3. I. The Enlightenment [1600s]
Enlightenment: intellectual movement to solve problems
new ways of thinking about society:
- gov’t
- religion
- economics
- education

4. philosophes: French social thinkers  discussed politics and ideas
1. Reason: truth through applying logica
2. Nature: what is natural is also good and reasonable
3. Happiness: seek joy on earth – don’t wait until afterlife
4. Progress: society and humankind could always improve
5. Liberty: freedoms [i.e. gained from Glorious Rev and Bill of Rights]

5. Ideas of the Enlightenment
reason:
- makes humans unique
- can be used to solve problems  improve lives
- freedom from ignorance, superstition, unfair gov’t
natural laws
- world and human behavior governed by them
- should be reflected in gov’t
- encourage education and debate

6. Legacy
belief in progress  social equality
more secular, non-religious outlook on life
- math/science can explain “works of God”
- religious tolerance
individualism  look inside self for guidance

7. Classwork -- Enlightenment
In your groups, you will be responsible for becoming an expert on your philosophe and sharing this expertise with your classmates
You must:
- complete a graphic organizer on chart paper
- fill in a chart identifying the thinker, his/her idea, and his/her immediate impact and future impact
- share your chart with the rest of the class

8. Philosophes
Thomas Hobbes
all humans naturally selfish and wicked  need a strong ruler
social contract: people agree to give total control to a monarch
John Locke
learn from experiences to improve
all people born free and equal w/ 3 natural rights
- life, liberty, and property
gov’ts job to protect rights
-if gov’t fails citizens have right to overthrow it

9. Philosophes
Voltaire
freedom of speech and religion made fun of clergy, nobles, and gov’t
Montesquieu
separation of powers – checks and balances
Rousseau
individual freedoms
“man is born free and everywhere he is chains”

10. Philosophes
Beccaria
justice system  laws exist to promote order, not to avenge crimes
Wollstonecraft
women’s education should not be secondary tom men
education  virtuous and usefulness

11. Enlightened Despots
absolute rulers who used power to reform society
Maria Theresa (Austria, 1700s)
- improved tax system – nobles and clergy had to pay too
- primary education available to children
Joseph II (son of Maria Theresa)
- modernized gov’t
- religious toleration
- ended censorship

12. Enlightened Despots (cont’d)
Catherine the Great (Russia 1762)
- asked for advice from nobles, free peasants, and towns people
- built schools and hospitals
- education of women
- extended religious toleration

13. Democracy and Nationalism
Enlightenment ideas inspired
- individualism
- basic equality of humans
nationalism spreads (loyalty to people who share beliefs – not to the ruler)
- fight for democratic gov’t
age of revolutions
- American, French, Latin American