.
MAY 15 1762 Russia withdraws from the Seven Years' War
when pro-Prussia Peter III ascends the throne
and seeks a title from Frederick II, who happily
obliges. Russia's favorable reversal convinces
Sweden to make peace with Prussia as well,
and the war quickly comes to a close, to
Frederick's relief. He terms this event the
"Miracle of the House of Brandenburg."
FEB 15 1763 The Seven Years' War formally ends, leaving
Prussia without any new territory. Nevertheless,
Frederick is allowed to keep Silesia and his
country becomes known as one of the most
powerful in Europe.
AUGUST 5 1772 Frederick signs a treaty along with Russia and
Austria that partitions Poland and removes 1/3
of its land area. The three countries divide up
the winnings; Prussia gains a number of
economically valuable provinces.
JULY 23 1785 Frederick forms the Fürstenbund, an alliance of
Protestant princes in the Holy Roman Empire. It
is meant to protect the empire. This alliance
marks the first organization of German states
under Prussia, which later will unify Germany.
AUGUST 17 1786 Frederick dies in Potsdam.
PART 2
1870/1871 - War and Creation
PART 1 Friedrick The Great
Frederick II of Prussia was known as Frederick the Great. Through diplomacy and brilliant
military campaigns, he greatly expanded Prussia's territories and established the empire as
a key military power in Europe. He began to revamp and standardize Prussia’s justice
system, banning torture and arguing for a uniform national criminal code. He liberalized
control of the press and supported a moderate level of religious freedom. He worked to
economically improve Prussia, building canals to encourage trade and enacting protective
tariffs. Frederick built up Berlin as a cultural capital with grand buildings and rejuvenated the
scientific work of the Berlin Academy.
DATE EVENT
JAN 24 1712 Frederick II was born in Berlin. During his
childhood, his mother introduces him to a wide
range of Enlightenment ideas, while his strict
father enrolls him in military training.
AUGUST 1730 Frederick and his best friend, Hans Herman von
Katte, attempt to escape to England,in part
because of Frederick's miserable home life.
They are caught in Kustrïnand and Frederick is
forced to watch Hans' execution.
NOV 18 1730 Frederick's father pardons him and releases him
from prison. He is forced to remain in Kustrïn
and study political administration in preparation
for his future leadership.
JUNE 12 1733 Frederick's father arranges for him to marry
Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern, a
purely political alliance. The marriage is
ultimately unsuccessful.
MAY 13 1740 Frederick's father dies and he ascends the
throne as King in Prussia, taking over his
father's powerful army and funds. He is
immediately swept up into conquering more of
Europe.
DEC 16 1740 Frederick invades the Austrian territory of Silesia
without provocation, thus beginning the First
Silesian War.
, JUNE 11 1742 Frederick makes peace with Silesia and
becomes the ruler of nearly the entire region.
Between 1744 and 1745 Austria attempted to
retake Silesia from Prussia, but in the Treaty of
Dresden, Frederick forced Austrian ruler Maria
Theresa to adhere to previous boundaries.
AUGUST 29 1756 Hoping to preempt a conspiracy between
Prussia's neighboring countries, Frederick
invades Saxony, allied with Austria, and begins
the Seven Years' War, along with his ally, Great
Britain. Despite several victories, the war soon
turns into a stalemate for Prussia.
MAY 15 1762 Russia withdraws from the Seven Years' War
when pro-Prussia Peter III ascends the throne
and seeks a title from Frederick II, who happily
obliges. Russia's favorable reversal convinces
Sweden to make peace with Prussia as well,
and the war quickly comes to a close, to
Frederick's relief. He terms this event the
"Miracle of the House of Brandenburg."
FEB 15 1763 The Seven Years' War formally ends, leaving
Prussia without any new territory. Nevertheless,
Frederick is allowed to keep Silesia and his
country becomes known as one of the most
powerful in Europe.
AUGUST 5 1772 Frederick signs a treaty along with Russia and
Austria that partitions Poland and removes 1/3
of its land area. The three countries divide up
the winnings; Prussia gains a number of
economically valuable provinces.
JULY 23 1785 Frederick forms the Fürstenbund, an alliance of
Protestant princes in the Holy Roman Empire. It
is meant to protect the empire. This alliance
marks the first organization of German states
under Prussia, which later will unify Germany.
AUGUST 17 1786 Frederick dies in Potsdam.
PART 2
1870/1871 - War and Creation
