The Enlightenment Ch. 10 Section 2

Enlightenment Enlightenment – a philosophical mvmt of intellectuals Focused on reason B/g to question what type of govt. was the best form Make a better society Enlightenment thinkers… John Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau

John Locke Wrote “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” People are “clean slates” shaped by society & education Society can be improved by a good government “Natural Rights”- life, liberty, & property cannot be taken away by the government Corrupt governments should be overthrown!

Montesquieu Wrote “The Spirit of the Laws” Govt. should function through a separation of powers (3 branches) Separate branches allows each branch to limit and control each other The three branches check and balance each other Prevents any one person or one group from gaining too much power 3 branches of govt. Legislative, executive, and judicial

Voltaire Critic of Christianity and strong b/l in religious toleration He was a Deist… Deism – religious philosophy based on reason and natural law The universe is a clock, God is the mechanic that created the clock and set it in motion, allows the clock to run w/o interference

Diderot Created the Encyclopedia The Encyclopedia A 28 volume collection of knowledge that he edited Published b/w 1751-1772 To change the general way of thinking The Encyclopedia Attacked religious superstitions Supported religious toleration

Rousseau Wrote “The Social Contract” Social contract – an entire society agrees to be governed by general will Govt. can only be formed with the consent of the people People must make their own laws in order for those laws to be valid Believed a direct democracy was the best form of government

Democracy Democracy – rule by the common people Ancient Greek form of govt. Direct democracy – everyone votes on issues People are DIRECTLY involved with all decisions that have to be made Representative democracy – citizens elect representatives to vote on the issues facing the govt. This is the govt. we have in America

Mary Wollstonecraft Wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” Power that men had over women was wrong Just as wrong as the power that kings have over their subjects Women have reason, therefore they are entitled to the same rights as men Women should have equal rights in education as well as in economic and political life

A New Society Reading b/c important to the masses First newspaper printed in London in 1702 Now reading materials were being geared toward the common people rather than just the elite

Methodist Movement John Wesley - created Methodism An Anglican minister Said he had an experience where God’s grace assured him of salvation Led him to b/c a missionary to English people Preached to the masses in open fields Appealed especially to the lower classes