The Age of Enlightenment (or simply the Enlightenment or Age of Reason) was a cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe, that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge.

Movement beginning in Europe

Knowledge, reason, & science could improve

societySchools of higher learning open

across America

Best known American scientist

�Freedom

�DemocracyDemocracy

�Reason

�John Locke

�Baron de Montesquieu

Adam Smith�Adam Smith

�William Blackstone

•• Ben FranklinBen Franklin–– American thinker, diplomat, and inventor American thinker, diplomat, and inventor

•• John LockeJohn Locke–– Men are all rational and capable peopleMen are all rational and capable people (Natural Rights)(Natural Rights)

•• Life, Liberty, & PropertyLife, Liberty, & Property

–– Government must work for the people to protect Natural RightsGovernment must work for the people to protect Natural Rights

•• Baron Charles de MontesquieuBaron Charles de Montesquieu–– Division of state (federalism) and separation of powers Division of state (federalism) and separation of powers

Sir Isaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton•• Sir Isaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton–– Scholar and mathematician regarded as the father of physical Scholar and mathematician regarded as the father of physical science science

•• Thomas PaineThomas Paine–– Profound influence on public sentiment during the American Profound influence on public sentiment during the American RevolutionRevolution

•• JeanJean--Jacques Rousseau Jacques Rousseau –– The Social ContractThe Social Contract ((17621762) conceived of a system of direct ) conceived of a system of direct democracy in which all citizens contribute to an overarching democracy in which all citizens contribute to an overarching ““general willgeneral will”” that serves everyone at once that serves everyone at once

�Benjamin Franklin

�Thomas Jefferson

� James Madison� James Madison

�Thomas Hooker

�William Penn

�Abigail Adams

John Locke:

British political philosopher and physician. His ideas, especially

that all men have NATURAL RIGHTS (rights that all are born that all men have NATURAL RIGHTS (rights that all are born

with), influenced many American thinkers. Locke’s Natural

Rights were identified as, “Life, Liberty and Property.”

One American Thinker, THOMAS JEFFERSON, incorporated

Locke’s ideas in his writing. In the Declaration of Independence

Jefferson says all men have “UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, that

among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

John Locke

How should government operate?

Early man created government for protection from abusive individuals. Early man created government for protection from abusive individuals. Thus, from the beginning, government involved a social contract among members of the group.*

*described in Locke’s Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

Charles Montesquieu:

English lawyer, judge and philosopher

William Blackstone:

Division of state (federalism) and separation of powers

English lawyer, judge and philosopher

whose legal writings influenced many

prominent Americans.

� Great surge of literacy in the colonies

� Newspapers and book publications book publications increase

� Schools are synonymous with new towns and villages

� People are born with natural rights

� Government has an obligation to protect those natural rightsobligation to protect those natural rights

� Kings have no right to govern people, people empower government

�The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

�The Declaration of �The Declaration of Independence

�The U.S. Constitution

�Bill of Rights

� In the Early 1700s, many colonists lost the religious passion that had driven Pilgrims, Puritans and others to seek out a new life in AmericaAmerica

� 1730s-1740s a religious revival began to sweep through the colonies lead by travelling ministers

� The Great Awakening began in the New England Colonies and spread through the rest of the Colonial America.

� This movement was � This movement was lead by travelling ministers who preached that inner religious emotion was more important that outward behavior.

� The Sermons appealed to the heart and drew large crowds

George Whitefield Jonathan Edwards

� Religion should be deeply personal

� All are sinners in need of God’s redemption (to be saved)

� Encouraged people to inspect their lives and � Encouraged people to inspect their lives and make a commitment to change

� Wanted people to connect emotionally to their religion

� Preached Christianity to slaves

� Protestant groups began to expand

� Some groups welcomed women, African-Americans and Native Americans and Native Americans as members of the congregation

� Colleges such as Princeton and Brown were created to train Ministers

� Encouraged ideas of equality and the right to challenge authority

� These ideas inspired � These ideas inspired future generations to challenge the authority of the English government

� Lead to the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence