WHII: SOL 6d

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment

• Applied reason to the human world, as well as to the rest of the natural world

• Stimulated religious tolerance• Fueled democratic revolutions around the

world

Beliefs of Enlightenment Thinkers• All the world runs by natural laws, such as the law of

supply and demand in economics.• The scientific method is used to find these natural laws.• All people can be educated.• Sovereignty rests with the people.• Government should ensure separation of church and

state.• Government is whatever the people want; a contract is

made whereby government protects natural rights of life, liberty, and property.

Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas

• Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan: Humans exist in a primitive “state of nature” and consent to government for self-protection. (Absolute Rule)

• John Locke’s Two Treatises on Government: People are sovereign and consent to government for protection of natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

Enlightenment thinkers and their ideas• Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws: The best

form of government includes a separation of powers.

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s The Social Contract: Government is a contract between rulers and the people.

• Voltaire: Religious toleration should triumph over religious fanaticism; separation of church and state.

Influence of the Enlightenment

• Political philosophies of the Enlightenment fueled revolution in the Americas and France.

• Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence incorporated Enlightenment ideas.

• The Constitution of the United States of America and Bill of Rights incorporated Enlightenment ideas.