The Enlightenment: Ideals, Contributors, and Consequences

By Carolen SadlerLaguna Beach High SchoolWorld History

Definition

a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

Origins

Outgrowth of the Scientific Revolution of 1500 & 1600s

Remember the Scientific Revolution? Here’s a quick review.

The Scientific RevolutionScientist discovered many scientific laws for the first time.

Nicolas Copernicus proposed the

model of a sun-centered universe.

Sir Isaac Newton

discovered gravity.

Origins ContinuedIncreased contact between

Europeans and the wider world.

Growing prosperity and rise of middle classes.

Trade

Philosophical Belief

Enlightened thinkers believed in the power of human reason and the perfectibility of

mankind.Trust nature and

manDistrust institutions

and traditions

Question?

What were some of the key ideas of the Enlightenment and who were some of

the period’s important thinkers?Let me enlighten

you.

Enlightenments Ideals

ReasonSuccess in science

created great confidence in the power

of reason. Thinkers believed that reason

could solve every social, political, and economic problem.

VoltaireFrench 1694-1778He believed in the ultimate rationality of the universe, but saw many evils and flaws in human society. Denounced the torture of criminals.

Want more?

Cesare Beccaria

Italian 1738-1794Wrote On Crimes and

PunishmentPunishment should fit the

crime - Brutal punishment is cruel and unusual.

Hugely influenced modern justice systems including U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Ideals Con’t

Separation of PowerProtection from tyranny

by dividing the functions and powers of

government among three separate

branches: legislature, executive, and

judiciary.

Baron de Montesquieu

French 1689-1755

The Baron felt that each branch of government could serve as a check on the other two. Does this sound familiar?

Wantmor

e?

Ideals Con’t

Natural RightsAll humans are born

with certain rights. These include the right

to life, liberty, and property.

John Locke

English 1632-1704

Locke argued that people formed governments to protect their natural rights.

People have the right to overthrow gov’t if gov’t fails its obligation.

Wantmor

e?

Warmup

What would be the best way to separate powers in a classroom constitution to prevent tyranny and promote learning?

Ideals Con’t

Social Contract

An agreement by which people gave up the

“state of nature” (no laws, no controls) for an

organized society.

Thomas Hobbes

English 1588-1679

To escape a “brutish” life, people agree to enter into a social contract to ensure an orderly society.

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?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

French 1712-1778

People are basically good. Government is an expression of the general will. In an ideal society, people would make laws and obey them willingly.

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?

Who said this?

God makes all things good; man meddles with them and they become evil.

Answer: Jean Jacques Rousseau

Ideals Con’t

Laissez-faireAn economic policy that

allowed business to operate with little or no

government interference.

Adam Smith

English 1723-1790

Smith tried to show trade, wages, profit, and economic growth was linked to supply and demand. He was interested in a free market without gov’t regulations.

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?

Question?

Which two men believed in a social contract between government and

society? Answer: Hobbs and Rousseau

Click here to review

Ideals Con’t

ProgressBy the early 1700s,

European thinkers felt that nothing was

beyond the reach of the human mind and

improvements could be made to human society.

Question?

Which of the thinkers we have

discussed believed in the

Enlightenment ideal of progress?

Answer: They all did! Click here to

review

Consequences

Age of Democratic Revolutions

Enlightenment thinkers wanted to effect a change in

people’s worldviews and political institutions.

Enlightenment ideals

gave justification for the right

to revolt.

American Revolution - 1776

Enlightenment ideals led people to

question the ancien regime.

French Revolution - 1786

Enlightenment ideals influenced leaders to work

for independence and equality

among classes.

Latin American Revolutions -1791

Question?

Are Enlightenment

ideals still influential in

today’s society?

Bibliography

World History: Connections to Today. 1999. Prentice Hall

www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html (Source for primary documents)

www.utm.edu/research/iep/h/hobbes.htm