REVOLUTION AND ENLIGHTENMENT 1550-1800 CHAPTER 15

Applying the scientific method to their physical world, Enlightenment thinkers, or philosophers, reexamined all aspects of life- from government and justice to religion and women’s rights. They created a movement that influenced the entire Western world. Sec. 2 The Enlightenment

John Locke- he argued that people were molded by the experiences that come through their senses from the surrounding world. People are born a blank slate (tabula rasa) Isaac Newton- he believed that the physical world and everything in it was like a giant machine. Path to Enlightenment

Role of Philosophy Their role was to change the world Each generation became more important than the previous one. Role of Philosophy

Montesquieu “Spirit of Laws” was the study of governments 3 Basic kinds of gov’t: Republics, suitable for small states Despotism, appropriate for large states Monarchies, ideal for moderate-sized states. Separation of power : monarch (?), parliamentary (?), courts (?) Montesquieu

Francois-Marie Aroute “Voltaire” Deism- based on reason and natural law Natural Law- humans are governed by basic inborn laws, human rights, which are separate from laws which are legislated. In this view, mechanic (GOD) created the universe. In Deism’s view the universe was like a clock. God, the clock-maker, had created it, set it in motion, and allowed it to run without his interference and according to its own natural laws. Francois-Marie Aroute “Voltaire”

Dennis Diderot Famous contribution: the Encyclopedia Published b/w 1751-1772 Became a weapon against the old French society Articles attacked religious superstition and supported religious toleration. Others called for social, legal, and political reforms. Sold to doctors, clergymen, teachers, and lawyers Dennis Diderot

Smith on Economics Adam Smith- father of economics Laissez- faire- “let the people do as they want” In his book, “The Wealth of Nations”- state should not interfere in economic matters Smith on Economics

“Crimes and punishment”- argued that punishments should not be exercised in brutality. Opposed to capital punishment Cesare Beccaria

Jean-Jacques Rousseau- born in Switzerland, worked in France and later moved to Paris. He did not like the city life, preferred to be alone “Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality on Mankind”, argued that people adopted laws and government in order to preserve their private property “The Social Contract”, published in 1762, Rousseau presented his concept of the social contract Entire society agrees to be governed by its general will. The general will represents what is the best for the entire community. Social Contract

The Salon Enlightenment ideas were spread in the salon (gathering) These were elegant rooms of the wealthy upper class’s great urban houses. These rooms brought writers, artists, philosophers and government officials These gatherings helped spread the ideas of the Enlightenment. The Salon

Religion Catholics church remained an important center of life. Many Protestant church declined due to new religious movements and the greater knowledge for the religion New religion in England: Methodist. Created by John Wesley He preached to the people in open fields, halls, public places…. Many converted to this religion Wesley gave the lower and middle classes in England a sense of purpose and community Methodists stressed the importance of hard work and spiritual contentment rather than demands for political equality Religion

Sec. 3 The Impact of the Enlightenment New type of monarchy, enlightened absolutism: Rulers tried to govern by Enlightenment principles while maintaining their royal powers. Did European rulers followed the advice of philosophers and become enlightened? 3 examples: Prussia, Austria, Russia Sec. 3 The Impact of the Enlightenment

Prussia: Army and Bureaucracy Prussia, the leading state of the German Empire. Two kings: Frederick William I and Frederick II, made Prussia a major European power. Frederick William concern was the army he increased, it had the fourth-largest army after France, Russia, and Austria. Frederick II, or Frederick the Great, was one of the best educated and most cultured monarch of the time. He invited Voltaire to live at his court for some yrs. Prussia: Army and Bureaucracy

He also enlarged the army he followed enlightenment reforms, abolished torture except in treason and murder cases. He granted limited freedom of speech and press, and different religions. But, he kept serfdom (peasants didn’t have rights) and rigid social structure.

By the 18 century Austrian Empire became one of the largest European states. It was composed by different countries, languages, religions, and cultures. Maria Theresa, inherited the throne in 1740, worked to centralized the empire. Her son, Joseph II, believed in the need to sweep away anything standing in the path of reason: “I have made Philosophy the lawmaker of the Empire” He abolished serfdom and eliminated the death penalty. Austrian Empire

Established equality and enacted religious toleration. His reforms failed because he alienated the nobles by freeing the serf. Even the serf were unhappy because they didn’t understand the drastic changes.

In 1740, a major war broke out in connection with the succession to the Austrian throne. The Seven Years’ War

Austrian Succession Frederick II of Prussia invaded Austria. He didn’t recognized Maria Theresa as Queen. As the war began, she allied with Britain The war was fought in 3 areas: Prussia seized Silesia while France occupied the Austrian Netherlands. In Asia, France took a part of India (today Chennai) from the British In US, the British captured the French fortress of Louisborg. Austrian Succession

The War in Europe Two rivals created: - France v. Britain/ Prussia v. Austria Europe witnessed the clash of two major alliance: the British and Prussians against the Austrians, Russians, and French. The War in Europe

The Great War of Empire: struggle b/w France and England. Fought in India and America (US) The British won because they were persistent. The War in India

War in North America The French administer Louisiana and Canada British: won most of North America to include the area of the 13 colonies Fought at the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Ohio River Treaty of Paris finished the war. War in North America