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How did Frederick II help Prussia recover after the Seven Yearsâ War?
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Frederick II
Frederick II, painting in the Castello di Miramare, Trieste, Italy.
Following the Seven Yearsâ War, Frederick II implemented a program known as the rĂ©tablissement to recover from the conflict's losses and restore the Prussian state. His primary recovery efforts included:
- Population Settlement: The central feature of his recovery plan was a sustained effort to attract and settle over 300,000 immigrants on waste or depopulated lands, significantly increasing the kingdom's population.1
- Economic Stimulation: The army served as a major market for uniforms and arms, which helped stimulate economic growth. Additionally, soldiers were integrated into the civilian economy during peacetime by working in agriculture or urban trades.1
- Administrative and Social Measures: While Frederick attempted to abolish serfdom in Prussian Pomerania and improve security of tenure for peasants in Upper Silesia, these efforts had limited practical effect because he was unwilling to fundamentally alter the existing social order or undermine the Junker nobility.1
- Institutional Development: He established the Maritime Trading Company in 1772 to foster overseas trade and founded the Royal Bank of Berlin in 1765 to support the state's financial infrastructure.1