1. World History - Ackerman
The Enlightenment
World History - Ackerman

2. The Enlightenment… What does “enlightenment” mean??
To “give understanding”, or “be free of ignorance”
Where did the Enlightenment happen??
All over Western Europe
When did the Enlightenment take place??
Mid-1600’s to the beginning of the 1800’s
Why did the Enlightenment happen??
People were tired of “traditional ways” of life and desperately wanted something new

3. Europe in the Enlightenment

4. The Enlightenment… How did the Enlightenment start??
England’s Glorious Revolution: 1688
Overthrow the king
Declaration of Independence: 1776
Independence from England
American Revolution: 1776 – 1781
A colony defeats a major European power
United States Bill of Rights: 1791
Freedoms for every citizen
French Revolution: 1789

5. What were some of the major ideas of the Enlightenment??
Human nature
good vs. evil
Styles of Government
Absolutism
“Enlightened monarchy”
Democracy
Citizenship
Personal rights (liberty, property, speech, religion)
Social contract (government and people have to work together)
Gender rights

6. The Enlightenment… Who was involved?? Thomas Hobbes John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Voltaire
Baron de Montesquieu
Mary Wollstonecraft

7. The Enlightenment… What happened as a result of the Enlightenment?
Many governments became more democratic
People gained more rights
Women gained “suffrage” – the right to vote
Slavery was decreased or even stopped
Freedom of speech, press, and religion became more common

8. To review…Hobbes Views on Government:
English Civil War convinced him that man was naturally wicked and selfish
People should give up their rights to a central ruler in exchange for law and order
Social Contract – people create government in exchange for safety
Government should have the “awesome power of a leviathan (ancient sea monster)
Best Form of Government: Absolute Monarchy

9. To review…Voltaire Views on Government:
Distrusted the Church (deceitful), the nobility (corrupt), and the peasants (ignorant and superstitious)
Disliked blacks and Jews
Distrusted democracy, because it would be empowering the common people, whom he saw as little more than idiots
Believed in the absolute freedom of thought and expression…to be able to say or write down one’s beliefs without fear of persecution
Believed in an individual’s right to choose their own religion…or none at all
Best Form of Government: Enlightened Monarchy

10. To review…Montesquieu
Views on Government:
Believed that the downfall of government was the result of the loss of political liberties
Separation of Powers – power should be divided between a ruler, a law-making body of people, and the courts
Checks and Balances – each “branch” of government would share power and prevent one person from abusing their authority
Best Form of Government: Representative Democracy

11. To review…John Locke Views on Government:
Thought that man was naturally reasonable, and that he could be responsible for governing himself
Believed that all people are born free and equal with Natural Rights
Life, liberty, and property
Purpose of government is to protect these rights…if it does not, the people have the right to overthrow it.
Best Form of Government: Democracy

12. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Views on Government
People are basically good, but become corrupted by society
State of Nature – mankind used to live in a primitive, free, and equal society…however at some point a few strong individuals forced others to follow their rules
Believed that the ideal government was one that was freely formed by the people…they agree to give up some of their freedom in favor of the common good
Rousseau’s Social Contract: agreement among free individuals to create a society and government
Believed in total equality  no more titles or class distinctions
Best Form of Government: Direct Democracy