1. What was the impact of the Enlightenment?
Essential Question:
What was the impact of the Enlightenment?
Warm-Up Question:
What were the Enlightenment ideas of John Locke, Montesquieu, & Rousseau?
42c - identify the major ideas of the Enlightenment from the writings of Locke, Voltaire and Rousseau and their relationship to politics and society
43a - identify the causes and results of the revolutions in England (1689), United States (1776), France (1789), Haiti (1791), and Latin America ( )
43b - explain Napoleon's rise to power, defeat, and consequences for Europe

2. The Enlightenment Thinkers The Age of Reason
We are all born with natural rights.

3. The Enlightenment
Scholars began to challenge long held beliefs about science, religion, and government
Thinkers were inspired by Galileo and Newton.
The method of observation and logic is used to approach problems of human life.
Ideas based on rational thought and understanding.

4. The Enlightenment
In France, thinkers called philosophes (or “philosophers”) would gather in informal meetings called salons.
There, they would exchange and debate ideas.

5. The Basic Questions
Enlightenment thinkers wanted to learn more about human life using these questions:
What natural law governs the way people should live?
How well do our institutions agree with natural law?
Does natural law give all people certain rights?
What is the best form of government?

6. Philosophers
Philosophers did not always agree about the answers to these questions.
Some supported absolute rule by the king.
Others argued that the people should have a say in their own government.
They all shared a trust in reason and observation as the best way of understanding and progress.

7. The Five Thinkers Thomas Hobbes John Locke Baron de Montesquieu
Voltaire
Cesare Beccaria

8. Thomas Hobbes Absolute Rule by Kings
His Question: What is the basis of social order?
His Observation: Human beings were naturally cruel, selfish, and greedy.
In 1651, he published a book called Leviathan. He wrote that people are driven by a restless desire for power. Without laws or other social controls, people would always be in conflict.
Absolute Rule by Kings

9. Thomas Hobbes
Governments were created to protect people from their own selfishness.
People are selfish by nature and can not be trusted to make decisions that were good for society as a whole.

10. John Locke
His Observation: He denied the divine right of kings to rule.
In 1690, he published Two Treatises of Government. His book justified a strong parliament which protects human rights.
He argued that the purpose of government was to protect people’s natural rights.
These rights include the right to life, liberty, and property.
Natural Rights

11. John Locke
Quote: “All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. John Locke
In exchange for rights, people give the government the power to make and enforce laws.
The true basis of government was a social contract (or agreement), among free people.
His theory is that a government’s authority is based on the consent of the people. If the government fails to respect people’s rights, it can be overthrown.

12. Baron de Montesquieu
His Observation: Too much power in the hands of any one person or group will lead to tyranny.
French author, in 1748, he published The Spirit of Laws.
He argued that the best way to protect human rights is to divide power among three branches of government.
Each branch of government checks (limits) the power of the others.
Separation of Powers
“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice”.

13. Baron de Montesquieu The Three Branches of Government
Legislative branch – makes the laws; Congress
Executive branch – enforces the laws; President
Judicial branch – interprets the laws; Supreme Court

14. Voltaire
His Observation: Freedom of thought and expression is the only way to fight oppression.
He was a French writer and participant in Paris salons.
He supported religious tolerance – allowing people to believe in religion in their own way.
Strong supporter of free speech.
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

15. Cesare Beccaria “Punishment should fit the seriousness of the crime”
His Observation: He studied criminology, the scientific study of crime and punishment.
He objected the harsh practices that were common in his day and called for changes in criminal law to protect the rights of the accused.
Torture was common and people found guilty of crimes were often sentenced to death.
“Punishment should fit the seriousness of the crime”

16. On Crimes and Punishments
Cesare Beccaria
On Crimes and Punishments
He argued that laws exist to preserve society and order and that punishment did not have to be brutal.
A person accused of a crime should receive a fair and speedy trial.
Torture should never be used.
Capital punishment (putting someone to death) should never be used.
Punishment should fit the seriousness
of the crime.

17. Women of the Enlightenment
Enlightenment thinking influenced many throughout Europe and inspired revolutions in America and France.
Although women of the 1700s did not have the same rights or status as men, there were a small few who played an important role by helping to spread ideas about rights and equality for women.
Mary Wollstonecraft (1792), wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women arguing for equality and education rights for women.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Abigail Adams
Madame Geoffrin

18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Human nature is basically good
Admired the noble savage – humans living in a state of simple freedom governing themselves; compassionate
Society & civilization are corrupting forces on the individual
Society robs us of our freedom & makes us “bloodthirsty”

19. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Agreed with Hobbes’ Social Contract: mutual agreement to protect the rights of everyone; not only the wealthy.
No person is above the law.

20. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
"Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains."

21. On the Back of Your Index Card
Write the following question: What impact did Enlightenment ideas have on World History? After you write down the question, take out your notes from yesterday and get a pen or pencil for your notes. Next: Take out your notes. We will make a foldable with your notes.

22. Title: The Enlightenment Thinkers
Who: Locke, Montesquieu, and Voltaire
4 important contributions – from your notes
1 picture for each
Must be colored!!

23. https://youtu.be/nly9r_xYyPA

24. Impact of the Enlightenment: Revolutions
As the Enlightenment spread, citizens began questioning the authority of their kings…
Philosophes such as Voltaire considered England’s government the most progressive in Europe. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 had given England a constitutional monarchy. In essence, this meant that various laws limited the power of the English king. Despite the view of the philosophes, however, a growing number of England’s colonists in North America accused England of tyrannical rule. Emboldened by Enlightenment ideas, they would attempt to overthrow what was then the mightiest power on earth and create their own nation.
…as a result, revolutionary wars broke out in America, France, & Latin America for independence and liberty