Enlightenment and Revolution, 1550–1789 Enlightenment scientists and thinkers produce revolutions in science, the arts, government, and religion. New ideas lead to the American Revolution. Nicolaus Copernicus, 1543. NEXT
The Scientific Revolution • Most knowledge in Middle Ages comes from Bible • geocentric theory —moon, sun, planets revolve around earth • Scientific Revolution - based on observation, inquiry • overseas exploration open up thinking • new developments in astronomy, mathematics NEXT
• Copernicus develops heliocentric theory —planets revolve around sun • Italian scientist Galileo Galilei makes key advances in astronomy • Church attacks Galileo’s work, fears it will weaken people’s faith • Pope forces Galileo to declare his and other new findings are wrong NEXT
• help to create scientific method Bacon and Descartes • help to create scientific method • Bacon urges scientists to experiment before drawing conclusions • Descartes advocates using logic, math to reason out basic truths NEXT
Newton Explains the Law of Gravity • Isaac Newton develops theory of motion - states same forces rule motion of planets, matter in space, earth - holds that every object in universe attracts every other object NEXT
The Scientific Revolution Spreads Scientific Instruments • microscope, barometer, thermometer lead to better observations, new discoveries Medicine and the Human Body • Andreas Vesalius improves knowledge of anatomy • Edward Jenner produces world’s first vaccination- for smallpox •Scientific Revolution spurs reassessment of many prevailing ideas •Enlightenment —a movement stressing reason and thought
Philosophers Hobbes’s Social Contract • favors strong government to keep order •Promotes social contract- getting order by giving power to monarch Locke’s Natural Rights -life, liberty & property • Philosopher John Locke- government gets power from the people • people have a right to overthrow an unjust government Voltaire •Publishes many works arguing for tolerance, reason •Makes powerful enemies and is imprisoned twice for his views
Montesquieu Rousseau Mary Wollstonecraft •Favors separation of powers favors individual freedom, direct democracy •Views social contract as agreement by free people to form government Mary Wollstonecraft women need quality education
A World of Ideas - Salons provided philosophes, scientists, writers and artists opportunities to spread Enlightenment thinking New Artistic Ideas - neoclassical- simple and elegant - music and literature changed to reflect Enlightenment ideas
• Frederick II of Prussia reforms education and justice system Enlightened Despots -embraced Enlightenment ideas and attempted social reforms Frederick the Great • Frederick II of Prussia reforms education and justice system • Grants religious freedom Joseph II • Joseph II of Austria allows freedoms of worship and the press
The American Revolution Britain wins French and Indian War in 1763 -Parliament passes Stamp Act -first direct tax on colonists: “taxation without representation” •1773- colonist retaliate -“Boston Tea Party” •1774- First Constitutional Congress- send protest to King George III •1775- Lexington and Concord- “shot heard around the world” • July 1776- 2nd Continental Congress issues Declaration of Independence- Thomas Jefferson uses ideas of Locke and the Enlightenment NEXT
Americans Create a Republic Articles of Confederation (1781) government plan for new republic • Articles create legislature only • weak national government Constitutional Convention (1787) • new government under U.S. Constitution • Constitution contains ideas of the Enlightenment Continued . . . NEXT
• Constitution creates three branches of government The Federal System • Constitution creates three branches of government - Executive, Legislative, Judicial • Provides checks and balances • Promotes federal system The Bill of Rights first ten amendments to Constitution that protect freedoms NEXT