Vocabulary for Absolutism and Enlightenment Unit Mr. Condry’s Social Studies Class

Absolute Monarchy Rule by one person, usually a king or a queen, whose actions are restricted neither by written law or custom

Absolutism the acceptance of or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical, or theological matters.

Divine Right of Kings the doctrine that kings get their authority from God, not from their subjects.

The Enlightenment a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

The Social Contract an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection.

Consent of the Governed the authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people

Scientific Revolution  refers to the rapid advances in European scientific, mathematical, and political thought

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) French philosopher and writer born in Switzerland; believed that the natural goodness of man was warped by society; ideas influenced the French Revolution

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) English materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings

John Locke (1632-1704) English empiricist philosopher who believed that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers

King Louis XVI (1754-1793) king of France from 1774 to 1792; his failure to grant reforms led to the French Revolution; he and his queen (Marie Antoinette) were guillotined

Voltaire (1694-1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher. Wrote about the freedom of religion, freedom of speech and separation of church and state.