1. The Enlightenment & the American Revolution
Ms. Garratt

2. Locke
Wrote Two Treatises of Government after witnessing the Glorious Revolution.
Believed human nature was essentially good.
Believed that all humans were born with natural rights of life, liberty & property

3. Locke
Governments were established through the consent of the governed & a social contract.
Purpose of gov was to protect those rights
If gov abused it’s authority as Britain had done people had a right to overthrow the gov

4. Hobbes Influenced by the English Civil War
Human nature was wicked & life was like state of war
Social Contract req’d people to give up liberties to an absolute monarch.
In return they gain order & security.
Wrote the Leviathan

5. Linkage of the Scientific Revolution to the Enlightenment
Belief in Progress
The successes of the Scientific Revolution gave philosophes the confidence that human reason could solve social problems.
More secular Perspective
Scientists made discoveries that contradicted & challenged religious teachings.
Importance of the Individual
People turned away from the Church & royalty for guidance - looked to themselves.
Encouraged to use their own abilities & reason to problem solve

6. Core Values of the Philosophes
1. Reason – truth could be discovered through reason
2. Happiness – rejected medieval belief that people should concentrate on finding happiness in the hereafter rather than finding contentment & joy in this world
3. Progress – Humankind could improve
4. Liberty – called for liberties achieved from the Glorious Revolution in the English Bill of Rights
5. Nature – Believed that what was natural was good

7. “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it” Voltaire

8. Voltaire Prolific writer who used satire against his enemies.
Attacked clergy, aristocrats & gov
Fought for religious freedom & speech.
Fought superstition, intolerance and prejudice.
He corresponded directly with many rulers
Was jailed & exiled for his beliefs.
Real name Francois Marie Arouet

9. Locke’s Chief Influence
Principles include:
Natural rights
Purpose of gov
Justification to overthrow gov
Author of the Two Treatise on Government

10. Montesquieu Believed the best organization of gov included:
Separation of powers &
Checks and balances
SOP was by itself a C/B
Both ideas are part of the US Constitution.
Wrote Spirit of the Laws

11. “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.” Rousseau

12. Rousseau Civilization corrupted man.
Only good gov had to be freely formed & guided by the “general will” of society.
Favored “direct democracy” in which individuals agree to give up some freedoms in favor of the common good.
Consent of government
Titles of nobility should be abolished
Influenced French Revolution
Wrote the Social Contract

13. Beccaria Interested in the justice system
Condemned torture & irregular procedings.
Favored:
Speedy trial
Fair treatment
Punishment commensurate with the crime
Abolishing capital punishment

14. Wollstonecraft Women were not treated fairly by most philosophes.
Wollstonecraft believed that women were entitled to an equal education.
Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women

15. How did Enlightenment Ideas Spread?

16. Diderot Began publishing the Encyclopedia in 1751
Censured by the Catholic Church & French gov
Enlightened despots, absolute rulers, were those willing to consider some reforms

17. Salons & Salonieres Originated in 1600s
Noblewomen began inviting enlightenment philosophes in all fields to their homes
By the 1700s middle class women began holding salons.
Another way in which ideas were disseminated

18. Catherine the Great Experimented with Enlightenment ideas
Communicated with Voltaire & Diderot.
Gave some rights to nobles
However she allied herself with nobles who opposed change.
Suppressed serf revolt
Never implemented reforms

19. Frederick the Great – King of Prussia
Religious freedom
Reduced censorship
Improved edu
Reformed justice system
Opposed serfdom but did not eliminate it because he needed support of wealthy landowners
Referred to himself as “1st servant of the state”

21. Joseph II Dedicated reformer
Disguised himself so he could learn about people’s problems and improve them.
Hired qualified civil servants rather than nobles
Religious toleration
Ended censorship
Sold some church property to build hospitals
Abolished serfdom

22. Music, Literature and Architectural Changes during the Enlightenment

23. Baroque

24. Neoclassical

25. Baroque Music I’ll be Bach! Johann Sebastian Bach
George Friedrich Handel
Dramatic Organ & choral music

26. Classical Music - Enlightenment
Composers
Joseph Haydn
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven
Lighter, more elegant music

27. Literature Novels which had plots, suspense & character development.
Entertaining stories enjoyed by middle classes.
Written in language that was understood
Pamela represents Enlightenment value in that Pamela stood up to abusive authority

28. See New PPT for Impact of Enlightenment on the American colonies

29. Adam Smith – Free Trade Leading physiocrat who opposed mercantilism.
Wrote Wealth of Nations which argued that natural forces of supply & demand should operate the economy.
Strong supporter of laissez-faire.
Encouraged individual initiative

30. Mercantilism
Government regulated economic policy based on the following beliefs:
Wealth was measured by the amount of gold/silver
Req’d that nations maintain favorable balance of trade.
Colonies were desired because they (1) provided raw materials and (2) markets for finished products.
Restrictive trade policies which were reflected in the Navigation Laws

31. Enlightenment Influences on the American Revolution
Navigation Acts
French-Indian War
Stamp Act
Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts
1st Continental Congress
Lexington and Concord
Second Continental Congress
Dec of Independence
We hold these truths…
John Locke
Articles ..AOC weak
New Constitution
Federalism
C/B
SOP
B/R