1. The Enlightenment
Ch. 10 Section 2

2. Enlightenment Enlightenment – a philosophical mvmt of intellectuals
Focused on reason
B/g to question what type of govt. was the best form
Make a better society
Enlightenment thinkers…
John Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau

3. John Locke Wrote “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
People are “clean slates” shaped by society & education
Society can be improved by a good government
“Natural Rights”- life, liberty, & property cannot be taken away by the government
Corrupt governments should be overthrown!

4. Montesquieu Wrote “The Spirit of the Laws”
Govt. should function through a separation of powers (3 branches)
Separate branches allows each branch to limit and control each other
The three branches check and balance each other
Prevents any one person or one group from gaining too much power
3 branches of govt.
Legislative, executive, and judicial

5. Voltaire Critic of Christianity and strong b/l in religious toleration
He was a Deist…
Deism – religious philosophy based on reason and natural law
The universe is a clock, God is the mechanic that created the clock and set it in motion, allows the clock to run w/o interference

6. Diderot Created the Encyclopedia The Encyclopedia
A 28 volume collection of knowledge that he edited
Published b/w
To change the general way of thinking
The Encyclopedia
Attacked religious superstitions
Supported religious toleration

7. Rousseau Wrote “The Social Contract”
Social contract – an entire society agrees to be governed by general will
Govt. can only be formed with the consent of the people
People must make their own laws in order for those laws to be valid
Believed a direct democracy was the best form of government

8. Democracy Democracy – rule by the common people
Ancient Greek form of govt.
Direct democracy – everyone votes on issues
People are DIRECTLY involved with all decisions that have to be made
Representative democracy – citizens elect representatives to vote on the issues facing the govt.
This is the govt. we have in America

9. Mary Wollstonecraft Wrote “A Vindication of the Rights of Women”
Power that men had over women was wrong
Just as wrong as the power that kings have over their subjects
Women have reason, therefore they are entitled to the same rights as men
Women should have equal rights in education as well as in economic and political life

10. A New Society Reading b/c important to the masses
First newspaper printed in London in 1702
Now reading materials were being geared toward the common people rather than just the elite

11. Methodist Movement John Wesley - created Methodism
An Anglican minister
Said he had an experience where God’s grace assured him of salvation
Led him to b/c a missionary to English people
Preached to the masses in open fields
Appealed especially to the lower classes