1. Enlightenment/American Revolution Study List Review
World History

2. Natural Rights
Idea that all people were born with certain rights “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”
Created by John Locke

3. Social Contract
an agreement by which people gave up their freedom to a powerful government in order to avoid chaos.

4. Natural Law Laws that governed human nature
Laws discoverable by reason

5. Philosophe French for “philosopher”
French thinker who desired reform in society during the Enlightenment.

6. Voltaire (1694-1778) French philosopher and author
Imprisoned in the Bastille
Used with to expose the abuses of government and society
advocated a tolerant approach to religion.
Voltaire

7. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) French political philosopher
explored democratic theories of government.
Proposed a government divided into 3 branches, greatly influenced the United States Constitution.

8. John Locke (1632-1704) English philosopher
Developed political and economic theories during the Enlightenment.
Wrote Two Treatises on Government in which he declared that people have a right to rebel against governments that do not protect their natural rights.

9. Thomas Hobbes
English philosopher who lived through the English Civil War
Thought people were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish
Supported powerful government; For him such a government was an absolute monarchy, which could impose order and compel obedience.

10. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
( )
French political philosopher
Believed that people in their natural state were basically good and were corrupted by the evils of society, especially the unequal distribution of property

11. So That’s Where It Comes From….
Another philosophe Denis Diderot labored for more than 25 years to produce a 28 volume Encyclopedia, which means “circle of teachings”.
His purpose was to “change the general way of thinking”
The Encyclopedia articles:
Denounced slavery
Praised freedom of expression.
Urged education for all.
His articles and positions reflect
the ideas of humanism as seen
in the Renaissance.

12. Enlightenment
a time of optimism and possibility from the late 1600s to the late 1700s; also called the Age of Reason.

13. Adam Smith (1723-1790) Scottish economist
Became the leading advocate of laissez-faire economics
Considered by some to be the “father of modern economics” wrote the first true text on economics, The Wealth of Nations, in 1776.

14. Laissez-faire
policy allowing business to operate with little or no government interference.

15. Baroque
ornate style of art and architecture popular in the 1600s and 1700s.
Palace at Versailles

16. Rococo elegant style of art and architecture
made popular during the mid-1700s, featured designs with the shapes of leaves, shells, and flowers.

17. Salons
gatherings in which intellectual and political ideas were exchanged during the Enlightenment.

18. Censorship
restriction on access to ideas and information

19. Enlightened despots
the absolute monarchs in 18th century Europe who ruled according to the principles of the Enlightenment.
Joseph II of Austria
Enlightened despots were absolute rulers who used their power to bring about political and social change
Catherine the Great of Russia

20. Joseph II- Rebel With A Cause!!
Most radical of enlightened despots.
Granted toleration to Protestants and Jews.
Ended censorship and tried to control the Catholic Church.
Sold church property to build hospitals.
Abolished serfdom.
Eliminated the death penalty and torture.
Unfortunately these reforms only remained
until his death then things went back to the
way they were.
* Serfdom was the enforced labour of serfs on the fields of landowners, in return for protection and the right to work on their leased fields.

21. Help me, help you Catherine the Great
Was interested in Enlightenment ideas but intended to give up no power
Made some limited reforms in law and government.
Granted nobles a charter of rights.
Criticized the institution of serfdom
Wouldn’t abolish it because she would lose the support of wealthy land owners if she did.

22. Enlightened Despot Numéro un
Enlightened despots were absolute rulers who used their power to bring about political and social change.
FREDERICK THE GREAT
Exerted tight control over subjects, but saw himself as a “first servant of the state.”
Tolerated religious differences.
Except for Jews he tried to limit the
number of Jews allowed to live in Prussia.
Distributed seeds and tools to peasants.

23. Revolution
radical change, far-reaching effects.

24. King George III
King of England during the time of the American Revolution

25. George Washington 1732-1799 First president of the United States
commanded the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War
served as a representative to the Continental Congress.

26. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American statesman
Third president of the United States, member of two Continental Congresses
Declaration’s main author

27. Declaration of Independence
Letter to King George III, written by Thomas Jefferson, declaring the 13 colonies’ independence (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) from Great Britain.

28. Popular sovereignty
Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power
Government can exist only with the consent of the governed.

29. Federal republic
government in which power is divided between the national, or federal, government and the states.

30. Benjamin Franklin
( ) American statesman; he was a philosopher, scientist, inventor, writer, publisher, first U.S. postmaster, and member of the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence.