1. The Enlightenment 1600-mid 1700s

2. Definition AKA: The Age of Reason
An intellectual movement that stressed reason and thought and the power of individuals to solve problems
Questioned the relationship between people and their government
AKA: The Age of Reason

3. John Locke
All people are born free and equal
Natural Rights- upon birth all people should be guaranteed: life, liberty, property
The purpose of government is to protect natural rights, if they don’t people have right to overthrow it.
Governments’ power comes from the consent (ok) of the people

5. Thomas Hobbes Wrote book: Leviathan
All people were naturally selfish and wicked and they needed government to help keep order
People needed to hand over rights to a single, strong ruler in exchange they were given law and order
Social Contract- agreement between people in their government

8. Montesquieu 3 Branches System of Checks and Balances Legislative
Executive
Judicial
System of Checks and Balances
Spirit of The Laws

9. François Marie Arouet

10. Voltaire
The Freedom of Speech
Religious Tolerance
“I do not agree with a word you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
A Treatise on Tolerance

12. Rousseau The Social Contract
People enter into an agreement with their govt. that must be upheld

13. The contract implies that the governed agree to be ruled only so that their rights, property and happiness be protected by their rulers. Once rulers cease to protect the ruled, the social contract is broken and the governed are free to choose another set of rulers

15. Beccaria Protection against cruel and unusual punishment
Laws exist to preserve social order (keep people from committing crimes)
On Crimes and Punishment

17. Wollstonecraft A Vindication of the Rights of Women
Argued women could be more useful than housewives
Should be allowed to participate in politics
Could hold same jobs as men
Education was key, women were being wasted in the home

18. Enlightenment Ideas Spread

19. 1. Salons Mostly in Paris, France
Wealthy people held social gatherings in their mansions to discuss ideas of Philosophes
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation
In many cases, writers like Voltaire would attend as an honored guest speaker
Famous Salon: Marie-Therese Geoffrin (zhuh-frehn)

20. 2. The Encyclopedia
A book published and edited by Denis Diderot (1751)
A collection of essays by Enlightenment Philosophes
Was banned in France and by the Catholic Church because it encouraged a spirit of revolt
Diderot was hoping the Encyclopedia would serve as a source of newly presented and discovered knowledge that upset traditional teachings

21. Enlightened Despots
Absolute Monarchs who embraced ideas of the Enlightenment
Increases rights of their people: free speech, education, legal reform, etc
Catherine the Great (Russia)
Joseph II (Austria)
Frederick the Great (Prussia)