ABSTRACT
In the modern world, most people would assume that an enlightened government would of course be a democratic one, with a system of checks and balances. In the eighteenth century, however, democracy still brought up ideas of mob rule, in which the ignorant masses would be manipulated by unscrupulous politicians. Ensuring religious toleration could encourage the settlement of skilled workers in all trades, thus increasing the taxable population of the region. Promoting the arts and sciences could likewise increase taxable revenues. Reforming the legal code, reapportioning the tax burden, building bridges, and draining marshlands would all enhance the welfare of the populace while increasing the moneys available to the monarch. Like the wars of Louis XIV, the Seven Years War was a world war. Even without the diplomatic revolution, Britain and France would have found themselves on opposing sides, as the two states vied for possession of colonial territories around the world.
