People
Maria Theresa took control of her people. Nobles had less power due to high taxes and councils who took control of things. The peasants also had high taxes, but was also forced to take care of themselves. She limited landlords' power over their slaves. She also had many strict reforms and laws over her people, taking away lots of power from all people in her kingdom.
Military
Maria Theresa had an iron fist when it came to her military. She ruled her military with vengeance. Austria's main enemy was Prussia, led by Frederick II. Frederick targeted Austria because the ruler was a woman. Austria fought in the Seven Years War. Austria came out of the war with no gain and no loss. She motivated her army with her kids.
Religion
Maria Theresa was a devoted Catholic and believed religious unity was the key to a peaceful kingdom. She rejected the idea of religious toleration. However, she did not let church get in the way of the ideas of the monarch. She believed in converting everyone to Roman Catholicism. She tried to convert all her non-Catholic subjects into Catholics. She treated the Jews and Protestants very poorly. She enforced very heavy taxes on them. She tried to force all the Jews out of the Habsburg Empire. After she died there were major changes in the monarch. Charles V made a movement for religious freedom.
Taxes
Maria Theresa was strict about enforcing taxes. She ramped up the taxing policies and she even taxed nobles. She reduced the power of landlords over serfs which improved the agriculture lot. She dictated the government spending and all of the government.
Accomplishments
- Only female to reign in the Habsburg Dynasty.
- Initiated economic reform such as making the rich pay more taxes.
- Also initiated educational reform such as establishing an academy of engineering and science as well as a military academy.
- She helped trade by creating a bureau of commerce in 1746.
- “Reorganized the military.”
- “Outlawed capital punishment, witch burnings, and torture.”