1. The Ideas of the Enlightenment
Chapter 21 Lesson 2

2. Philosophy Most were French
Writers, professors, journalists, economists and social reformers.
Role: change the world
Reason and spirit of rational criticism were applied to everything – including religion and politics
Most notable philosophers:
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Diderot

3. Montesquieu England’s government had three branches
Executive (Monarch)
Legislative (Parliament)
Judicial (Courts of Law)
Separation of powers
All three branches could limit each other with a system of checks and balances
Will be used by the Founding Fathers in the US Constitution

4. Voltaire Francois-Marie Arouet – Persian Criticism of Christianity
Deism – philosophy based on reason and natural law
Clock idea
God was the clockmaker who created the world, set it in motion and allowed it to run without his interference and according to its own natural laws

5. Diderot Denis Diderot – University of Paris
Encyclopedia, or Classified Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts and Trades
Weapon against the old French society
“Change the general way of thinking”

6. New Social Sciences Economics and political science
Laissez-faire – let people do what they want
Free Enterprise System – gov’t should not interfere in economic matters
3 roles
Protect society from invasion (army)
Defend citizens from injustice (police)
Keep up certain public works that private individuals could not afford (roads and canals)

7. Spread of ideas Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Social Contract - Entire society agrees to be governed by its general will and all individuals should be forced to abide by it since it represents what is best for the entire community
Secularism – principle that religion should not play a role in government, education or other parts of society
Rococo – grace, charm and gentle action
Delicate designs colored in gold and graceful curves
Music – Haydn and Mozart