The Enlightenment in Europe Chapter 6 Section 2

Main Ideas A revolution in intellectual activity changed Europeans’ view of government and society. The various freedoms enjoyed in many countries today are a result of Enlightenment thinking.

Introduction New ways of thinking  reevaluating old notions New insight into underlying beliefs regarding: Government Religion Economics Education

Enlightenment Enlightenment – intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems. a/k/a Age of Reason Reached its height in the mid-1700s. Changed many aspects of Western civilization

Two Views on Government Hobbes’ Social Contract Locke’s Natural Rights

Hobbes’ Social Contract Horrors of the English Civil War convinced him that all humans were naturally: Selfish & Wicked Governments keep order Without it  constant war People needed to hand over rights to a strong ruler (absolute monarch). They gained law & order, in exchange. Known as social contract.

Locke’s Natural Rights Believed people could learn from experience and improve themselves. Criticized absolute monarchy Favored self-government People are born equal and free, with three natural rights: Life Liberty Property

Natural Rights & Government Purpose of government Protect the people’s rights If government doesn’t do so… Citizens will overthrow it Belief that government comes from people is the foundation of modern democracy.

The Philosophes Advocate Reason Paris became the meeting place to discuss politics and ideas. Philosophes = social critics of this period Apply reason to all aspects of life.

Philosophes’ Five Concepts Five concepts formed the core of their beliefs: Reason – Truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking Nature – Natural was good and reasonable Happiness – Seek well-being on earth Progress – Society could be perfected Liberty – Society can be set free

Voltaire Combats Intolerance Used satire against the clergy, aristocrats & government. Using irony & sarcasm Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief and freedom of speech “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Montesquieu & the Separation of Powers Montesquieu devoted himself to the study of political liberty. Division of power among branches of government = separation of powers Also, developed ideas about checks and balances Both became the basis for the U.S. Constitution

Rousseau: Champion of Freedom Committed to individual freedom Argued civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness. Government should be freely formed by the people and guided by the “general will” of society. Direct Democracy Rousseau’s ideas inspired many of the leaders of the French Revolution who overthrew the monarchy in 1789.

Women and the Enlightenment Philosophes Traditional view toward women Rousseau believed that women should have an education. HOWEVER, he believed they should be educated on how to be a helpful wife & mother. Other men scolded women for reading novels. Wickedness and idleness

Discussion Question What roles are women expected to play in society today? What about men? Have the roles changed a lot?

Status of Women Mary Astell – writer Addressed the lack of educational opportunities for women. Argued for gender equality. “If all men are born free, how is that all women are born slaves?”

Mary Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women Argued women need education to become virtuous and useful. Encouraged women to enter male dominated fields – medicine and politics

The Enlightenment Spreads Chapter 6 Section 3

Enlightenment Spreads Books Magazines Newspapers Pamphlets Political songs Word of Mouth All helped influence anything from art to government

Huge center for the Enlightenment Paris Huge center for the Enlightenment

A social gathering, typically held in a wealthy home Salons A social gathering, typically held in a wealthy home Intellects met to discuss ideas

Marie-Therese Geoffrin Influential Salon Hostess She helped finance Denis Diderot’s first Encyclopedia project.

Baroque Dominated the style of art in the 1600s and 1700s. Elaborate, grand, ornate design

Artistic style of the late 1700s Neoclassical Artistic style of the late 1700s Bringing back classical ideas from Greece and Rome

Classical Music emerged Mozart Beethoven

Writing Writing also changed Everyday language Entertaining stories Carefully crafted plots Suspense Explored characters’ thoughts and feelings

Britain and Its American Colonies The American Colonies Grow American colonies grow large and populous during 1600s, 1700s (economically & population) 1600s = pop. approx. 250,000 1750 = pop. approx. 2.15 million Economically colonies thrive through trade with Europe - Britain’s Navigation Act restricts that trade (1651) Colonists could not trade w/ other nations except Britain - other trade laws add restrictions, taxes Colonists had a lot of self government Colonists identify less and less as British subjects

Americans Win Independence British–Colonial Tensions Arise Britain & American colonies win French and Indian War in 1763 Britain taxes colonists to help pay war debts Colonists argue that British cannot tax them without their consent Growing Hostility Leads to War Colonists protest tea tax with “Boston Tea Party” in 1773 Colonists meet in Philadelphia to address British policies (1774) British and Americans exchange fire at Lexington and Concord in 1775

Americans Win Independence (con’t) The Influence of the Enlightenment Colonial leaders push for independence, rely on Enlightenment ideas Declaration of Independence—document justifying colonial rebellion Leader Thomas Jefferson writes Declaration, uses ideas of Locke 1775 – 1781: colonists fought a war w/ Britain (American Revolutionary War) Success for the Colonists Despite British military might, colonists have advantages: - motivating cause of freedom - French assistance - war’s expense for Britain British surrender at Yorktown in 1781; colonists win the war

Americans Create a Republic W eak National Government Articles of Confederation set government plan for new republic Articles create legislature only, no executive or judicial branches Result is weak national government fails to provide unity and order A New Constitution Leaders call Constitutional Convention in 1787 to revise articles Group instead creates a new government under U.S. Constitution

U.S. Constitution Constitution contains many political ideas of the Enlightenment Montesquieu ideas of 3 branches of government with checks and balances - Federal system (separation of powers between the central and state governments) Locke – power in the hands of the people Voltarie – freedom of speech and religion Beccaria - fair system of justice All added to the Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 – 10)

U.S. Constitution The Federal System Constitution creates three branches of government Provides checks and balances—ensures branches share power equally Promotes federal system—power divided between nation and states The Bill of Rights Some fear too much national power, few protections of rights Leaders win support for Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights - ten amendments to Constitution that protect freedoms