1. Enlightenment in Europe
Chapter 6, Section 2

2. Thomas Hobbes He argues that all humans are evil by nature
Without government people would act on their evil ways
Governments are needed or we could not function as a society
Social Contract – people give up their individual freedoms allowing government to control the “evil ways” of man

3. John Locke Felt more positive about humans as individuals
People could be trusted to do the right thing
Self-government
Natural Rights – people are born with these
Life, liberty, and property
The purpose of the government is to protect these natural rights
If a government fails, the people have the right to overthrow it
Government’s power comes from the consent of the people – this is democracy people (core value)

4. Voltaire Used satire to attack his enemies
Public enemy number one… the church, rich, and gov
He really pushed for religious freedom
You might know this concept from a famous U.S. document

5. Baron de Montesquieu Political liberty
The government needs to be checked
So he comes up with the idea/concept Separation of Power
If different groups held different powers within the government, no one would control all
“Power should be checked to power”

6. Jean Jacques Rousseau
He thought that government/society/civilization corrupted man
“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”
When man “came together” the strongest ruled, creating unjust laws
The only good gov was one formed by the people
Direct democracy
Social Contract

7. Hobbes v Rousseau People are good People are evil
If they are not they can learn
People are forced into gov
The “contract” is free individuals creating the society and gov
People are evil
They need gov
They enter a contract with gov to control the evil ways
The “contract” is an agreement between the gov and society

8. Cesare Beccaria Took a look at the judicial system
Laws exists to preserve social order, not avenge crimes
He called for the abolishment of torture
A common system of legal proceedings
No more punishment that was cruel or arbitrary (consistency)
Speedy trial
Punishment should fit the crime

9. Females in the Enlightenment
Mary Astell – argued that woman should have access to education and equal rights in marriage
Mary Wollstonecraft – Woman and society would become a better place if woman had access to education. Plus they should participate in politics
Emilie du Châtelet – Translated works by Newton into French, allowing all to understand his finding. She was well educated

10. Impacts of the Enlightenment
Belief in Progress:
Science exploded with discoveraries
Equality became a worldwide phenomena
More Secular View:
Worldly view
People turned from religion
Importance of the Individual:
People turn from the church and royalty for guidance
People think for themselves