1. The Enlightenment

2. Today we will use Cornell Notes Style

3. What is the Enlightenment ?
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that began in France.
It’s leaders were called philosophes.
Came from nobility and middle class.
Reason became their guide and motto
Philosophes believed that if reason was applied to politics and government, it would be a better , more just society for all.

4. Philosophes…
met to discuss reason, logic, rationale, and how to solve social problems
were against Divine Right and believed the people are the source of government’s power
believed in using the scientific method to solve social problems
met in underground clubs called Salons

6. The Enlightenment
Enlightened thinkers believed that human reason could be used to combat ignorance, superstition, and tyranny and to build a better world.
Principal targets: Religion and the domination of society by hereditary aristocracy. In other words, the church and the state, who often worked hand-in-hand.

7. Who were the Philosophes Mad At?
King Louis XVI of France
The Sun King

8. Why? Most of his subjects lived in poverty with barely enough to eat
Believed in Divine Right: Believed God anointed him king so he was only responsible to answer to God, not to his subjects
Ruled France as an absolute monarch in control of every aspect of every French citizen’s life
Believed his entire kingdom revolved solely around him: called himself “The Sun King”
Lived a lavish life funded by heavy taxes on most of his subjects

9. Enlightenment Emphasized…
Individualism, freedom, and change replaced community, authority, and tradition as core values
Monarchies dwindled over the course of 100 years beginning in mid-18th century
Church insisted it was the only source of truth
Most important, the middle classes—the bourgeoisie—were painfully aware that they were paying taxes to support a fabulously expensive aristocracy that contributed nothing of value to society.

10. Philosophers France England America Voltaire Rousseau Montesquieu
John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
America
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine
Benjamin Franklin
Patrick Henry
George Washington

11. Your Assignment In groups, you will: Groups of 3-4
Gather information about a enlightenment thinker
Explain their new thinking ideas
What did they contribute to society? (Ideals, books, etc. )
Groups of 3-4
Each member will be responsible for a different role
Reader - read and summarize to group
Writer – write on paper and illustrations
Presenter – present to rest of class
Task Master – keeping group on task
Print out of philosophers

12. Voltaire French Philosopher Believed in Individual/Civil Liberties
Was opposed to organized religions criticizing other faiths and practitioners

13. Jean Jacques Rousseau Swiss Philosopher, 1712- 1778
Believed humans were naturally good and corrupted by society, not the other way around (as Hobbes believed)
The Social Contract: published 1762
Believed that the people are the source of government powers
Believed if government did not do its job people had the right to remove leaders, rebel

14. Montesquieu 1689-1755 French Philosopher Believed government’s
power needs to be checked

15. Montesquieu believed..
Monarchies: ruled by a king/queen guided by honor
Republics: ruled by elected officials guided by virtue
Despotisms: ruled by absolute dictators guided by fear

16. Montesquieu’s Enlightened Idea
Separation of Powers
Believed power in government had to be divided amongst different branches
Believed checks and balances are necessary to keep one branch from becoming too powerful

17. Montesquieu’s Separation of Powers

18. John Locke British Philosopher, 1632-1704 Believed all people were
born with 3 natural rights
(Life, Liberty, Property)

19. Mary Wollstonecraft 1759-1797 British philosopher,
author, and feminist
1792 wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Argued that men and women should be treated as equal beings
Argued that social order should be determined by reason (usefulness) not by gender, race, wealth, etc.

20. Dennis Diderot French Philosopher, 1751-1772
Published Encyclopedia, or Classified Dictionary of the Science, Arts, and Trade.
Attacked superstition and called for political changes
Many copies spread enlightenment ideologies (ideas) through Europe

21. Adam Smith Scottish Philosopher
Argued that individuals were free to pursue their economic self- interest
The state (government) should not interrupt the free play of economics by imposing regulations
Laisse-Faire: the let people do what they want
Known for his work The Wealth of Nations
Argued the law of supply and demand would regulate the economy
3 roles of government: protecting society from invasion (army); keeping up public works (roads, canals, etc.); defending injustices (police)

22. World-Wide Influences
Many of the United States' Founding Fathers were heavily influenced by Enlightenment-era ideas:(1600s-1800s)
particularly in the religious sphere (separation of church and state)
And in the political sphere (a major influence on the U.S. Bill of Rights