This era of enlightenment and absolution ism affected Austria and the Hapsburgs. Under the rule of Joseph II and Maria Theresa, new reforms were introduced onto Austria. There were three aspects of new reform under Maria Theresa. These were first, the papacy's political influence in the HRE was limited. Second, administrative reforms strengthened the bureaucracy, ended provincial differences and fixed the taxation system by now taking the nobility. Lastly, the government improved the agricultural system by lowering the nobles power over the serfs.
When Joseph II took over the throne after Maria Theresa, he first controlled the Catholic Church very closely so that it "produced" better citizens. He also issued religious toleration for Protestants and Jews and gave them universal rights. Furthermore to help the serfs, Joseph II abolished serfdom and made sure that all peasant "labor obligations would be converted to cash payments." This caused disruption and rejection by both nobles and peasants becuase the peasants economy was lacking money and the nobles were losing power. This reform was later revoked by Joseph II's brother Leopold II which brought the Hapsbug empire out of turmoil and into order again.
A History of Western Society (page 620-621)
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