 She imposed extremely harsh taxes on her Jewish subjects , and in December 1744 proposed to her ministers the expulsion of Jews from her hereditary dominions . Her first intention was to deport all Jews by 1 January , but having accepted the advice of her ministers , who were concerned by the number of future deportees , had the deadline slipped to June . She also transferred Protestants from Austria to Transylvania and reduced the number of religious holidays and monastic orders . In 1777 , she abandoned the idea of expelling Moravian Protestants after Joseph , who was opposed to her intentions , threatened to abdicate as emperor and co @-@ ruler . Finally , she was forced to grant them some toleration by allowing them to worship privately . Joseph regarded his mother 's religious policies as " unjust , impious , impossible , harmful and ridiculous " . 
