Key VocabularyKey Vocabulary► EnlightenmentEnlightenment: a period during the 1600s : a period during the 1600s

and 1700s in which educated Europeans and 1700s in which educated Europeans changed their outlook on life by seeing changed their outlook on life by seeing reason as the key to human progress.reason as the key to human progress.

Roots of the EnlightenmentRoots of the Enlightenment►The Enlightenment grew out of the The Enlightenment grew out of the

Renaissance, Reformation, and the Renaissance, Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution. Scientific Revolution.

►Enlightenment philosophers wanted to Enlightenment philosophers wanted to use the ideas and use the ideas and reasonreason of the of the Scientific Revolution for problems in Scientific Revolution for problems in government and societygovernment and society..

Why is this important?Why is this important?

► Many of our own ideas Many of our own ideas about government, such about government, such as the Declaration of as the Declaration of Independence and the Independence and the American Constitution American Constitution got their ideas directly got their ideas directly from the Enlightenment.from the Enlightenment.

► In fact, many of AmericIn fact, many of Americaa ’’s founding fathers s founding fathers studied the ideas of the studied the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers Enlightenment thinkers during the American during the American Revolution.Revolution.

Left to right: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson

Enlightenment and Enlightenment and GovernmentGovernment

► Enlightenment thinkers criticized accepted Enlightenment thinkers criticized accepted ideas about government. Some questioned the ideas about government. Some questioned the medieval belief in the medieval belief in the divine right of kingsdivine right of kings [the idea that God chose a country[the idea that God chose a country’’s king, and s king, and that the king got his authority from God.]that the king got his authority from God.]

► Many Enlightenment thinkers stressed Many Enlightenment thinkers stressed individual rights that governments must individual rights that governments must respect.respect.

► Enlightenment thinkers also felt that people Enlightenment thinkers also felt that people should have a say in their government.should have a say in their government.

Enlightenment and ReligionEnlightenment and Religion

►Enlightenment thinkers believed Enlightenment thinkers believed humans were capable of discovering humans were capable of discovering truth for themselves.truth for themselves.

►Many believed in an all powerful deity Many believed in an all powerful deity (or God), but not in a specific church (or God), but not in a specific church or holy book. Some called themselves or holy book. Some called themselves Deists [Dee-ists].Deists [Dee-ists].

►Right and Wrong should be based on Right and Wrong should be based on rational insight.rational insight.

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

► Hobbes believed people are Hobbes believed people are naturally selfish, cruel, and naturally selfish, cruel, and greedy.greedy.

► In 1651, he published a book In 1651, he published a book called called LeviathanLeviathan. In this book, he . In this book, he wrote that people are driven by a wrote that people are driven by a restless desire for power. restless desire for power.

► Without laws, people would Without laws, people would always be in conflict.always be in conflict.

► In such a In such a ““state of naturestate of nature””, life , life would be would be ““nasty, brutish, and nasty, brutish, and short.short.””

► His ideaHis idea: Governments were : Governments were created to protect people from created to protect people from their own selfishness.their own selfishness.

Add these definitions to your Add these definitions to your vocabulary listvocabulary list

► Social ContractSocial Contract: an agreement between : an agreement between people and their government, in which people and their government, in which people give up some things in return for the people give up some things in return for the benefit of having government.benefit of having government.

►Natural rightsNatural rights: rights that people have : rights that people have simply for being human.simply for being human.

► Bill of rightsBill of rights: a list of basic rights a : a list of basic rights a government must protect.government must protect.

► Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy: a form of : a form of government in which the kinggovernment in which the king’’s power is s power is limited by a basic set of laws, or limited by a basic set of laws, or Constitution.Constitution.

John Locke: Social Contract and John Locke: Social Contract and Natural RightsNatural Rights

► He wrote Two Treatises of Government in 1690.

► He believed the purpose of government was to protect people’s natural rights. He said government should protect,” his life, liberty, and property”

► His idea: The true basis of government was a social contract between people and their government. If the government didn’t respect people’s rights, it could be overthrown.

John Locke: Social Contract and John Locke: Social Contract and Natural RightsNatural Rights

►In exchange protection, people gave government the power to rule on their behalf. We call this idea the “consent of the governed.”

►Lasting Impact: Lasting Impact: the idea that government could be overthrown if it failed to respect people’s rights had wide influence and was ultimately echoed in the American Declaration of Independence.

LockeLocke’’s ideas in Englands ideas in England

►Locke was in favor of constitutional monarchies. This meant laws or a constitution limited the power of the monarchs (or kings).

►In 1689, the English set down a new set of rules called the English Bill of Rights. This strengthened the power of the people and their representatives in Parliament (an English congress.)

Montesquieu: Separation of Montesquieu: Separation of PowersPowers

► Like Locke, Montesquieu was concerned Like Locke, Montesquieu was concerned with how to protect liberty from a bad with how to protect liberty from a bad government.government.

►He Wrote He Wrote The Spirit of LawsThe Spirit of Laws in 1748. In this in 1748. In this book, he described how governments should book, he described how governments should be organized. be organized.

►His idea: The His idea: The separation of powersseparation of powers: By : By dividing different powers among more than dividing different powers among more than one branch of government, no one group in one branch of government, no one group in the government could grow too powerful.the government could grow too powerful.

Montesquieu continued….Montesquieu continued….

► Each branch of government checked the other Each branch of government checked the other branches. When powers were not separated branches. When powers were not separated this way, Montesquieu warned, liberty was this way, Montesquieu warned, liberty was soon lost. soon lost. He said: “When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person…, there can be no liberty.”

► Lasting Impact: He greatly influenced the men who wrote the U.S. Constitution. We now have a separate legislative (Congress), judicial (courts), and executive (President) branch.

Voltaire: Religious tolerance Voltaire: Religious tolerance and free speechand free speech

► Voltaire was an Enlightenment Voltaire was an Enlightenment writer.writer.

► His most famous novel was His most famous novel was CandideCandide, in which he poked fun , in which he poked fun at old religious ideas.at old religious ideas.

► Voltaire was especially Voltaire was especially concerned with freedom of concerned with freedom of thought and expression.thought and expression.

► His ideaHis idea: He had a strong : He had a strong belief in religious tolerance and belief in religious tolerance and free speech. free speech.

Voltaire Continued…Voltaire Continued…

►Voltaire said, Voltaire said, ““I disapprove of what you I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.right to say it.””

►Lasting ImpactLasting Impact: Voltaire met Benjamin : Voltaire met Benjamin Franklin, and when the U.S. Bill of Franklin, and when the U.S. Bill of Rights was written, the ideas of Rights was written, the ideas of freedom of religion and freedom of freedom of religion and freedom of speech were added to our 1speech were added to our 1stst amendment to the Constitution.amendment to the Constitution.

The American and French The American and French RevolutionsRevolutions

► Both America and France had revolutions Both America and France had revolutions overthrowing their kings. However, the overthrowing their kings. However, the revolution in France was revolution in France was much more violent.much more violent.

The Enlightenment in The Enlightenment in AmericaAmerica

► Enlightenment ideas had a major influence Enlightenment ideas had a major influence on the leaders of the on the leaders of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution. . English leaders in America shared with John English leaders in America shared with John Locke the traditions of the Locke the traditions of the Magna CartaMagna Carta and and the English the English Bill of Rights. Bill of Rights.

►When the Americans rebelled in When the Americans rebelled in 17751775, they , they pointed to the pointed to the abuseabuse of their of their rightsrights by the by the English king. English king.

► The Declaration of Independence echoed The Declaration of Independence echoed LockeLocke’’s ideas on s ideas on natural rightsnatural rights and the and the purposepurpose of government. of government.

““We the PeopleWe the People””► Other Enlightenment Other Enlightenment

ideas can be seen in ideas can be seen in the U.S. the U.S. ConstitutionConstitution. . AmericaAmerica’’s basic law s basic law includes includes MontesquieuMontesquieu’’ss idea of separation of idea of separation of powers. powers.

► The The Bill of RightsBill of Rights protects the freedom of protects the freedom of religion and speech religion and speech championed by championed by VoltaireVoltaire. .