Enlightenment Influences

The Enlightenment

Main Idea

–European thinkers developed new ideas about government and society during the Enlightenment.

Scientific Revolution

Change in European thought in the mid-1500sStudy of the natural world began to be characterized by careful observation and questioning previously accepted beliefs of ancient thinkers and the church

The Enlightenment

The Age of Reason that reached its height in the mid-1700s Thinkers tried to apply reason and the scientific method to all aspects of society

Views on Government

OLD IDEA: The king’s or queen’s rule is justified by DIVINE RIGHT

NEW IDEA: The government’s power comes from the consent of the governed…(the people)

– Niccolo Machiavelli (1500’s)• Believed:1) That moral and theological (beliefs

about God) ideas have no place in government.

2) “The ends justify the means”

Niccolo Machiavelli (1500’s)

• 1. In his book, Persian

Letter, Montesquieu argued that a government should promote religious liberties.

• 2. A separation of powers in which no single government body dominated the other.

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1713)

• 1. Men were naturally selfish.

• 2. In his book entitled, Leviathan, Hobbes stated that men needed a King or Queen that would control them because democracy would lead to competing selfish desires.

• 3. People need to obey the King/Queen, but the King/Queen needs to protect them.

Thomas Hobbes (1500’s)

• 1. That Kings/Queens did not have a Divine Right (chosen by God) to rule.

• 2. Women have the ability to reason.

• 3. Governments had the responsibility of protecting an individual’s rights and liberties and if the government did protect them, people had the obligation of rebelling against the government. This became known as a Social Contract.

• 4. Believed that people were entitled to unalienable rights: Life, liberty, and property.

John Locke (1600’s)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract– outlines the basis for a

legitimate political order within a framework of classical republicanism

Voltaire

1. Known for his wit and his defense of civil liberties, including both freedom of religion and free trade.

Views on Government

Thomas Hobbes– MAIN IDEA: People need

a strong government to keep order

– Social Contract Theory: people define and limit their own rights in order to create a strong government and an organized society

John Locke– MAIN IDEA: People have

the natural ability to govern themselves

– Belief that people are born with natural rights of life, liberty and property

– If government withholds these natural rights, people have the right to overthrow it

Key Ideas of the EnlightenmentIDEA THINKER

Natural Rights Locke

Separation of Powers Montesquieu

Freedom of Thought and Expression

Voltaire

Religious Freedom Voltaire

Women’s Equality Wollstonecraft