1. 9/4 Focus:
The Scientific Revolution inspired intellectuals to apply reason to the study not only of science but also of human society
Do Now:
Identify one European absolute monarch?

2. The Enlightenment

3. The Scientific Revolution
Period in the 1500’s and 1600’s
Scientific thinkers began using observation and experimentation to explain the natural world
Use of the Scientific Method
Sir Francis Bacon

5. The Scientific Revolution
Before the Scientific Revolution
After the Scientific Revolution
Religious teachings and traditional beliefs explained the universe and how the world worked
Observation and experimentation used to explain natural world and solve problems
Scientific Method
Examination of natural laws governing the universe
Ex. The Laws of Gravity

6. The Enlightenment
The use of reason to guide people’s thoughts about mankind and its relationship to government and society
Known as the Age of Reason
Challenged traditional authority
Introduced new ways of viewing:
Government
Authority
Power
Law

7. Natural Law
Writers and philosophers tried to use reason to discover laws that govern human behavior

8. 9/8 Focus:
Enlightenment philosophers created new assumptions about the proper use of power, who had authority, and what made up a good government
Do Now:
Identify one Enlightenment thinker that was discussed in Global I.

9. 9/9 Focus: Important Terms: Do Now:
Enlightenment thinkers used the scientific revolutions emphasis on reason to suggest reforms in government and society.
Important Terms:
Reason, Natural Law, Social Contract
Do Now:
What was the theory of Divine Right ?

10. Philosophes Enlightenment ideas spread from Europe to the Americas
Paris, France became a meeting place for enlightenment philosophers
Met in salons
Discussed politics and ideas about human nature

12. Philosophes Five core beliefs: Reason Nature/Natural laws Happiness
Living by nature’s law
Progress
Trying to improve society
Liberty
Reason could set society free

13. Social Contract
Agreement between people and leaders that resulted in organized society
People gave up certain rights to a leader
Leader was obligated to protect people

14. Enlightenment Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Voltaire
Enlightenment Philosophers
Rousseau
Montesquieu

15. Thomas Hobbes English philosopher; author of the Leviathan
People are naturally greedy and selfish
Absolute monarchs were needed to create a peaceful society
People gave up freedom to the monarch in return for order in society

16. People are naturally greedy and selfish
Powerful governments were needed to create peaceful and orderly society
Supported absolute monarchy
Thomas Hobbes

17. John Locke English philosopher; Two Treatises on Government
Believed all men were born with certain natural rights
Life, liberty, and property
People form governments to protect those rights
Government can be overthrown if those rights are not protected

18. People born with natural rights
Life
Liberty
Property
People born with natural rights
John Locke
Governments formed to protect natural rights
People can overthrow govt’s that don’t protect these rights

19. Rousseau French philosopher; wrote The Social Contract
Believed people were naturally good but became corrupted by evils of society
Unequal distribution of property
Scarcity of resources
Thought all people were equal
Titles of nobility should be abolished

20. Rousseau
The social contract was an agreement between free individuals to create a society, make laws and a government
People gave up certain freedoms/self interests to this government for the common good

21. Rousseau Government should be based on the will of the people
“The general will”
democracy
Citizens and rulers must follow the will of the people
Majority should always work for the common good

22. People both make and obey laws in perfect society
Rousseau
The common good is more important than what is good for the individual

23. Baron de Montesquieu French philosopher; On the Spirit of Laws
wrote that powers of government should be separated between 3 branches
Legislative
Judicial
Executive
Checks and balances prevent tyranny and abuse of power

24. Separate government powers into 3 branches Legislative
Executive
Separate government powers into 3 branches
Legislative
Judicial
Montesquieu
Each branch checks the power of the others
Would prevent tyranny

25. Voltaire
French philosopher who wrote about the importance of freedom of speech, religious freedom, and tolerance
Criticized the French government and the Catholic Church

26. Criticized social injustice
French Monarchy
Catholic Church
Criticized social injustice
Voltaire
Pushed for freedom of speech, the press, and religious toleration

27. Points for Discussion
Contrast Locke’s theory of natural rights with Hobbes support for the divine right of absolute monarchs

28. 9/11 Focus: Important Terms: Do Now:
Many Europeans, including some monarchs, were influenced by enlightenment ideas and sought to change the old order.
Important Terms:
Separation of Powers, Enlightened Despot, Nationalism
Do Now:
What three natural rights did Locke believe all people were born with ?

29. Impact of the Enlightenment
Government and church censorship to suppress Enlightenment ideas
Impact of the Enlightenment

30. Impact of the Enlightenment
Governments and the Church to try to suppress Enlightenment ideas
Censorship
Removing politically dangerous ideas and info from books, newspapers, etc.
Books bans & book burnings
Arrest of some enlightenment philosophers

31. Impact of the Enlightenment
Government and church censorship to suppress Enlightenment ideas
Impact of the Enlightenment
Maria Theresa
(Austria)
Some monarchs accepted enlightenment ideas and tried to reform their countries
Joseph II
(Austria)
Enlightened Despots
Catherine the Great (Russia)

33. Maria Theresa of Austria
Joseph II of Austria
Catherine the Great
Forced nobles and clergy to pay taxes
Reduced taxes on the peasants
Made primary education available to children
reforms and freedom of the press
Supported religious toleration
Abolished serfdom
Reforms to the legal system
Religious toleration
Land Reforms

34. Impact of the Enlightenment
Government and church censorship to suppress Enlightenment ideas
Impact of the Enlightenment
Maria Theresa
(Austria)
Some monarchs accepted enlightenment ideas and tried to reform their countries
Joseph II
(Austria)
Enlightened Despots
Catherine the Great (Russia)
American Revolution
Inspired sense of individualism & belief in basic equal rights
Growth of nationalism
French Revolution
People demand more democracy in gov’t
Revolutions in Latin America

36. Points for Discussion
According to Montesquieu, what was the best way to prevent tyranny and abuse of power in government?
How did the enlightenment contribute to the outbreak of revolutions in America and France?