UNIT 2: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment Mr. Curcio

Scientific Revolution

Scientific Revolution Scientific Method: a process used to answer scientific questions. It helped bring into question the common acceptance that God caused everything in the universe to happen.

Copernicus Proved that the sun was the center of the Solar System. This was known as the Heliocentric Theory.

Copernicus

Copernicus The Church argued that the Earth was the center of the Solar System. The Heliocentric Theory proved that not all of the Church’s claims were true.

Galileo Galilei Copernicus used mathematics to prove the Heliocentric Theory. In the following century, Galileo used a telescope to support the theories of Copernicus.

The Heliocentric Theory This “Sun-centered” theory raised the question, “What else is the Church wrong about?”

Age of Enlightenment A time when people were exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking.

Age of Enlightenment The Scientific Revolution created a new “questioning spirit.” People applied inquiry to other subjects such as Politics and government. They examined social and political questions using the same natural laws that were proven by science.

Age of Reason People used reason to guide their decision making. This comes from an enlightened scientific approach to learning.

Enlightenment Thinkers

John Locke Enlightenment Thinker who believed that all people have “natural” rights.

John Locke It is the government’s job to protect these rights.

John Locke If the government fails to protect peoples’ natural rights, the people may overthrow it.

Jean Jacques Rousseau There is a social contract between people and government. The Majority should rule.

Baron de Montesquieu Developed the idea of separation of powers: Executive, Judicial and legislative.

Voltaire Wrote plays and stories that mocked nobility and absolute government. (Satire)

Influence The ideas expressed by Enlightenment thinkers got people to consider changing their governments.(Monarchies-Republics)