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The Scientific Revolution (16th and 17th century)Nicholas Copernicus
Heliocentric model challenges both established science and the Church
Opens the door to the questioning of other realms
Francis BaconScientific Method –
man can now use reason to explain the world around him – no need for God in science
Bacon’s Scientific Method
Isaac NewtonDevelops mathematical
ideas that explain the physical universe
Laws of Motion
1) An object in motion will remain in motion
2) Force = mass X acceleration
3) For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
18th century Enlightenment – The Age of Reason
Revolution in philosophyPhilosophers, inspired by scientists, started
questioning God and God’s role in societyParticular emphasis was placed on criticizing
government and the churchParis, France was the hotbed of reason –
rather ironically, it was also the center of Absolutism and Divine Right
Philosophers wrote the words that inspired revolutionaries, both in America and in France
John Locke and Jean Jacque Rousseau
LockeEnglish philosopherBelieved that men are
entitled to life, liberty and PROPERTY
Inspiration for the American founding fathers (all were rich, white, educated men)
Government should protect us from us – first priority was to provide security and order
RousseauFrench PhilosopherBelieved that all men are
entitiled to life, liberty and EQUALITY
Inspiration for the French revolutionaries (many women and poor commoners)
Government should promote equality among all men
John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau
The “Social Contract”Men form governments.Governments must respond to the needs of men.
If a government does not respond to the needs of men, men have the right to change the government.
Views on the Social ContractWho are the “men”? Who determines whether or not the government is
serving the needs of men?What does it mean to “change” the government?There have been different answers to these questions from throughout
history……………..LockeRousseauAmerican Founding FathersFrench RevolutionariesKarl MarxSouthern leaders in the US in 1861Vladimir LeninChairman MaoWhat about today?
VoltaireFrench philosopher who
attacked the Church and the French government though his short novel, Candide and other works
Advocated freedom of religion and separation of church and state
Advocated the right of citizens to a fair and impartial trial
Adam SmithEnglish economist and
philosopher who attacked the idea of government intervention in the economy
Advocated “laissez-faire” economics (hands off)
Believed in a pure capitalist system where the “law of supply and demand” would determine prices
David HumeEnglish philosopher who
questioned the existence of God
Used a logical and scientific argument to question faith
Since faith itself is irrational, what makes one faith right for everyone?
Heavily criticized by the Anglican Church, of which he was a member, but never wavered in his views
Deism and the Watchmaker TheoryEnlightenment age religion that advocated a belief in God (even if that
belief was irrational)God was there in the beginning, and will be there in the end, but in
between we’re on our ownImagine an old style windup watch……God made the watch and
wound it up, but then left it alone. He’ll be back when the watch needs to be rewound
No need for prayer or worship – it’s counterproductive – God’s not listening anyway
Humans have ultimate free choice and free willMany of the American founding fathers believed in Deism – Thomas
Jefferson was probably the most famousVoltaire also advocated Deism and the right to freedom of religion
The American Revolution
The American RevolutionNot really a classic “revolution” in the sense that a social
class did not revolt against the one above itReally more of a war for independence, but it did
incorporate rhetoric from the Age of Reason American revolutionary LEADERS studied Locke and others
– they certainly believed in the rhetoric, but the average “patriot” in the street paid little in the way of taxes, so “no taxation without representation” was little more than a slogan.
The new government formed after the revolution was at least outwardly based on enlightenment principles, although it would be decades before most of those principles were actually put into practice – think of how long it took women to receive the vote.
Declaration of IndependenceWritten by Thomas
JeffersonRestatement of the
social contractList of grievances –
what King George III did to break the contract
Considered the first true government document containing enlightenment principles
Used as a pattern for revolutions around the world
Enlightened Despotism in Central and Eastern Europe
Enlightened DespotismIdea found in Central and Eastern Europe whereby
monarchs and emperors made changes to their societies in which modernized the states while the people earned some political and social rights
Monarchs still maintained absolute control, but instead of justifying their rule by divine right (God), they instead saw themselves at the head of the people
Most of the ideas were really designed to PREVENT revolution (governments must serve the needs of men)
Many of the reforms were eventually rescinded after the people tried to get even more rights (revolutions were often brutally repressed
Fredrick the Great of Prussia•Emperor of Prussia in the Northern Germanic Lands•Modernized the military and opened officer positions to middle and lower classes•Modernized the Prussian government and opened positions to people of merit instead of cronies
Catherine the Great of RussiaModernized the Russian
army and governmentStudied in France during
the EnlightenmentTried to link Russia to the
West through trade and diplomatic relations
Increased Russia’s territory, especially against the Ottomans (Turks) – sought to link Russia to its Slavic neighbors to the south
Maria Theresa and Joseph II of the Hapsburg Empire (Austria)Note – mother and brother to Marie Antoinette (Queen of France)Serfdom abolished in the
Hapsburg LandsGranted freedom of religion
(very radical idea, especially in a Catholic empire)
Established a national education system
Developed equality before the law, even for the nobility
Many of the reforms were rolled back after revolutions broke out among the minority populations of the Hapsburg Empire