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The Enlightenment
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What was it? Who: Intellectuals (well educated people)
What: Age of Reason Where: Europe and American colonies When: 18th century (1700’s) Why: to reform society using reason and advance knowledge through science
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Main Ideas Stressed logic and reason Don’t rely on tradition
Faith in science and education Believed in improvement and experimentation Secular view of the world Religious tolerance Political equality Goal: to improve society
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Philosophers Those who considered themselves “Enlightened” were philosophers, or philosophes in France Social critics and reformers Thomas Hobbes John Locke Baron de Montesquieu Jean-Jacques Rousseau Mary Wollstonecraft
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Salons A gathering in which Enlightenment thinkers would talk about the new and fashionable enlightenment ideas Wanted to improve society
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Thomas Hobbes Man is naturally “selfish and wicked”
The role of government is to provide order Without government man would live in chaos
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Hobbes’ Social Contract
Man willingly gives up some of his rights to the government in order to not live in chaos Government provides order, safety, and stability for the people Favored strong, absolute rulers
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John Locke Man is naturally good and learns from his experiences
Purpose of government is to protect man’s natural rights The people have the right to remove the government if it is not fulfilling its obligations
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Locke’s Natural Rights
Life, Liberty, and Property Inspired Thomas Jefferson and the American Declaration of Independence American colonists did not believe the King of England was giving them their natural rights Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
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Baron de Montesquieu Believed that corruption occurred when one individual person had too much power Separation of powers in government would prevent one person or group from becoming too powerful Influenced American Constitution Three branches of government
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Jean Jacques-Rousseau
Good people are made unhappy and corrupted by their experiences in society In order for society to progress, man must be unhappy The power to make laws must be in the hands of the people, not the elite Proposed a direct-democracy
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Mary Wollstonecraft One of a very few female philosophes
Exception, not the rule Focused on women’s rights Thought that women could gain equality through education "Unfortunate Situation of Females, Fashionably Educated, and Left Without a Fortune" Believed women are as intellectually as capable as men
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Impact of the Enlightenment
New ideas about freedom, equality, and politics Educational reforms Challenges to the Church Inspired revolutions in Haiti and America Called for an end to slavery
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