Age of Enlightenment- Age of Enlightenment- New Political Ideas and New Political Ideas and Challenging Monarchy Challenging Monarchy
1600-17701600-1770
Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes
Main IdeasMain Ideas• Establishes the idea of a social contract- an Establishes the idea of a social contract- an
agreement between the government and the peopleagreement between the government and the people• Wants government to have complete control- Wants government to have complete control-
Leviathan Leviathan • Has a negative view of human nature- people are Has a negative view of human nature- people are
too corrupt to govern themselves too corrupt to govern themselves Influence on HistoryInfluence on History• Social contractSocial contract• Continues to influence politicians that focus on Continues to influence politicians that focus on
maintaining order maintaining order
John LockeJohn Locke• Main IdeasMain Ideas - Establishes the importance of - Establishes the importance of natural natural
rightsrights - Positive view of human nature - Positive view of human nature - Universal ability to reason = people - Universal ability to reason = people should be able to govern themselvesshould be able to govern themselves• Influence on HistoryInfluence on History - Influences all of the Founding Fathers of - Influences all of the Founding Fathers of
the the United States (Jefferson, Adams, Madison)United States (Jefferson, Adams, Madison) - Natural rights --> Declaration of- Natural rights --> Declaration of IndependenceIndependence
Locke’s influence on the Founding FathersLocke’s influence on the Founding Fathers
“ “ We hold these truths to We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all be self-evident, that all men are created equal, men are created equal, that they are endowed by that they are endowed by their Creator with certain their Creator with certain unalienable Rightsunalienable Rights, that , that among these are among these are Life, Life, Liberty, and the Liberty, and the pursuit of Happinesspursuit of Happiness.” .”
Political SpectrumPolitical Spectrum
VoltaireVoltaire
Main IdeasMain Ideas• Wants a separation between Church and State- Wants a separation between Church and State-
no theocraciesno theocracies• Openly mocks monarchs, clergy, and politiciansOpenly mocks monarchs, clergy, and politicians• CandideCandide is one of the most famous satirical works is one of the most famous satirical works
in history.in history.Influence on HistoryInfluence on History• Influences the Bill of Rights- which preserve Influences the Bill of Rights- which preserve
freedom of speech, thought and expressionfreedom of speech, thought and expression• Reduces the amount of censorship by European Reduces the amount of censorship by European
MonarchsMonarchs• Encourages religious toleranceEncourages religious tolerance
Current Examples of Political Current Examples of Political SatireSatire
MontesquieuMontesquieuMain IdeasMain Ideas • Wanted a system of checks and balance Wanted a system of checks and balance • Separation of power- no one person has Separation of power- no one person has
too much powertoo much powerInfluence on HistoryInfluence on History • Constitutions around world use the idea of Constitutions around world use the idea of
separation of powerseparation of power• French RevolutionFrench Revolution• 3 Branches of U.S. government- system of 3 Branches of U.S. government- system of
checks and balancechecks and balance
RousseauRousseau
Main IdeasMain Ideas• Had a positive view of peopleHad a positive view of people• The different parts of society corrupts the The different parts of society corrupts the
individual individual • Wanted each individual person to Wanted each individual person to
participate in democracyparticipate in democracyInfluence on HistoryInfluence on History• Direct democracyDirect democracy• American and French RevolutionsAmerican and French Revolutions
Common People participating Common People participating in Revolutions in Revolutions
Mary WollstonecraftMary Wollstonecraft
Main IdeasMain Ideas
• Supported women’s rightsSupported women’s rights
• Wanted gender equality for voting Wanted gender equality for voting rights and property rightsrights and property rights
Influence / Long term effectsInfluence / Long term effects
• Women eventually gain the right to Women eventually gain the right to vote and equality through lawsvote and equality through laws