1. Objective: I can analyze how Enlightenment thinkers applied reason to discover natural laws guiding human nature in social, political, and economic systems and institutions.
Re-worded: Explain how the ideas from the Enlightenment changed government systems-Absolute Monarchy to Democracy
Political Thinkers

2. The works of Locke and Hobbes set the stage for later development.
During the 1700s in France, Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Diderot, Beccaria, and Wollstonecraft carried the ideas of new government structures further.
Although these men and woman shared a desire to reform society, they differed in their views of what needed to be done.
In France, Enlightenment thinkers were called philosophes, or philosophers.
French Thinkers

3. Part 1
1) Voltaire

4. Published essays, plays, and works of fiction that reflected Enlightenment ideals
Believed in religious toleration and deism
Deism is the belief that God made the universe and left it to be ruled by natural law
Seeking social and political reform, Voltaire often used humor to attack the laws and customs of France
Voltaire

5. His targets were the Roman Catholic Church, the powerful aristocracy, and the monarchy.
Often, Voltaire disguised his criticism in works of fiction.
Not surprisingly, his writings got him in trouble with the government.
During the course of his career, Voltaire was imprisoned in the Bastille and exiled from his native France for many years.
Voltaire

6. Partner Questions What does Voltaire mean by “toleration?”
Why would Voltaire use a sense of humor when attacking the Roman Catholic Church and the monarchy?
Why would Voltaire attack the Roman Catholic Church and the monarchy?
Partner Questions

7. Voltaire Tolerance Reason Freedom of religious belief
Freedom of speech
“I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it”
Voltaire

8. Which of the four beliefs of Voltaire do you think is the most important? Explain Why.
Explain Voltaire’s quote in your own words.
Partner Questions

9. 2) Montesquieu

10. Studied governments of ancient Rome and closely examined the contemporary governments of France and England
Concluded England had the best government because it balanced the powers of competing groups in society
The English government divided power among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Separation of Powers
Montesquieu

11. Partner Questions What was Montesquieu’s big idea?
Identify the parts of Montesquieu’s big idea.
Partner Questions

12. Each branch had control of the others through a system of checks and balances.
Asserted a government with divided powers was a government of limited powers.
A government of limited powers was less likely to violate the natural rights of its citizens.
Later became basis for United States Constitution.
Montesquieu

13. Describe Montesquieu’s reasoning for using the separation of powers in government. [Be sure to include the following phrases or words: checks and balances, divided power, limited power, and natural rights.
What is the significance of Montesquieu’s idea?
Partner Questions

14. Flip Book-Voltaire & Montesquieu

15. Part 2
3) Rousseau

16. Rousseau Individual Freedom
Civilization corrupted peoples’ natural goodness
“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”
Only good government was one freely formed by the people and guided by the ‘general will’ of society—a direct democracy
Under such a government, people agree to give up some of their freedom in favor of the common good
Rousseau

17. Partner Questions Explain Rousseau’s quote in your own words.
What type of government did Rousseau believe was best?
Describe that type of government.
Partner Questions

18. Social Contract: it was an agreement among free individuals to create a society and a government
Legitimate government came from the consent of the governed (Like Locke)
Inspired many leaders of the French Revolution
Rousseau

19. What was the significance (impact, effect) of Rousseau’s ideas?
Partner Question

20. 4) Diderot

21. Helped spread Enlightenment ideas throughout Europe and the American colonies with his multivolume Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia included articles written by scholars, philosophers, and scientists.
Hoped this huge work would summarize all theoretical and actual knowledge
Diderot

22. Partner Questions Describe the Encyclopedia that Diderot created.
What was the purpose of the Encyclopedia that Diderot created?
Partner Questions

23. Goal in editing the Encyclopedia was to change the way people thought
Many articles criticized the Roman Catholic Church and supported religious toleration (freedom)
Other articles advanced the Enlightenment idea of social reform
Diderot

24. What was the goal of Diderot with regards to the Encyclopedia?
What types of ideas were contained within the Encyclopedia?
Partner Questions

25. The Roman Catholic Church and the French government condemned the Encyclopedia and tried to censor it
The church did not like challenges to its authority
The monarchy did not like radical new ideas about government and the rights of the governed (people or citizens)
Even so, approximately 20,000 copies of the Encyclopedia (a very large number for that time) were printed and distributed
Diderot

26. What was the response of the Roman Catholic Church and French monarchy to Diderot’s Encyclopedia?
Why did the Roman Catholic Church and French monarchy have this response towards Diderot’s Encyclopedia?
Partner Questions

27. Flip Book-Rousseau

28. Part 3
5) Beccaria

29. Beccaria Italian Promotes criminal justice
Believed laws existed to preserve social order, not to avenge crimes
Regularly criticized common abuses of justice
Including: torturing witnesses and suspects, irregular proceedings in trials, and punishments that were arbitrary or cruel
Beccaria

30. Partner Questions What type of ideas did Beccaria promote?
What did Beccaria believe the purpose of laws were?
What were the common abuses of law Beccaria criticized?
Partner Questions

31. Argued that a person accused of a crime should receive a speedy trial, and that torture should never be used
The degree of punishment should be based on the seriousness of the crime
Believed capital punishment should be abolished
Beccaria

32. Rights of the accused included these two ideas by Beccaria—What were those two ideas?
How did Beccaria suggest society comes up with the right punishment for a crime?
What did Beccaria believe should be abolished?
Partner Questions

33. Beccaria based his ideas about justice on the principle that governments should seek the greatest good for the greatest number of people
His ideas influenced criminal law reformers in Europe and North America
8th Amendment-outlaws cruel and unusual punishment
Beccaria

34. Partner Question What was Beccaria’s main principle about justice?
Beccaria’s ideas influenced which group of people?
What amendment in the U.S. Constitution was influenced by Beccaria’s ideas?
Bonus Question—What other amendment in the U.S. Constitution was influenced by Beccaria’s ideas? [Hint: Not in notes, but located in the Bill of Rights]
Partner Question

35. Journal Entry #6
10/8/14
Explain Beccaria’s ideas using your note guide and partner questions. Why did Beccaria have these ideas?

36. Wollstonecraft

37. Philosophes or philosophers (Enlightenment thinkers) often took traditional view of women
Rousseau, for example, developed many progressive ideas about education
However, he believed that a girl’s education should mainly teach her how to be a helpful wife and mother
Other male social critics scolded women for reading novels because they thought it encourage idleness and wickedness
Still, some male writers argued for more education for women and for women’s equality in marriage
Wollstonecraft

38. Disagreed with Rousseau that women’s education should be secondary to men’s
Need education to become virtuous (moral) and useful
Urged women to enter the male-dominated fields of medicine and politics
Wollstonecraft

39. Partner Questions Which thinker advocated women’s rights?
What were her suggestions to further women’s rights?
Partner Questions

40. Other women made important contributions to the Enlightenment in other ways—
In Paris and other European cities, wealthy women helped spread Enlightenment ideas through social gatherings called salons
Wollstonecraft

41. Describe the salons during the Enlightenment.
Partner Question

42. Flip Book-Wollstonecraft

43. Legacy of the Enlightenment
Belief in Progress-new discoveries in science, human reason could solve social problems, reformers urged an end to slavery and argued for greater social equality, as well as a more democratic style of government
Legacy of the Enlightenment

44. Legacy of the Enlightenment
A more secular outlook-non-religious
People began to question openly their religious beliefs and the teachings of the church
Legacy of the Enlightenment

45. Legacy of the Enlightenment
Importance of the Individual-the rise of individualism
Looked to themselves for guidance
Use your own ability to reason in order to judge what was right or wrong
Emphasized the importance of the individual in society
Government, they argued, was formed by individuals to promote their welfare
Legacy of the Enlightenment

46. Partner Questions What were three legacies of the Enlightenment?
Which of the three legacies is the most important and explain why?
Partner Questions