1. The Enlightenment

2. Enlightenment Thinkers believed in natural law
Objects in nature were expected to act in ways that were predictable.

3. Enlightenment
Rationalism: The belief that truth can be determined by logical thinking.

4. Enlightenment
Philosophes: Thinkers of the Enlightenment, critics of society.

5. John Locke English philosophe Believed in private property
Against taxation without representation

6. John Locke
Believed people had the right to change their gov’t if it became oppressive

7. Denis Diderot Editor of the first encyclopedia
28 volumes covering almost every possible subject

8. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Published The Social Contract
Believed people are naturally good, but are corrupted by their environment, education, and laws

9. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Popular sovereignty: gov’t is created and controlled by people

10. Baron de Montesquieu
Published The Spirit of the Laws
Tried to describe the perfect gov’t

11. Believed Great Britain had the best
Baron de Montesquieu
Believed Great Britain had the best
3 branches
Checks and balances

12. Voltaire
Was against monarchy, nobility, and religious controls of the church
Supporter of the British political system

13. Voltaire
Believed in religious freedom and freedom of thought