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18th Century: The Age of Enlightenment
Ch. 17 Part I Deism
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Overview
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The Inspiration of the Enlightenment
Isaac Newton ( ) John Locke ( ) Scientific Revolution Persuaded natural philosophers and many other writers that the traditions of thought inherited from both the ancient and medieval Christian worlds were incorrect, or confused, and needed to be challenged. Newtonian Physics brought a mechanical and mathematical rationality to the physical world. If the natural world was rational Society, too, should be organized rationally
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The Inspiration of the Enlightenment
The Scientific Revolution Better understanding of physical world through Science Enlightenment thinkers believed that humans can improve themselves Individual Morality Enhance Economic Growth Improve Government Better agriculture Religious Tolerance Applying innovative rational methods to traditional social and economic practices
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Isaac Newton Quote If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Source: Isaac Newton, Letter to Robert Hooke, February 5, 1675 English mathematician & physicist ( )
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Philosophes The intellects, writers, and critics who championed economic, political, and scientific Focused on: Greater Freedoms More Liberties Improvements on society
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Influences on the Enlightenment
Isaac Newton’s determining the role of gravitation in the relationship between objects enabled others to realize that much remained to be discovered. Newton’s use of empirical support for general laws became an important feature to the Enlightenment John Locke’s view of psychology- that all humans begin life as a tabula rasa (blank page) Locke’s view gave Enlightenment thinkers grounds for arguing that the human condition could be improved by modifying the social and political environment
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Influences Continued Britain's domestic stability- religious toleration, freedom of press (to an extent), small army, unregulated domestic life, and political sovereignty in the Parliament Britain stability suggested that Absolute Monarchy may not be the best path France- Louis XIV heavy taxation, absolute monarchy, religious persecution, and large standing army seen as obstacles to reform
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Influences Continued Voltaire criticized French life
Letters on the English- believed the French could improve their lives by modeling after British Candide- attacked War and religious persecution Print Culture: spread ideas Public became more literate Printed materials had ability to shift public opinion
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The Encyclopedia Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert
Product of writing by over 100 authors Two Aims: Secularize Learning Replace intellectual assumptions of the Middle Ages and Reformation Survived censorship Advanced ideas of the day and plea for freedom of expression
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Enlightenment and Religion
Voltaire’s slogan “Crush the Infamous Thing” sums up general attitude Philosophes felt that Christianity focused attention on the world to come was the detriment of the present condition Philosophes object to the power structure of the old regiment which gave special rights to clergy (France)
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Enlightenment and Religion Continued
Jewish and Islamic Religions also criticized by Enlightenment thinkers Baruch Spinoza and Moses Mendelsohn- Jewish men who would enter the debate criticism of Jewish religion Enlightenment thinkers portrayed Islam as a false religion
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Deism Christianity is a REVEALED RELIGION Teaching divine Revelation
Man is Fallen Needs Redemption Faith Authority Natural Religion -Empiricism (Logic and Observation) -Man is Ignorant Needs Enlightenment Reason Evidence Empiricism- You Trust what you can see and deduce LOGICALLY Deism- GODism: Believe in God but no other aspects of faith Believe that religion and reason could be combined Belief that God must be rational and religion should be so as well Deists believed that God existed and could be empirically justified in the study of nature
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The Enlightenment and Society
Philosophes were concerned with the application of laws and reason to the social condition Cesare Beccaria ( ) On Crimes and Punishments Attacked torture and capital punishment His used critical analysis to address the problem of making punishments just and effective
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Enlightenment and Society Continued
Physiocrats- Philosophes believed that policy could be reformed in a way that was consistent with natural laws Leaders included Francois Quesnay and Pierre Dupont De Nemours Believed that Mercantilist policies hampered with the expansion of trade
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Enlightenment and Society Continued
Adam Smith- A Wealth of Nations Believed that Economic Liberty was the foundation for a natural economic system and urged Mercantilist system to be abolished Laissez-Faire- Hand-off- no government regulation in the economy Four Stage Theory of human and economic development Enabled Europeans to see themselves dwelling at the highest level of achievement Justification for economic and imperial domination of the world
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Political Thought and Philosophes
Baron de Montesquieu Spirit of Laws (1748) Held British Constitution as an example of the wisest model for regulating power of government Advocated the French Aristocracy to improve the French political regiment Jean-Jacques Rousseau Social Contract (1762) Envisioned a Society in which each individual could maintain personal freedom while participating as a loyal member in a larger community Saw Humans beings as enmeshed in social relationships and believed that loyalty to a community should be encouraged
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Women in the Though and Practice of the Enlightenment
Helped promote careers of philosophes by giving them access to their social and political contacts and providing a forum for circulating ideas Louis XV’s mistress Madame De Tencin- promoted Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws by purchasing and circulating among friends Mary Wollstonecraft- addressed shortcomings and critiqued Rousseau in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
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Recap on the Values of the Enlightenment
The Values of the Enlightenment (AP European History).mp4
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18th Century Age of the Enlightenment
Ch. 17 Part II Enlightened Absolutism -Frederick the Great of Prussia -Catherine The Great of Russia -Joseph II of Austria
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Enlightened Absolutist
Absolutists in the 18th century attempted to apply the principles of the Enlightenment in their kingdoms Many philosophes supported strong monarchy as the best tool to implement the goals and ideals of the Enlightenment
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“Let us admit the truth: the arts and philosophy extend to only the few; the vast mass, the common people and the bulk of the nobility, remain what nature has made them, that is to say savage beasts.” --Frederick the Great to Voltaire
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IT’S A TRAP!
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T R A P
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Toleration of religious minorities R A P
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Toleration of religious minorities Reform of institutions A P
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Toleration of religious minorities Reform of institutions Absolutism (Duh!) P
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Toleration of religious minorities Reform of institutions Absolutism (Duh!) Patronage of the philosophes
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The Enlightened Absolutists
Catherine II Frederick II Joseph II (Russia) (Prussia) (Austria)
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Frederick “the Great” Prussia
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Frederick II “The Great”
Saw himself as the First SERVANT of the state Anti-Machiavel (1740) Frederick argued against Machiavelli that a ruler should be chiefly concerned with the well- being of his subjects. Patronage Frederick corresponded with Voltaire, who was a regular guest at his court before their relationship soured
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Religious Toleration Frederick expanded religious toleration in Prussia, but still favored Protestants for key government posts. Frederick was a skeptic himself
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Civil Service Reform Frederick reformed the Prussian bureaucracy, allowed for men of non-noble birth to fill senior government posts. Meritocracy
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Militarism Frederick continued to support a highly militarized state, contrary to the principles of the Enlightenment.
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Critical Thinking? In what ways did Frederick the Great successfully advance Enlightenment principles in Prussia? What factors limited his success?
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Catherine “the Great” Russia
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Assassination? Catherin’s husband, Peter III, died less than a year after taking the throne– likely by assassination
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Patronage Catherine purchased Diderot’s library…
Then paid him a salary to be her “librarian.” Catherine corresponded with Voltaire, who appreciated her flattery
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Pugachev’s Rebellion 1773-1775
Showed lack of Catherine’s reform Uprising of peasants & Cossacks on the Russian frontier
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Catherine was Weak on Reform
Catherine was too dependent on the support of the nobility to make serious modernizing reforms (e.g. serfdom or legal changes). Light on the reform Heavy on Patronage
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Self-Quiz Catherine the Great rolled out an ambitious program of Enlightenment- inspired reforms in Russia. True False
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Self-Quiz Catherine the Great rolled out an ambitious program of Enlightenment- inspired reforms in Russia. True False
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Joseph II Austria
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Most Radical Least Effective
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Co-Ruler with Maria Theresa
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Generous Religious Toleration
Joseph's policy included private worship for Jews.
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Multi-Ethnic State Attempted to Centralized Administration *Lots of push back
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Reformer Joseph abolished “serfdom” and granted more rights to peasants (although landlords retained some control)
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Most Radical Least Effective
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Joseph II knew he was un-effective
“Here lies Joseph II, who failed in all he undertook.” -Self suggested epitaph
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Recap of the Enlightened Absolutist
Enlightened Absolutism (Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, Joseph II).mp4
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Can you remember the four characteristics of enlightened absolutism?
Self-quiz Can you remember the four characteristics of enlightened absolutism?
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IT’S A TRAP!
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Toleration of religious minorities Reform of institutions Absolutism (Duh!) Patronage of the philosophes
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