The The EnlightenmentEnlightenment

““Dare to Know”Dare to Know”

1550-17891550-1789

What is the Enlightenment?What is the Enlightenment?Where is it from?Where is it from?

EuropeEurope Political thinkers Political thinkers PhilosophesPhilosophes

developed ideas about how best to developed ideas about how best to organize a government.organize a government.

They said that the They said that the PEOPLEPEOPLE should should have a say in their government.have a say in their government.

The collection of their ideas is known The collection of their ideas is known as the as the EnlightenmentEnlightenment!!

The Enlightenment is a reaction The Enlightenment is a reaction against Absolutism.against Absolutism.

Which Enlightenment Which Enlightenment thinkers most influenced thinkers most influenced

the American the American Revolutionaries?Revolutionaries? Leaders of the MovementLeaders of the Movement

Thomas Hobbes (English) 1588-Thomas Hobbes (English) 1588-16791679

John Locke (English) 1632-1704John Locke (English) 1632-1704Montesquieu (French)1689-1755Montesquieu (French)1689-1755Voltaire (French)1694-1778Voltaire (French)1694-1778Rousseau (French)1712-1778Rousseau (French)1712-1778

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes Believed that Believed that absolute monarchyabsolute monarchy was the best was the best

form of government. form of government. He believed that violence and disorder came He believed that violence and disorder came

naturally to human beings and that without naturally to human beings and that without AbsoluteAbsolute Government then chaos would develop. Government then chaos would develop.

Book was called Book was called LeviathanLeviathan without Absolute without Absolute government life would be government life would be "nasty, brutish, and "nasty, brutish, and short."short."

Believed that people should form a contract to Believed that people should form a contract to live live obediently under a ruler who would protect obediently under a ruler who would protect them and keep orderthem and keep order..

People People do not have the right to rebeldo not have the right to rebel against against their governmenttheir government no matter how unjust it was. no matter how unjust it was.

John LockeJohn Locke

Like the scientist of his time he believed in natural law. Or the Like the scientist of his time he believed in natural law. Or the idea that there were laws of nature that applied to humans. idea that there were laws of nature that applied to humans.

Believed that government was based on a contract and that it Believed that government was based on a contract and that it was necessary to establish order.was necessary to establish order.

He believed that people He believed that people are naturally reasonable and moral, are naturally reasonable and moral, and that they have natural rights to life, liberty and property.and that they have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

He believed that these rights should always exist and He believed that these rights should always exist and if a if a government does not protect these rights then the government does not protect these rights then the contract between the people and the government is contract between the people and the government is broken and the people have a right to broken and the people have a right to rebelrebel..

The The Social ContractSocial Contract:: idea idea that the people and their that the people and their government have a contract. Each gives something in government have a contract. Each gives something in exchange for something. exchange for something.

People give allegiance and loyalty. --People give allegiance and loyalty. -- Government gives Government gives rights, order, and justice.rights, order, and justice.

American Revolutionaries used these ideas.American Revolutionaries used these ideas.

Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu Wrote a book Wrote a book The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws, , Promoted the idea of a government Promoted the idea of a government

with separation of powers. with separation of powers. Executive BranchExecutive Branch: to enforce the laws: to enforce the laws Legislative BranchLegislative Branch: to make the laws: to make the laws Judicial BranchJudicial Branch: to interpret the laws, : to interpret the laws,

or make sure they are fair. (Supreme or make sure they are fair. (Supreme Court)Court)

Thought that individual rights should Thought that individual rights should be protected.be protected.

““Absolute Absolute power, power,

corrupts corrupts absolutely!”absolutely!”

Voltaire Voltaire French Author and thinker.French Author and thinker. Believed in Believed in religious freedomreligious freedom and and

freedom offreedom of speechspeech.. "I disapprove of what you say but I will "I disapprove of what you say but I will

defend to the death your right to say defend to the death your right to say it."it."

"It is dangerous to be right when the "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."government is wrong."

Voltaire (1694-1778)Voltaire (1694-1778) "Man is free at the moment he wishes to "Man is free at the moment he wishes to

be."be." VoltaireVoltaire

RousseauRousseau French Author and thinker.French Author and thinker. Believed that the (Popular Sovereignty) Believed that the (Popular Sovereignty)

power to rule belonged to the power to rule belonged to the peoplepeople, and governments should receive , and governments should receive their authority from the people.their authority from the people.

Believed that people had the Believed that people had the right to right to rise up against their governmentrise up against their government and and carry out needed changes. carry out needed changes.

"Man is born free and everywhere he is in "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains."chains."