Chapter 16 Sec 1 – Chapter 20 Sec 2 & 4

Scientific Revolution & the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment

Two Views on GovernmentEnlightenment: Age of Reason (mid-1700s)

People looking for laws which govern human behavior Hoped to apply reason and the scientific method to all

aspects of societygovernment, religion, economics, and education

•Thomas Hobbes: English Civil War

• Wrote ‘Leviathan’• Human Nature: all humans are

naturally selfish and wicked

• Government kept order and prevented war

• Social contract: people exchanged their rights for law and order

• Absolute monarch imposed order and demanded obedience

• Best form of government

Two Views on GovernmentJohn Locke: Glorious Revolution

Wrote ‘Two Treatises of Government’ Human Nature: people could learn

from experience and improve themselves

Ability to govern their own affairs and to look after the welfare of society

Believed in separation of Church and State

Social ContractPeople and government are bound to

each other by consentContrasts ‘divine right’

Man is born free and equalNatural Rights – life, liberty, property

Government’s purpose is to protect these rights Failure to do so = citizens’ right to overthrow itConsent of the people is the foundation of

modern democracy

Notable Philosophes & IdeasVoltaire: French writer

Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech

Was arrested several times for criticism of the govt.

Used the pen as a deadly weapon vs. intolerance, prejudice, and superstition

“I disprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Notable Philosophes & IdeasMontesquieu: French writer

Studied political libertyWrote “On the Spirit of Laws”.Ancient Rome: collapse directly

related to its loss of political liberties

Separation of powers: Based upon British governmentExecutive power=king and his

ministersLegislative=Parliament, law-making

powerJudicial=English courts/judgesPower should be a check to power

Checks and balances: Each branch of government would serve as a check on the other two

Serves as the basis of the Constitution of the United States

Notable Philosophes & Ideas

Jean Jacques Rousseau (Swiss): Committed to individual freedom Argued that civilization corrupted

people’s natural goodnessMan is born free, and everywhere he is

in chainsPeople had lived as free and equal

individualsStrongest forced them to obey unjust

lawsFreedom and equality were destroyed

The only good government was one that was formed by the peopleGuided by the general will of society –

direct democracyLegitimate government came from the

consent of the governedAll people were equal

Notable Philosophes & IdeasCesare Bonesana Beccaria : Italian

Wrote “On Crimes and Punishments.” Railed against common abuses of justice

torture of witnesses and suspectsirregular proceedings in trialscruel and arbitrary punishment

Person should receive a speedy trialtorture should never be usedpunishment should be based on the

seriousness of crimecapital punishment should be abolished

Justice should be based on the principle that governments should seek the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Notable Philosophes & Ideas

Mary Wollstonecraft :

Wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”.

argued that women like men, need education to become virtuous and useful and bring equality between the sexes

Argued women should have the same political rights as men including right to vote.

Her two novels (Mary: A Fiction and Maria, or, The Wrongs of Woman) criticize traditional women's roles.

Education will make them better mothers

Impact of the EnlightenmentImpact of the Enlightenment

Challenged the principle of the Divine Right of Monarchs (Absolutism)The union of church and stateUnequal social classesEncouraged Monarchs to make reforms

Inspired the American, Latin and French RevolutionsHelped shape Western civilization

Scientific Revolution gave people the confidence that human reason could solve social problemsPeople began to openly question their religious beliefs

and the teachings of the church Religious toleration was promoted Individualism – people looked to themselves instead of

the church and royalty for guidancePeople used their own ability to reason in order to judge

what is right and wrong

Spread of IdeasSalons:

Social gatherings Philosophers, writers, artists, scientists, and other great intellects met to discuss ideas and enjoy artistic performances

•Encyclopedia: Edited by Diderot (1741)

• Leading scholars of Europe contributed articles and essays

• The most current and enlightened thinking • Science, technology, art, government

• Helped educate people all over Europe• Opposed by the Catholic Church:

undermined royal authority• encouraged the spirit of revolt• fostered moral corruption, irreligion, and

unbelief•Ideas available to a majority of the population

• Enlightenment ideas reached middle-class people through newspapers, pamphlets, and songs

Enlightened DespotsEnlightenment Despots:

Enlightened – Embraced new ideas and reformsDespot -- absolute ruler

Frederick the Great (Prussia. 1740-1786)Friend of VoltaireGranted many religious freedoms, reduced

censorship, and improved education, reformed governmentSaid “every man must go to heaven his own way.”

Reformed the justice system and abolished the use of torture

Built canals, drained swamps, introduced new crops, such as the potato and turnip, to support peasants

Goal: to serve and strengthen his country

Enlightened DespotsJoseph II (Austria, 1780-1790)

Legal reforms and freedom of press Freedom of worship – even for Protestants, Orthodox

Christians, and Jews Abolished serfdom, required peasants be paid a wage for

labor. Changes reversed after his death

Enlightened Despots

Catherine the Great (Russia, 1762-1796) Took steps to modernize and reform Russia Corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot Formed a Commission to review Russia’s laws

Recommended religious toleration, abolishment of torture, and capital punishment

Commission took none of her suggestions By end of reign

Suppressed peasant revolts, enforced serfdom, practiced religious intolerance

Sought trade access to Black Sea from Ottoman Turks

Divided Poland with Prussia and Austria

The End!