1. Chapter 16: The Enlightenment and the Age of Reason
Lesson 1 The Enlightenment

2. MAIN IDEAS
The Enlightenment arose from the belief that reason could help people understand their social and political world.
European philosophers used reason to criticize social and political institutions.
Women used reason to argue in favor of equal rights and helped spread Enlightenment ideas.

3. Beginnings of the Enlightenment EQ: Why did the Enlightenment begin?
Roots of the Enlightenment (mid 1600s-1800s)
Ancient Greeks, Romans respected logic & reason; Christianity in Middle Ages valued faith & truth; Renaissance scholars blended logic, reason, with faith, & truth
Reformation emboldened individuals to question Church teaching and practice. Martin Luther: Why are we doing this? It doesn’t make sense with Scripture.
Enlightenment—dramatic revolutions in science, philosophy, society and politics that swept away the medieval world-view and ushered in our modern western world

4. Beginnings of the Enlightenment EQ: Why did the Enlightenment begin?
John Locke ( )
English Protestant philosopher challenged divine right of kings
Believed power of government came from consent of people, not God or king
Natural rights—people are born with right to life, liberty, property
Locke felt governmentʼs role was to protect natural rights; people had right to revolt if ruler failed to protect natural rights

5. European Philosophers
EQ: What were some of the important ideas of the Enlightenment?
Voltaire ( )
Philosophes—French for philosophers—applied scientific method to social problems, challenged old beliefs
Voltaire wrote more than 70 books, speaking out against religious intolerance & Church superstitions
He called for freedom of speech, believed people had right to liberty

6. European Philosophers
EQ: What were some of the important ideas of the Enlightenment?
Baron de Montesquieu ( )
Believed liberty was a natural right; opposed absolute monarchs
Believed government should have three branches that check and balance each other. This separation of powers became basis for U.S. Constitution
Jean Jacques Rousseau ( )
Argued democracy was best way to govern; wrote book The Social Contract
Opposed monarchs, nobility; felt people should vote on government. His beliefs, especially that of equality, sometimes led to revolt

7. Women and the Enlightenment
EQ: How did women use reason to argue for equal rights?
Education for Women
In 1694, writer Mary Astell criticized England for not educating women
In 1784, American Judith Murray wrote about education for women. She felt that women deprived of education had low self-esteem
In 1792, England’s Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, arguing that well- educated women create enlightened families

8. Lesson Summary & So What
Enlightenment thinkers believed that human reason could lead to an understanding of all aspects of life.
Philosophes and other thinkers believed that people had natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
Women used reason to argue for equal rights and help spread Enlightenment ideas by hosting salons.
Why It Matters Now . . .
The belief that reason is the key that leads humans to understand their social and political world continues to influence thinking today.