The Enlightenment Focus Question: How did the Enlightenment provide a foundation for our democratic ideals?

What was the Enlightenment?  The Enlightenment was a period in history where great thinkers valued the use of reason and the scientific methods.  The great thinkers of this time were obsessed with discovering the truth through experimentation and using reason to participate in discussion and debate.  These great thinkers are often times called Philosophers.  Philosophers of this time believed that real truth could only come from reason and logic, rather than from religious authorities.

From where did enlightenment philosophers get their early influences?  The Renaissance  A period of rebirth in philosophy, technology and art  Leonardo, Michael Angelo  The Reformation  Period of Religious fracturing or separation from the Catholic Church and the Church of England.  Idea that you could practice your religion without having to attend church every day, or pay tithes to ensure salvation, that your relationship with god was personal and salvation could be met through prayer.  Created many new sects of the church such a Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Calvinist etc…  John Calvin, Martin Luther  The Scientific Revolution  A period of scientific discovery. Development of the Scientific Method- “If I did this what would happen?”  Lead to advances in Science and medicine such as early theories of the earth is round, evolution, discover of the human anatomy, medical surgery, and medicines (antibiotics).  Copernicus, Galileo, Isaac Newton, Marie Curie

Who were some of the most noted Enlightenment Philosophers?  Montesquieu  Separation of Powers  Rousseau and Hobbes  The Social Contract  Locke  Natural Rights  The governments job is to serve the people, if it fails the people have the right to overthrow the government (revolution)  Voltaire  Freedom of speech and religion  Wollstonecraft  Women's rights

Enlightenment ideas spread around the world.  Ideas from the enlightenment spread to other parts of the world igniting ideas of freedoms and liberties, resulting in revolutions over throwing long standing monarchies and governments.  Places like  The British colonies- America  Europe-  France, Serbia, Greece, Belgium, Austrian Empire, Italy, Germany  Latin America-  Mexico, Haiti, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil