1. The Enlightenment

2. New Views on Government
English philosopher, believed all people are born equal
Government should protect people’s natural rights
The leader is not chosen by God
Government by consent (vote)
Power limited by laws
Ideas are the foundation for modern
democracy
John Locke

3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French philosopher, believed people basically are good
Believed society corrupts people
Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all people of society
Believed government should work for the common good, not the wealthy few
Individuals should give up some freedoms for benefit of community

4. Baron de Montesquieu Separation of powers Checks and balances
Best form of government divided power among branches of government
Separation of powers kept an individual or group from abusing power
Powers divided into branches: legislative, executive, judicial
Parliament made laws, king carried out laws, courts interpreted laws
Checks and balances
Separation of powers allowed each branch to check against power of others

5. Cesare Beccaria criminal justice system
government’s right to have laws and punishments
social contract: the idea that freewill and rational individuals made a choice to live in a society instead of living alone.

6. Adam Smith
free market enterprise
Strong believer in laissez-faire (hands off) economics= no government regulation
Believed economy would be stronger if market forces of supply and demand were allowed to work freely

7. Thomas Paine Common Sense, 1776
Wrote: independence would allow free trade, a better equal society
This pamphlet helped many colonists overcome their fear about separating from Britain.

8. Student Input- Create 3 boxes, fill in with notes from the PPT that fit that topic
Ideas that challenged an old belief system
Ideas that would inspire people to rebel against their king
Ideas that gave the common person more power

9. Student Input: From your notes, place
Challenged Beliefs
Writers & philosophers questioned ideas long held as the absolute truth
Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchies
Questioned the relationship between church and state
Debated rules and rights of people in society
Promoted ideas that reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change society
Belief in progress spurred many to create changes
Believed reason could solve any problem, debated ways to make society more just
Did not accept poverty, ignorance, inequality as facts of life
Reforms
Ideas about power, authority inspired reforms and revolutions
American colonists inspired to break free from British monarchy
Colonists strongly influenced by political views of Locke, Rousseau
Revolutions