1. The Age of ENLIGHTENMENT
According to the picture, what do you think influenced Enlightenment thinkers?

2. Learning Goal
Understand the significance of Enlightenment thinkers and influence on US Government and history.

3. ENLIGHTENMENT Shift in thinking
"enlighten"—the idea of shedding light on something, illuminating it, making it clear.
New philosophies dealt with government, religion, & relationships between people
Reason, natural law, hope, progress

4. Philosophes (philosophers)
Most were writers, professors
Were concerned with idea of human reason
It can be applied to all areas of life

5. philosophes cont.
Opposed divine right to rule, no absolute monarchies & privileges of nobility & clergy
People can govern themselves!!
NO traditional religious values – some were atheist or Christian – most were deist

6. JOHN LOCKE People are basically good.
They enter into a contract with gov’t, and the gov’t is responsible for securing unalienable rights (life, liberty & property).
If ruler becomes a tyrant, people have the right & duty to overthrow
all people have natural rights
Life, liberty, property-influenced what?

7. THOMAS HOBBES Leviathan – 1651 Man was basically bad
If there is no government, humankind would fight & destroy themselves
therefore they make an agreement with the government for protection

8. VOLTAIRE believed in reason, tolerance, and limited government
Critic of Christianity
deist

9. MONTESQUIEU separation of powers in the government (3 Branches)
liberty of the people must be guarded from corrupt leaders

10. ROUSSEAU Social Contract-society agrees to be governed
People in civilized society were unhappy & selfish
Government should what's best for everyone-majority rule

11. Mary Wollstonecraft Considered the founder of women’s rights movement.
Self-educated, magazine publisher
Daughter was Mary Shelley-wrote Frankenstein
“Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will quickly become good wives; - that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.”

12. Thomas Jefferson
Influence from Locke and Rousseau- Life liberty & pursuit of happiness/social contract
Declaration of Independence-Individual liberties

13. William Blackstone
Blackstone's main contribution was in his theory of common law (basis of legal system).
Influenced U.S. Constitution-especially impeachment and the 2nd Amendment
"... to the right of petitioning the king and parliament for redress of grievances; and, lastly, to the right of having and using arms for self-preservation and defense."

14. HOW IT SPREAD Diderot – Encyclopedia Salons-gathering places
more secular outlook

15. 3-2-1 3- Give three new ideas from Enlightenment thinkers
2- Name two Enlightenment thinkers and explain their philosophy
1- What idea from John Locke was used later in the Declaration of Independence? (one part was changed to fit their ideology)