1. Today’s Warm Up
Put your homework in the bin!
Look at the image on page 167 (in the “Reading Like a Historian” section)
Take out your class notes and answer the question below:
What do you think the darkened room and the illuminated faces of the spectators symbolize?

2. The Enlightenment Today’s LEQ(s): What was the Enlightenment?
What views did philosophes have on the structure and purposes of government?

3. What was the Enlightenment?
A movement led by European philosophes (thinkers) during the 1700s
Aimed to enlighten the public
Challenged everything – gov’t, religion, education, human nature, etc.
Sparked a wave of political revolutions (and still does!)

4. Onion Article Reflection
What point is the author trying to make?
What strategy is he/she using to make this point?

5. a.k.a. the Age of Reason
A time when philosophes thought reason could be used to solve all human problems
The Reformation and Scientific Revolution paved the way…
Think, Pair Share: Why do you think this is?
Challenge everything, assume nothing!
Rationalism replaces blind faith– apply reason and logic to philosophy, politics, religion and commerce
Reverence for authority is replaced with criticism, tolerance, and freedom of thought

6. How did Enlightenment Ideas Spread?
From beer and liquor to coffee
Calm, sober discussions in coffeehouses vs. inebriated talk in taverns
Philosophes published ideas in books, magazines, and pamphlets
Paris = center of Enlightenment activity
Wealthy Parisian women would host social gatherings called salons to discuss and debate ideas
Break for Salon Activity

7. Who Were the Enlightenment Thinkers?

8. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Wrote “The Social Contract”
Beliefs:
People are naturally good; society corrupts
Some social controls are good – popular sovereignty
People will give up freedoms to benefit the common good
“Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains.”

9. John Locke Wrote “Two Treatises of Government” Beliefs:
Agreed with the Social Contract but with limited government
Government exists to protect our natural rights – life, liberty, and the right to own property

10. Thomas Hobbes Wrote “The Leviathan” Beliefs
People are naturally cruel and selfish
Without gov’t we’re in the state of nature
Agreed with Social Contract but with unlimited government
People should give up ind’l liberties for safety and social order

11. Baron de Montesquieue Wrote “The Spirit of the Laws” Beliefs
Against unlimited gov’t and absolute power
Believed in a system of checks and balances (sound familiar?)
Liked Great Britain’s constitutional monarchy

12. Voltaire Wrote “Manner of Spirits of Nation” Beliefs
Very critical of the Catholic Church
Believed gov’t would be the world’s downfall due to corrupt officials
Hated the slave trade and religious intolerance

13. Mary Wollstonecraft Wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”
Beliefs
All humans have reason, therefore men and women should be equal
Equality in education, workplace, and politics
Women should be a good mother first but have much more to offer

14. Your Turn…
Use page 179 to fill in the chart for Diderot and Adam Smith

15. Thomas Hobbes John Locke
Humans are naturally reasonable, moral and good
Humans have natural rights: life liberty and property
People form governments to protect natural rights
Best government was one with limited power
If a government violates people’s natural rights, people have the right to overthrow government
Humans are naturally cruel, greedy and selfish.
To escape this “brutish” life people entered into a social contract.
Only a powerful government could ensure an orderly society.
Believed only an absolute monarchy could keep a society completely orderly.