Chapter 18: Age of Enlightenment and American Revolution Pages 456 – 473

Part 1: Philosophy In the Age of Reason (456 – 460) 1. How did the Scientific Revolution influence the Age of Enlightenment (Age of Reason) Created confidence in the power of reason…how, why? If reason was used to solve physical/science issues, why not use reason to discover natural laws (truths), such as political, social and economic situations.

Scientific Rev. Influence cont’d By applying scientific knowledge, scientists/inventors changed peoples lives. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJxNjkp_Zkg 3:48 saved Why not apply natural laws based on reason (logic, rationale) to change society? In your opinion, what is our most pressing social problem today? Political? Economic? Through reason, Enlightenment thinkers believed they could solve every social, political and economic problem, thus….. Create a Utopia!

2. Compare two English Enlightenment Philosophers, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. How did they differ? (Please see “Quotes on Hobbes and Locke”)

Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan) In nature, people cruel, greedy, selfish (pessimistic view) LA Riots clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P43WZd611WA Rodney King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDY9biA2nKI If not controlled strictly, society would disintegrate into chaos and brutality. Solution: Absolute monarchy: power in the hands of divine-right ruler who could impose order and compel obedience. Agreement: people give up rights/freedoms to powerful government for the sake of order.

John Locke (Two Treatises of Government) In nature, people were moral and reasonable Natural rights: granted at birth, by God Everyone has a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness Right to representative gov’t Solution: Limited/representative gov’t; gov’t derives from the people If gov’t fails in granting natural rights, people have right to rebel. America’s Declaration of Independence comes right from Locke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJWrBjdI4HY

3. Political Thinkers of the Enlightenment 1 3. Political Thinkers of the Enlightenment BARON de MONTESQUIEU THOMAS HOBBES JOHN LOCKE People are naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish. People entered into a social contract, in order to live in an organized society. Only an absolute monarchy can ensure an orderly society. People are basically reasonable and moral. People have certain natural rights. A government has a duty to the people it governs. If a government fails, the people have the right to overthrow it. The separation of powers is the best way to protect liberty. Each branch of government should serve as a check on the others. Balance of Powers

The Philosophes and Society 1 The Philosophes and Society Thinkers called philosophes believed that the use of reason could lead to reforms of government, law, and society. MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT ROUSSEAU VOLTAIRE Defended the principle of freedom of speech. Used wit to expose abuses and corruption. “Candide.” Opposed the slave trade and religious prejudice. Believed that people were basically good. Wrote: “Social Contract” Argued that government controls should be minimal and should only be imposed by a freely elected government. Felt the good of the community should be placed above individual interests. Argued that a woman should be able to decide what is in her own interest and should not be completely dependent on her husband. Called for equal education for girls and boys.

Voltaire’s “Wisdom” (I) Every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do. Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd. It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. Love truth and pardon error. My job, is to say what I THINK

Voltaire’s “Wisdom” (II) Judge of a man by his questions rather than by his answers. Men are equal; it is not birth, but virtue that makes the difference. The way to become boring is to say everything. “I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Denis Diderot (1713-1784) All things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone’s feelings. We will speak against senseless laws until they are reformed; and, while we wait, we will abide by them.

Diderot’s Encyclopédie

The Encyclopédie Complete cycle of knowledge…………..change the general way of thinking. 28 volumes. Alphabetical, cross-referenced, illustrated. First published in 1751.

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Subscriptions to Diderot’s Encyclopedie

How Did Enlightenment Ideas Spread? Through the works of philosophers mentioned above. The printing press made it easier to get new ideas and info.

How Did Enlightenment Ideas Spread? Cont’d Pamphlets: small, cheap, easy to read Coffeehouses and salons. Salons – informal gatherings of writers artists and philosophes. First only the nobility, then middle class was included. Is Facebook the new coffeehouse/salon?

A Parisian Salon

Madame Geoffrin’s Salon

An Increase in Reading

Reading During the Enlightenment Literacy: 80% for men; 60 % women. Books were expensive (one day’s wages). Many readers for each book (20 : 1) novels, plays & other literature. journals, memoirs, “private lives.” philosophy, history, theology. newspapers, political pamphlets.

Results of Enlightenment Thought Old (Absolute Monarchies) system comes under fire. Divine right rule (despots), strict class system (feudalism), Church intimidation (excommunication) challenged, replaced by: Social and political justice, material well being and the pursuit of happiness.

Did the Church and Absolute Monarchs attempt to maintain control? Absolutely, here’s how. Censorship Banning and/or burning of books Threatened imprisonment, execution and excommunication “Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Waiting on the World to Change http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REqz9D7OWZE

Enlightened Despots What were the goals of Enlightened Despots? Enlightened despots were absolute rulers who used their power to bring about political and social change. If the ruling class (nobility, rulers) could be enlightened, reform could be achieved. Is this possible, or is the term Enlightened despot an oxymoron?

Who Were the Enlightened Rulers? And, Were They Truly Enlightened? Frederick Catherine Joseph II the Great the Great

Enlightened Despots 2 Enlightened despots were absolute rulers who used their power to bring about political and social change. FREDERICK THE GREAT CATHERINE THE GREAT JOSEPH II Was interested in Enlightenment ideas but intended to give up no power. Made some limited reforms in law and government. Granted nobles a charter of rights. Criticized the institution of serfdom. Exerted tight control over subjects, but saw himself as a “servant of the state.” Tolerated religious differences. Distributed seeds and tools to peasants. Most radical of enlightened despots. Granted toleration to Protestants and Jews. Ended censorship and tried to control the Catholic Church. Sold church property to build hospitals. Abolished serfdom.

How did the Enlightenment Influence the American Revolution? It gave the basic ideas for the Declaration of Independence All men are born with rights that governments must protect. And, the Constitution Based on the social contract theory of government. Government with power divided among three branches (Montesquieu, balance of power)

What was the Global Impact of the American Revolution? Inspired similar revolutions in Europe and Latin America Most notably, the French Revolution By the mid-1800’s, most absolute monarchs across Europe would see their powers greatly reduced.

The Legacy of the Enlightenment? The democratic revolutions begun in America in 1776 and continued in Amsterdam, Brussels, and especially in Paris in the late 1780s, put every Western government on the defensive. Reform, democracy, had been placed irrevocably on the Western agenda.

The Legacy of the Enlightenment? New forms of civil society arose –-- clubs, salons, fraternals, private academies, lending libraries, and professional/scientific organizations. 19c conservatives blamed it for the modern “egalitarian disease” (once reformers began to criticize established institutions, they didn’t know where and when to stop!)

The Legacy of the Enlightenment? It established a tradition based on an ethical system derived solely from a naturalistic account of the human condition (the “Religion of Nature”). Theoretically endowed with full civil and legal rights, the individual had come into existence as a political and social force to be reckoned with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaikFI2jiys