The Enlightenment 1600-mid 1700s

Definition AKA: The Age of Reason An intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems Questioned the relationship between people and their government AKA: The Age of Reason

John Locke All people are born free and equal Natural Rights- upon birth all people should be guaranteed: life, liberty, property The purpose of government is to protect natural rights, if they don’t people have right to overthrow it. Governments’ power comes from the consent (ok) of the people

Thomas Hobbes Wrote book: Leviathan All people were naturally selfish and wicked and they needed government to help keep order People needed to hand over rights to a single, strong ruler in exchange they were given law and order Social Contract- agreement between people in their government

Montesquieu 3 Branches System of Checks and Balances Legislative Executive Judicial System of Checks and Balances Spirit of The Laws

François Marie Arouet

Voltaire The Freedom of Speech Religious Tolerance “I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” A Treatise on Tolerance

Rousseau The Social Contract People enter into an agreement with their govt. that must be upheld

The contract implies that the governed agree to be ruled only so that their rights, property and happiness be protected by their rulers. Once rulers cease to protect the ruled, the social contract is broken and the governed are free to choose another set of rulers

Beccaria Protection against cruel and unusual punishment Laws exist to preserve social order (keep people from committing crimes) On Crimes and Punishment

Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women Argued women could be more useful than housewives Should be allowed to participate in politics Could hold same jobs as men Education was key, women were being wasted in the home

Enlightenment Ideas Spread

1. Salons Mostly in Paris, France Wealthy people held social gatherings in their mansions to discuss ideas of Philosophes A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation In many cases, writers like Voltaire would attend as an honored guest speaker Famous Salon: Marie-Therese Geoffrin (zhuh-frehn)

2. The Encyclopedia A book published and edited by Denis Diderot (1751) A collection of essays by Enlightenment Philosophes Was banned in France and by the Catholic Church because it encouraged a spirit of revolt Diderot was hoping the Encyclopedia would serve as a source of newly presented and discovered knowledge that upset traditional teachings

Enlightened Despots Absolute Monarchs who embraced ideas of the Enlightenment Increases rights of their people: free speech, education, legal reform, etc Catherine the Great (Russia) Joseph II (Austria) Frederick the Great (Prussia)