1. 2-2: Impact of the Enlightenment
Many American colonists accepted the Enlightenment ideas that people have natural rights.

2. Anticipatory Set
Recall how the Great Awakening influenced the American colonists’ ideas about government.

3. California Standards
Social Studies Standard : Explain how the main ideas of the Enlightenment can be traced back to such movements as the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution and to the Scientific Revolution and the Greeks, Romans, and Christianity.
Social Studies Standard : Describe how democratic thought and institutions were influenced by Enlightenment thinkers.

4. Input
enlightened: free from the superstitions and ignorance of the Middle Ages.
absolute monarch: a ruler with complete authority over the government and people.
divine right: the belief that a ruler’s authority comes directly from God.

5. Input
natural rights: rights that belong to every human being from birth.
separation of powers: division of the power of government into separate branches.

6. Roots of the Enlightenment
Input & Modeling
Roots of the Enlightenment
Enlightenment thinkers believed that scientists should use reason, observation, and experiments in their studies.
During the Renaissance, Europeans gained a new interest in the ideas of Greece and Rome.
The ideal “Renaissance person” was someone with a broad knowledge of many subjects.
New emphasis was placed on the individual.

7. Roots of the Enlightenment
Input & Modeling
Roots of the Enlightenment
The Scientific Revolution
During the 1500s, European scientists used reason, observation, and experiments to find out about the natural world.
Astronomers challenged the teachings of the Church that the Earth was the center of the universe.

8. Roots of the Enlightenment
Input & Modeling
Roots of the Enlightenment
The Scientific Revolution
Scientists backed up their ideas by mathematical calculations and observations.
By the 1600s, scientists were making discoveries in many areas, from chemistry to medicine.
The English scientist Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity, explaining why
objects fell to Earth when dropped.
Newton also developed the theory
that gravity held the universe
together.

9. Applying Reason to Politics
Input & Modeling
Applying Reason to Politics
John Locke concluded that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
At the time of the Enlightenment, most European countries were ruled by absolute monarchs that claimed to have divine right.
The rights of the people came to them from the monarch.
In 1690, the English philosopher John Locke proposed that people have certain natural rights that belong to them from birth (life, liberty, and property).

10. Applying Reason to Politics
Input & Modeling
Applying Reason to Politics
John Locke concluded that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
Locke argued that people formed governments in order to protect their rights.
If government is to protect the rights of the people, a monarch who violates these rights can be overthrown.

11. Applying Reason to Politics
Input & Modeling
Applying Reason to Politics
Baron de Montesquieu suggested that government should be divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
In 1748, he argued that the powers of government should be clearly defined and limited.
Montesquieu favored the separation of powers to prevent any individual or group from becoming too powerful.

12. Applying Reason to Politics
Input & Modeling
Applying Reason to Politics
Baron de Montesquieu suggested that government should be divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
His division of power became the basis of the government of the United States.
A legislative branch to make laws
An executive branch to enforce laws
A judicial branch to make judgments based on the laws

13. Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Input & Modeling
Enlightenment Ideas Spread
By the 1770s, most educated colonists believed that they were born with natural rights.
Educated people gathered to discuss the latest developments in science, politics, and the arts.
Printing presses churned out books and pamphlets that were read by many levels of society.
Government and church officials tried to restrict the spread of ideas that threatened their power.
Colonists like Benjamin Franklin supported Enlightenment ideas on human liberty by
founding one of the first antislavery societies.

14. Check for Understanding
By the 1770s, what did most educated colonists believe there were born with?
natural rights
What did John Locke say people had the rights to?
life, liberty, property

15. Guided Practice Independent Practice Answer #4, 5,& 6 Finish the
worksheet.
4. b
5. e
6. True

16. HOMEWORK EXTENSION
Write a detailed SUMMARY of the section and complete the UNANSWERED QUESTIONS section of your notes.
Choose two of the remaining Depth & Complexity ICONS in your notes and explain how they relate to this section.