1. Late 1600s-Mid 1700s A movement in which the methods of the Scientific Revolution are applied to thinking and discussing politics and religion.

2. Main Ideas Social Contract Inalienable rights Separation of powers No cruel and unusual punishment Life, liberty, property (pursuit of happiness) Importance of the individual Religious tolerance ***Write these ideas at the top of your reading notes page.

3. Thomas Hobbes Watched the English Civil War with horror Believed that men in their natural state were evil and that life was “nasty, brutish and short” Believed that in order for there to be safety and security in life, people must enter into a social contract with their government in which they give up rights to be kept safe. Hobbes believed that the government should be given total control (Absolute Monarchies) over all aspects of life.

4. John Locke Believed that humans were intelligent and could learn from mistakes and should govern themselves All humans had natural, inalienable rights including those to “life, liberty and property” His book “Two Treatises on Government” was later used to justify the overthrown of James II

5. “Near this place lies JOHN LOCKE. If you are wondering what kind of man he was, he answers that he was contented with his modest lot. Bred a scholar, he made his learning subservient only to the cause of truth. You will learn this from his writings, which will show you everything about him more truthfully than the suspect praises of an epitaph. His virtues, if indeed he had any, were too slight to be lauded by him or to be an example to you. Let his vices be buried with him. Of virtue you have an example in the gospels, should you desire it; of vice would there were none for you; of mortality surely you have one here and everywhere, and may you learn from it.” John Locke

6. Philosophes French word for philosopher Believed that life should be looked at through logic and reason. All ideas should have the same five goals: liberty, reason, happiness, nature, and progress Most did not advocate rights for women. Ideas were spread through salons (social gatherings at the homes of the wealthy).

7. Montesquieu Believed in political liberty and that a constitutional monarchy was the best government Introduced the idea of separation of powers Influenced the idea checks and balances How do we see this in American government?

8. Believed that civilization corrupted man’s natural ability to be good and therefore, there should be as few laws as possible Argued for direct democracy (formed by the people and governed by their will) Believed that government can only exist if it has the “consent of the governed” What American concept does this sound like? Jean-Jacques Rousseau

9. “The first man who, having fenced in a piece of land, said "This is mine," and found people naive enough to believe him, that man was the true founder of civil society. From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not any one have saved mankind, by pulling up the stakes, or filling up the ditch, and crying to his fellows: Beware of listening to this impostor; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to us all, and the earth itself to nobody.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

10. Other ideas Beccaria- laws exist to support social order, no cruel and unusual punishment Wollstonecraft- women should become useful through education Voltaire- argued for an enlightened monarch, right to a fair and free trial and freedom of religion

11. Enlightened Despots Kings and queens who apply enlightenment ideas to their rule Catherine the Great Absolute ruler of Russia- created laws to help criminals, religious toleration Frederick the Great of Prussia- religious toleration, improved education, reduced censorship Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor of Austria- freedom of worship, peasants had to be paid in cash, abolished serfdom