These were interesting times indeed. Europe was in a state of
renewal. Old traditions were in the process of being overthrown,
and new thoughts and philosophies, as well as modern
technologies were developed. While this was the way it had to
be, it scared the rulers of the European countries. What caused
them to tremble was especially the slow awakening of the masses,
which began to realize that there was no such thing as a divine
right to rule. The examples of the United States of America,
and, more important, the French Revolution had shown that the
people could overthrow their masters. While it had to be proven
yet that these ‘Governments of the people’ could survive, there
was no doubt that they could cause great troubles. No one knew
that better than the king of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm II., who
had risen to the throne after the death of Friedrich II. in
1786. He was a nephew of Frederick the Great, and he was
absolutely not his equal, whether on the battlefield or on the
field of diplomacy. While mini