Age of Reasonor the

“The Enlightenment”

The motto of the Enlightenment was "aude sapere" or dare to think. (Immanual Kant)

Philosophers came together at salons to discuss rights – some of the famous salons led by women.

Based on picture what was the general economic status of these individuals?

Practice Regents Jan 2014

Why is the Enlightenment considered a turning point in world history?

(1) The factory system was used to mass-produce

goods.

(2) Martin Luther broke away from the Roman

Catholic Church.

(3) Europeans changed their thinking about the

role of government.

(4) The Columbian exchange occurred.

Practice Regents

During the Renaissance, humanist philosophers

emphasized the importance of

(1) individualism

(2) absolutism

(3) religious salvation

(4) technological advancements

•People lead dangerous lives – they need absolute rulers to protect them.

Thomas Hobbes English1588-1679

Hobbes (cont.)

• Social Contract – people naturally give up freedom for security.

• Absolute Monarchy is best government, but power comes from authority of people – not divine right.

• Wrote Leviathan

Do you agree?

John Locke(1632-1704)

• Babies born without ideas or personality.

• Shaped by their environment (school, family, and government).

• Natural Rights – life, liberty, and property. (Government must protect these rights).

Who read Locke and were

inspired by him?Book – Two Treaties

on Government

January 2014

Practice – August 2013

• Supported reforms

• Believed in natural rights and religious toleration

• Viewed themselves as servants of their state

In the 18th century, European leaders that fit

these characteristics were best known as

(1) theocratic monarchs

(2) enlightened despots

(3) totalitarian dictators

(4) prime ministers

Practice – Jan 2013

Which idea is central to John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government?

(1) A government’s power comes from the consent of the people.

(2) Predestination will determine who will go to heaven.

(3) Famine, disease, and conflict are natural checks on population growth.

(4) The have-nots will rise up and overthrow the government of the haves.

Practice – August 2012

Which statement represents a key idea directly

associated with John Locke’s Two Treatises of

Government?

(1) Freedom of speech should be denied.

(2) The king’s power on Earth comes from God.

(3) All people are born with the right to life, liberty, and property.

(4) Individuals acting in their own self-interest

will achieve economic success.

Montesquieu(1689-1755)

• Admired English system that divided power into branches.

1. executive

2. legislative

3. judicial

Voltaire(1694-1778)

• Liked Locke’s natural rights – but felt few people capable of governing self.

• Best government ruled by good king.

• Deist – universe had planned order discoverable by reason. God was divine clockmaker.

Which governmental system did Voltaire not like?

He believed that freedom of speech was the best weapon against bad government. He also spoke out against the corruption of the French government, and the intolerance of the Catholic Church.

• Voltaire was forced to flee Paris and take refuge at Cirey in 1734 after the publication of "Philosophic Letters"

RousseauSwiss(1712-1778)

• Book – The Social Contract –

agreed with Hobbes: man needs government, need to give up some freedom for members of society.

• Main problem is inequality of wealth.• Political decisions should reflect general will.

What political group liked Rousseau?

Adam Smith(1723-1790)

• Economist Wrote – Wealth of Nations.

• Believed for economic progress the government should impose fewest possible restrictions.

Laissez-faire“leave them alone”

Which economic

system likes this laissez-

faire approach?

Which economic system is directly

opposed to this approach?

Mary WollstonecraftEngland

• Wrote Vindication of the Rights of Women - attacked the educational restrictions that kept women in a state of "ignorance and slavish dependence." - described marriage as "legal prostitution“

• Advocated women’s suffrage.

Practice – June 2013

Which step did Catherine the Great take that is consistent with Enlightenment ideas?

(1) ordering the burning of books

(2) strengthening the institution of serfdom

(3) expanding Russian territory into Ukraine

(4) considering a law code that would treat all citizens equally

Impact of the Enlightenment

• Revolutions in Government – Glorious Revolution – 1688, American Revolution - 1776, French Revolution – 1789, etc.

• Bills of Rights Created – English Bill of Rights – 1688, American Bill of Rights – 1791, Declaration of Rights of Man - 1789

• Abolition of Slavery – 1860s

• Suffrage Movements (right to vote) – 1800s