World History Chapter 17 Revolution and Enlightenment ( )

Section 2 The Enlightenment

What was the Enlightenment? An 18 th century philosophical movement of intellectuals who were greatly impressed by the achievements of the Scientific Revolution An 18 th century philosophical movement of intellectuals who were greatly impressed by the achievements of the Scientific Revolution

Explain the Enlightenment concept of reason. The application of the scientific method to an understanding of all life The application of the scientific method to an understanding of all life

What were the goals of the Enlightenment? They hoped that through the use of the scientific method they could make progress toward a better society than the one they inherited They hoped that through the use of the scientific method they could make progress toward a better society than the one they inherited

How did scientists, like Isaac Newton, inspire intellectuals of the Enlightenment? Intellectuals believed that if scientists could discover the natural laws that governed the physical world, then by using the same methods they could discover the natural laws that governed human society Intellectuals believed that if scientists could discover the natural laws that governed the physical world, then by using the same methods they could discover the natural laws that governed human society

Explain John Locke’s theory of government. He believed that government was the creation of the people, designed to serve the needs of the people He believed that government was the creation of the people, designed to serve the needs of the people Locke theorized that if government fails to serve the needs of the people, then the people have the right to abolish that government and establish a new government in its place Locke theorized that if government fails to serve the needs of the people, then the people have the right to abolish that government and establish a new government in its place This theory would be the foundation for revolution This theory would be the foundation for revolution

Define philosophe. Term used for the intellectuals of the Enlightenment {French for “philosopher”} Term used for the intellectuals of the Enlightenment {French for “philosopher”} Many of the philosophes of the Enlightenment were French; specifically writers, professors, journalists, economists, and social reformers Many of the philosophes of the Enlightenment were French; specifically writers, professors, journalists, economists, and social reformers

Notable Philosophes: Montesquieu Used the scientific method to find the natural laws that governed the social and political relationships of humans Used the scientific method to find the natural laws that governed the social and political relationships of humans Theorized that England’s government, which divided the government into three branches, provided the greatest freedom and security to the state because it prevented any one person or group from gaining too much power Theorized that England’s government, which divided the government into three branches, provided the greatest freedom and security to the state because it prevented any one person or group from gaining too much power His analysis of separation of powers and checks and balances was his lasting contribution to political thought, ideas key to the U.S. Constitution His analysis of separation of powers and checks and balances was his lasting contribution to political thought, ideas key to the U.S. Constitution

Notable Philosophes: Voltaire Known by many as the greatest figure of the Enlightenment Known by many as the greatest figure of the Enlightenment He was especially known for his criticisms of Christianity and his strong belief in religious toleration [“All men are brothers under God.”] He was especially known for his criticisms of Christianity and his strong belief in religious toleration [“All men are brothers under God.”]

Notable Philosophes: Denis Diderot His notable contribution was the Encyclopedia, a 29- volume collection of knowledge that was intended to “change the general way of thinking” His notable contribution was the Encyclopedia, a 29- volume collection of knowledge that was intended to “change the general way of thinking” The Encyclopedia would be used as a weapon in the philosophe’s crusade against old French society, attacking religious superstition and supporting religious toleration, called for the social, legal, and political improvements that would lead to a society that was more tolerant and more humane The Encyclopedia would be used as a weapon in the philosophe’s crusade against old French society, attacking religious superstition and supporting religious toleration, called for the social, legal, and political improvements that would lead to a society that was more tolerant and more humane

Notable Philosophes: Adam Smith Viewed as the founder of modern economics Viewed as the founder of modern economics He and other physiocrats theorized that if individuals were free to pursue their own economic self-interests, all of society would benefit He and other physiocrats theorized that if individuals were free to pursue their own economic self-interests, all of society would benefit He believed that the state should not interrupt the free play of natural economic forces by imposing government regulations on the economy; the state should leave the economy alone (laissez-faire) He believed that the state should not interrupt the free play of natural economic forces by imposing government regulations on the economy; the state should leave the economy alone (laissez-faire)

Define separation of powers. A form of government in which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches limit and control each other through a system of checks and balances A form of government in which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches limit and control each other through a system of checks and balances

Define laissez-faire economics. Literally, “let [people] do [what they want]” Literally, “let [people] do [what they want]” The concept that the state should not impose government regulations but should leave the economy alone The concept that the state should not impose government regulations but should leave the economy alone

Identify Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his contributions to the Enlightenment. He believed that through a social contract, an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will {will of the majority}, those who wish to follow their own self-interest must be forced to abide by the general will because the general will represents what is best for the community He believed that through a social contract, an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will {will of the majority}, those who wish to follow their own self-interest must be forced to abide by the general will because the general will represents what is best for the community He also argued that education should foster, and not restrict, children’s natural instincts He also argued that education should foster, and not restrict, children’s natural instincts In addition, he believed that emotion, as well as reason, were important to human development, he sought a balance between heart and mind, between emotion and reason In addition, he believed that emotion, as well as reason, were important to human development, he sought a balance between heart and mind, between emotion and reason

Identify Mary Wollstonecraft and her contributions to the Enlightenment. Seen by many as the founder of the modern European and American movement for women’s rights Seen by many as the founder of the modern European and American movement for women’s rights She argued that the Enlightenment was based on an ideal of reason in all human beings; because women have reason they should be entitled to the same rights as men She argued that the Enlightenment was based on an ideal of reason in all human beings; because women have reason they should be entitled to the same rights as men

Identify the means by which the ideas of the Enlightenment were spread throughout Europe. The increase in both publishing and reading materials; these books, newspapers, and magazines were directed to the middle class, much of this material was driven in the ideas of the Enlightenment The increase in both publishing and reading materials; these books, newspapers, and magazines were directed to the middle class, much of this material was driven in the ideas of the Enlightenment Ideas were also spread by word of mouth, most notably through salons Ideas were also spread by word of mouth, most notably through salons

Define salon. The elegant drawing rooms of great urban houses where, in the 18 th century, writers, artists, aristocrats, government officials, and wealthy middle-class people gathered to discuss the ideas of the philosophes, helping to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment The elegant drawing rooms of great urban houses where, in the 18 th century, writers, artists, aristocrats, government officials, and wealthy middle-class people gathered to discuss the ideas of the philosophes, helping to spread the ideas of the Enlightenment

Identify the relationship between religion and the Enlightenment. Although many philosophes attacked the Christian churches, most Europeans were still Christian Although many philosophes attacked the Christian churches, most Europeans were still Christian

Section 3 The Impact of the Enlightenment

Identify what the philosophes considered to be the natural rights of all people. Equality before the law Equality before the law Freedom of religious worship Freedom of religious worship Freedom of speech, press, and the right to assemble Freedom of speech, press, and the right to assemble Hold property Hold property Pursuit of happiness Pursuit of happiness

According to the philosophes, how were the natural rights of the people to be established and preserved? The people needed to be governed by enlightened rulers The people needed to be governed by enlightened rulers These rulers would in turn allow: These rulers would in turn allow: Religious toleration Religious toleration Freedom of speech and press Freedom of speech and press The right to private property The right to private property Nurture the arts, science, and education Nurture the arts, science, and education Above all, the rulers would obey the laws and enforce them fairly Above all, the rulers would obey the laws and enforce them fairly

Define enlightened absolutism. A system in which rulers tried to govern by Enlightenment principles while maintaining their full royal power A system in which rulers tried to govern by Enlightenment principles while maintaining their full royal power

Notable Enlightened Monarchs: Frederick the Great King of Prussia, he was one of the best educated and most cultured monarchs of the 18 th century King of Prussia, he was one of the best educated and most cultured monarchs of the 18 th century Attempts at Enlightened reforms: Attempts at Enlightened reforms: Abolishment of torture in crimes other than treason and murder Abolishment of torture in crimes other than treason and murder Limited freedoms of speech and press Limited freedoms of speech and press Greater religious toleration Greater religious toleration In the end he would fail to completely follow through with other reforms, allowing the continuance of serfdom and continued rigid social structure of the kingdom In the end he would fail to completely follow through with other reforms, allowing the continuance of serfdom and continued rigid social structure of the kingdom

Notable Enlightened Monarchs: Joseph II King of the Austrian Empire, dedicated to the need to sweep away anything standing in the path of reason King of the Austrian Empire, dedicated to the need to sweep away anything standing in the path of reason Attempts at Enlightened reforms: Attempts at Enlightened reforms: Abolished serfdom Abolished serfdom Eliminated the death penalty Eliminated the death penalty Equality before the law Equality before the law Religious reform Religious reform In the end his reforms failed, alienating the nobles by freeing the serfs, alienating the Catholic Church with religious reform, and even the serfs who did not understand any of the changes; his successors undid almost all of his reforms In the end his reforms failed, alienating the nobles by freeing the serfs, alienating the Catholic Church with religious reform, and even the serfs who did not understand any of the changes; his successors undid almost all of his reforms

Notable Enlightened Monarchs: Catherine the Great Queen of Russia, familiar with the works of the philosophes and seemed to favor enlightened reforms Queen of Russia, familiar with the works of the philosophes and seemed to favor enlightened reforms Attempts at Enlightened reforms: Attempts at Enlightened reforms: None None In the end she did nothing because she knew that her success depended on the support of the Russian nobility In the end she did nothing because she knew that her success depended on the support of the Russian nobility

How successful were the enlightened monarchs? Why? Enlightened monarchs had little to no success in establishing any lasting reforms during their rule Enlightened monarchs had little to no success in establishing any lasting reforms during their rule In the end, the desire to maintain political power and security of the country would outweigh the need for enlightened reforms In the end, the desire to maintain political power and security of the country would outweigh the need for enlightened reforms