1. New Ideas about Government and Philosophy
Age of Enlightenment
New Ideas about Government and Philosophy

2. Thomas Hobbes Main Ideas
Social contract- agreement between the government and the people
Wants government to have complete control
Has a negative view of people
Influence on History
Social contract
Leaders that focus on having a strict government
Safety and order are more important than rights

3. Modern Examples of Hobbes’ Ideas

4. Montesquieu Main Ideas Wanted a system of checks and balance
Separation of power- no one person has too much power
Influence on History
Constitutions around world
French Revolution
3 Branches of U.S. government- system of checks and balance

6. John Locke
Main Ideas
- Establishes the importance of natural rights - Positive view of humans
- Universal ability to reason = people
should be able to govern themselves
Influence on History
- American and French Revolutions
- Natural rights --> Declaration of
Independence

7. Locke’s influence on the Founding Fathers
“ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

8. Political Spectrum

9. Voltaire
Main Ideas
Wants a separation between Church and State- no theocracies
Openly mocks kings and church leaders
Candide is one of the most famous satirical works in history.
Influence on History
Influences the Bill of Rights- which preserve freedom of speech, thought and expression
Reduces the amount of censorship by European Monarchs
Encourages religious tolerance

10. Current Examples of Political Satire

11. Rousseau Main Ideas Had a positive view of people
The different parts of society corrupts the individual
Wanted each individual person to participate in democracy
Influence on History
Direct democracy
American and French Revolutions

12. Common People participating in Revolutions

13. Mary Wollstonecraft Main Ideas Supported women’s rights
Wanted gender equality for education and property rights
Influence / Long term effects
Women eventually gain the right to vote and equality through laws