Answer:
Charles VI, Hapsburg monarch, died, leaving no male heir to the throne. Through the Pragmatic Sanction, he attempted to ensure the acceptance of his daughter, Maria Theresa of Austria, as his successor. While the countries of Europe accepted it at first, upon the passing of Charles, Prussia and France claimed that Salic law prohibited a female heir. In reality, these countries were simply trying to challenge the Hapsburg monarchy. Prussia also had her eye on Silesia, an important section of Austria.