1. The Enlightenment and Challenges to the Status Quo

2. Introduction
Western History in 19th century was dominated by internal developments
Political movements
Expansion of settler societies
Industrial Revolution
1750
most of Europe dominated by monarchies
US minor “player”
By 1914 many monarchies overthrown and legislative/democratic systems emerge
Alliance systems form in W. Europe

3. Optimism Against All Odds
Marquis de Condorcet writes Progress of the Human Mind
Progress had become inevitable due to growing education & wider literacy
Age of Revolutions
Period of political upheaval beginning with the American Revolution in 1776
Age of Revolutions last until 1848

4. Forces of Change A. Enlightenment
Thinkers challenge regimes that didn’t grant full religious freedom
Aristocratic privileges challenged
Called for a widespread popular voice in government
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Encouraged economic and technological change

5. C. Population Revolution
B. Commercialization
Business people gaining wealth challenge the idea that aristocrats alone should hold positions of power
Interested in techniques that might spur production
Sometimes opposed by artisans and peasants
C. Population Revolution
Border policing
Reduced movement of disease-bearing animals & people crossing borders
Improvement in nutrition
Potatoes
Reduction in death rate
Mostly among children

6. Population Growth prompted a rapid expansion of manufactured goods
Protoindustrialization
Preliminary shift away from agricultural economy to workers becoming producers of textile and metal products at home
Capitalist system
Lack of property ownership affects Western society

7. Enlightenment Philosophers

8. Thomas Hobbes English philosopher who lived from 1588-1679
Wrote Leviathan
Formulates the social contract theory

9. John Locke A British philosopher who lived from 1632-1704
Wrote The Second Treatise of Civil Government
Addressed many areas including his views on the state of nature, civil society and the dissolution of government.
Formulates the idea of tabula rasa

10.   Jean Jacques Rousseau
Swiss-born French philosopher, lived from
Wrote The Social Contract
Wrote several operas

11. Montesquieu French philosopher who lived from 1689-1755
Formulates the idea of separation of powers (three branches of government)
Wrote On the Spirit of Laws- describes how a government works best

12. Voltaire A French philosopher who lived from 1694-1778
Was exiled in England for several years for his satirical comments on the French aristocracy
Wanted social reforms such as civil liberties, freedom of trade, and religion