Causes…? Scientific Revolution? (Mid 1500s) Careful observation and a willingness to question accepted beliefs Renaissance? (1300-1600) Humanism – human potential and achievements Secular – worldly Absolutism People didn’t have much power or say English Civil War

The Start….. The Enlightenment reached its height in France Paris became the meeting place to discuss ideas Philosophes – social critics during the Enlightenment; French Salons – a social gathering of intellectuals and artists

Main beliefs during Enlightenment Reason truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking Nature what was natural was also good and reasonable Happiness urged people to seek well-being on earth Progress society and humankind could improve Liberty Called for liberties that the English people had won

Francois Marie Arouet

Submit to the general will; people were happy and had natural rights; from switzerland; government’s job to carry out the majority;

Social Contract What does this do? What happens if you don’t? Agreement by which people define and limit their individual rights, thus creating an organized society or govt.