The Enlightenment

The Age of Reason

EnlightenmentReaches peak in mid-

1700s sparked by Scientific

Revolutionapply reason and

scientific method to areas outside science (politics, religion, economics, etc.)

Views on Government

Thomas HobbesLeviathanBelieved people are

selfish and evilSocial Contract -

people give up rights to be ruled by strong leader in exchange for law and order

Absolute rulers exist to keep order

John LockePeople have ability to

govern themselvesall people are born

with 3 natural rights life liberty property

LockeGovernment’s purpose

is to protect those rights

Citizens have right to overthrow government if they don’t do their job (James II)

Foundation of modern democracy - gov. comes from people

Philosophes

French Philosophers

Concepts that form core beliefs1. Reason2. Nature 3. Happiness4. Progress5. Liberty

VoltaireUsed satire to fight

church, government, aristocracy

fought for freedom of speech, religion, tolerance, reason

Deism

Baron de MontesquieuSeparation of powers -

legislative (Parliament), judicial (courts), and executive (monarch)

Checks and balances “power should be a

check to power”

Jean Jacques RousseauDisagreed with other

philosophersCivilization corrupts

people’s natural goodness

Only good government is guided by people - direct democracy

RousseauSocial contract -

people create government in order to be a free society

Believed there should be no aristocracy (used in French Revolution)

Cesare BaccariaFocused on judicial

systemAgainst torture of

witnesses and suspectsNo arbitrary or cruel

punishmentSpeedy trialPunishment fits crimeNo capital punishment

Women in the Enlightenment

Mary WollstonecraftEncouraged education

for womenWomen should be

involved in politics

Impact of Enlightenment

1. Belief in progress2. More secular (worldly) outlook on life3. Importance of the individual

(individualism)

Leads to: American and French Revolutions

Things to know

While items in red are important to know, we’re stepping it up a bit and you need to be responsible for the other info as well. All items on power points are fair game for quizzes.

You do need to turn in by quiz day a compiled list of definitions of all the items in red. (Include Denis Diderot, Adam Smith)