Frederick The Great Research Paper

Frederick II of Prussia, commonly known as Frederick the Great, ruled Prussia from 1740 until his death in 1786. He led Prussia through multiple wars, most notably the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War. His greatest, and perhaps most debated, accomplishment involved the annexation of Silesia in 1740 and the three subsequent wars that followed it. His campaigns brought about the ascendance of Prussia from a second rate German principality to a major continental power. His command at the Battles of Luethen and Rossbach are the formula for legends, but just as notable was his part in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg, which cemented Prussian control of Silesia. The Prussian Army won the field at Hohenfriedberg because it was better

In his youth Frederick was often unhappy and embittered, he hated the way his father treated him, and he even attempted to escape to England. Instead he was caught and his father imprisoned him in the fortress of Kustrin. Through all of this Frederick turned to books, poetry, and the study of history, with whatever he did he was a hard worker. When Frederick came to his throne in 1740 he inherited one of the best armies in Europe, this was due to the sweeping reforms made by his father Frederick William I. Frederick William made significant changes to the Prussian army, he founded a cadet corps in Berlin, he adopted the canton system, improved muskets, and focused heavily on drill and training. Frederick William allocated and incredibly high proportion of Prussia’s annual revenue, nearly three-quarters, to train and expand his

This was unprecedented as a woman had never ruled such lands. Acting on the assumption that she would be a weak ruler, Frederick II decided to seize the Hapsburg province of Silesia. Silesia offered great value to the Kingdom of Prussia. It had over a million inhabitants, which would instantly double the population of Prussia. Additionally it offered thriving linen and other industries. Frederick’s assumption that Maria Theresa would not react proved to be a pipe dream and by April 1741 Austrian troops were marching into Silesia. The Prussia Army soundly defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Mollwitz and later at the Battle of Chotusitz, these victories compelled Maria Theresa to sign the Peace of Breslau on July 28, 1742, which ceded the whole of Silesia to