• 9/4 Focus:– The Scientific Revolution inspired

intellectuals to apply reason to the study not only of science but also of human society

• Do Now: – Identify one European absolute

monarch?

The Enlightenment

The Scientific Revolution

• Period in the 1500’s and 1600’s

• Scientific thinkers began using observation and experimentation to explain the natural world– Use of the Scientific

Method• Sir Francis Bacon

•

The Scientific RevolutionBefore the Scientific

Revolution

• Religious teachings and traditional beliefs explained the universe and how the world worked

After the Scientific Revolution

• Observation and experimentation used to explain natural world and solve problems

• Scientific Method • Examination of natural

laws governing the universe– Ex. The Laws of Gravity

The Enlightenment • The use of reason to

guide people’s thoughts about mankind and its relationship to government and society– Known as the Age of

Reason – Challenged traditional

authority• Introduced new ways of

viewing:– Government– Authority– Power– Law

Natural Law

• Writers and philosophers tried to use reason to discover laws that govern human behavior

• 9/8 Focus:– Enlightenment philosophers created

new assumptions about the proper use of power, who had authority, and what made up a good government

• Do Now: – Identify one Enlightenment thinker that was

discussed in Global I.

• 9/9 Focus:– Enlightenment thinkers used the

scientific revolutions emphasis on reason to suggest reforms in government and society.

• Important Terms: – Reason, Natural Law, Social Contract

• Do Now: –What was the theory of Divine Right ?

Philosophes• Enlightenment

ideas spread from Europe to the Americas– Paris, France

became a meeting place for enlightenment philosophers • Met in salons• Discussed

politics and ideas about human nature

•

Philosophes

• Five core beliefs: – Reason–Nature/Natural

laws–Happiness • Living by nature’s

law

– Progress • Trying to improve

society

– Liberty• Reason could set

society free

Social Contract

• Agreement between people and leaders that resulted in organized society– People gave up

certain rights to a leader

– Leader was obligated to protect people

Enlightenment

Philosophers

John Locke

Rousseau Montesqui

eu

Voltaire

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes• English philosopher;

author of the Leviathan

• People are naturally greedy and selfish

• Absolute monarchs were needed to create a peaceful society– People gave up

freedom to the monarch in return for order in society

Thomas Hobbes

Powerful governments were needed to create

peaceful and orderly society

People are naturally

greedy and selfish

Supported absolute

monarchy

John Locke

• English philosopher; Two Treatises on Government

• Believed all men were born with certain natural rights– Life, liberty, and

property

• People form governments to protect those rights– Government can be

overthrown if those rights are not protected

John LockePeople born with natural rights

Governments formed to

protect natural rights

People can overthrow govt’s

that don’t protect these

rights

LifeLibert

y Propert

y

Rousseau • French philosopher; wrote

The Social Contract• Believed people were

naturally good but became corrupted by evils of society– Unequal distribution of

property– Scarcity of resources

• Thought all people were equal – Titles of nobility should be

abolished

Rousseau• The social contract

was an agreement between free individuals to create a society, make laws and a government• People gave up

certain freedoms/self interests to this government for the common good

Rousseau• Government should be

based on the will of the people – “The general will”

• democracy

– Citizens and rulers must follow the will of the people

– Majority should always work for the common good

Rousseau

People both make and

obey laws in perfect society

The common good is more

important than what is good for the individual

Baron de Montesquieu • French philosopher; On the

Spirit of Laws• wrote that powers of

government should be separated between 3 branches – Legislative – Judicial – Executive

• Checks and balances prevent tyranny and abuse of power

Montesquieu

Separate government

powers into 3 branches

Each branch checks the

power of the others

Would prevent tyranny

Executive

Legislative

Judicial

Voltaire

• French philosopher who wrote about the importance of freedom of speech, religious freedom, and tolerance– Criticized the French

government and the Catholic Church

Voltaire

Criticized social injustice

Pushed for freedom of

speech, the press, and religious

toleration

French Monarc

hy

Catholic Church

Points for Discussion• Contrast Locke’s theory of natural

rights with Hobbes support for the divine right of absolute monarchs

• 9/11 Focus:–Many Europeans, including some

monarchs, were influenced by enlightenment ideas and sought to change the old order.

• Important Terms: – Separation of Powers, Enlightened

Despot, Nationalism

• Do Now: –What three natural rights did Locke believe

all people were born with ?

Impact of the Enlightenment

Impact of the

Enlightenment

Government and church censorship to

suppress Enlightenment ideas

Impact of the Enlightenment

• Governments and the Church to try to suppress Enlightenment ideas– Censorship • Removing politically

dangerous ideas and info from books, newspapers, etc.

– Books bans & book burnings

– Arrest of some enlightenment philosophers

Impact of the Enlightenment

Impact of the

Enlightenment

Government and church censorship to

suppress Enlightenment ideas

Some monarchs accepted

enlightenment ideas and tried to reform

their countries

Enlightened Despots

Maria Theresa(Austria)

Joseph II(Austria)

Catherine the Great (Russia)

Maria Theresa of Austria

Joseph II of Austria Catherine the Great

Forced nobles and clergy to pay taxes

Reduced taxes on the peasants

Made primary education available to children

reforms and freedom of the press

Supported religious toleration

Abolished serfdom

Reforms to the legal system

Religious toleration Land Reforms

Impact of the Enlightenment

Impact of the

Enlightenment

Government and church censorship to

suppress Enlightenment ideas

Some monarchs accepted

enlightenment ideas and tried to reform

their countries

Enlightened Despots

Maria Theresa(Austria)

Joseph II(Austria)

Catherine the Great (Russia)

Inspired sense of individualism &

belief in basic equal rights

People demand more democracy in gov’t

American Revolution

French Revolution

Revolutions in Latin America

Growth of nationalis

m

Points for Discussion• According to Montesquieu, what was

the best way to prevent tyranny and abuse of power in government?

• How did the enlightenment contribute to the outbreak of revolutions in America and France?