•Wanted to make Prussia a modern state
•Reforms
•
fred volt
Painting titled “Frederick the Great and Voltaire.”
When Frederick ascended to the throne, Prussia had a strong military but remained rather backward in its customs and government. Frederick wanted to transform Prussia into a modern state and introduced many reforms that drew upon Enlightenment ideas. He granted religious freedom, improved education, systematized the government to make it more efficient, simplified many laws, and outlawed torture.

Though most historians do regard Frederick as “enlightened,” he only went so far in implementing Enlightenment ideas. For example, his support of the nobility and the fact that he made no attempt to abolish serfdom demonstrate the limitations of his devotion to Enlightenment ideals.