Mike Frederick

Born on January 24th, 1712.  Eldest surviving son of Frederick William I and Sophia Dorothea.  Grandson of George I of England.  Intense militaristic training.  Argued with his father over pursuing the arts.  Attempted to run away to England.  Raised as a Calvinist (without the idea of Predestination)  Later adopted all beliefs of Calvinism. 

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Protect their subjects and give them good administration so they can prosper. Only pass laws that the people want. Promote loyalty from the nobility (Junkers) by giving them privileges. “Worked” closely with Voltaire and his ideas.

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Gave the territorial Princes of Prussia a seat in the bureaucracy. He established the first German law code. Junkers were loyal to him in return of privileges. Set up a system of ministers who were loyal to him

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Sped up the legal process. Abolished the torturing of people. Death sentences were illegal without his permission. Judges had the highest education of all.

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Granted universal religious toleration to everyone except the Jews. He put higher taxes on the Jewish people in hopes of them leaving.

Increased his standing army from 80,000 to 190,000. Most of the new soldiers were prisoners of war and people who were kidnapped and forced to serve. Made the Junkers serve in the military (seen as their duties.) Kept a vast federal reserve in case of war. Considered one of the major world military powers of his time. 

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Founded a government backed company to help promote overseas trade. Tricked people into immigrating to Prussia and gave them waste land to live on/farm. Granted Freedom of the Press. Immigration skyrocketed during this time period.

Taxes fell mostly on the poor people and the Jews.  Created new taxes and raised old taxes on goods and products.  Financed rebuilding of entire towns.  Built thousands of miles of new roads.  Introduced new agricultural reforms and helped with farming.  Forced the nobility to work.  Created an excise (tax on food)  Set up a new tax on Tobacco 

•Frederick

the Great died on August 17th 1786. •He was buried in Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam Germany. •On the 205th anniversary of his death, on 17 August 1991, Frederick's casket was placed in the court of honor of Sanssouci, covered by a Prussian flag and escorted by a Bundeswehr guard of honor.

•Transformed

Prussia from a tiny and poor state into one of the main world powers of his time. •His rule did not do to much to help the poor people. (taxes, armies etc.) •More than doubled the standing army. •Created a federal reserve of money for emergencies. •Doubled the federal revenues of Prussia. •Increased education for Prussian people.