The Enlightenment

Chapter 5 Section 1 Reading Focus

How did scientific progress promote trust in human reason?

How did the social contract and separation of powers affect views on government?

How did new ideas affect society and the economy?

Chapter 5 Section 1 Vocabulary

Natural Law: rule or law that governs human nature Social Contract: Natural right: right that belong to all humans from

birth Philosophe: enlightened thinkers who used science

to improve society Physiocrat: enlightened thinker who searched for

natural laws to explain economics Laissez Faire: policy allowing business to operate

with little or no government interference.

Chapter 5 Section 2 Reading Focus

What roles did censorship and the salons play in the spread of new ideas?

How did philosophes influence enlightened despots?

How did the Enlightenment affect arts and literature?

Why were the lives of majority unaffected?

Chapter 5 Section 1 Vocabulary

Censorship: restriction on access to ideas and information.

Salon: informal gathering where ideas and information were exchanged.

Enlightened Despot: absolute ruler who used their power to bring about change.

Baroque: ornate style of art and architecture. Rococo: elegant style of art and architecture.

What Was the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century that led to

a whole new world view.

According to the 18th- century philosopher Immanuel Kant, the “motto” of the Enlightenment was “Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own intelligence!” (Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” 1784)

Immanuel Kant

Enlightenment Principles

• Religion, tradition, and superstition limited independent thought

• Accept knowledge based on observation, logic, and reason, not on faith

• Scientific and academic thought should be secular

A meeting of French Enlightenment thinkers

Enlightenment Thinkers

René Descartes (1596–1650)

• French philosopher and mathematician

• Questioned the basis of his own knowledge

• “Cogito ergo sum”

The French Salon and the Philosophes

Madame de Pompadour

• Madame de Pompadour

• Salons: gatherings for aristocrats to discuss new theories and ideas

• Philosophes: French Enlightenment thinkers who attended the salons

Voltaire (1694–1778)

• Most famous philosophe• Wrote plays, essays,

poetry, philosophy, and books

• Attacked the “relics” of the medieval social order

• Championed social, political, and religious tolerance

The Encyclopédie

• Major achievement of the philosophes

• Begun in 1745; completed in 1765

Frontspiece to the Encyclopédie

The Encyclopédie (continued)

• Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond d’Alembert

• Banned by the Catholic Church

Encyclopédie editor Denis Diderot

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)

• Applied rational analysis to the study of government

• Attacked the concept of divine right, yet supported a strong monarchy

• Believed that humans were basically driven by passions and needed to be kept in check by a powerful ruler

John Locke (1632–1704)

The “State of Nature”

Tabula rasa

Locke(continued)

Treatises of Government

Rights

Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1712–1778)

• Philosophized on the nature of society and government

• The Social Contract

Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)

• French noble and political philosopher

• The Spirit of the Laws

Montesquieu (continued)

• Separation of powers

• Constitutional monarchy

Frontspiece to The Spirit of the Laws

Women and the Enlightenment

• Changing views

• Role of education

• Equality

Mary Wollstonecraft Olympe de Gouges

Mary Wollstonecraft

• Declaration of the Rights of Man

• A Vindication of the Rights of Women

Wollstonecraft (continued)

• Education• Women’s rights

movement

Title page of Wollstonecraft’s Thoughts on the Education of Daughters

Olympe De Gouges

• Criticized the French Revolution

• The Rights of Women• “Declaration of the

Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen”

• Executed in 1793

“Enlightened Monarchs”

Most of Europe ruled by absolute monarchs

Receptive to Enlightenment ideas Instituted new laws and practices

Enlightened Monarchs

• Frederick II, Prussia

• Catherine the Great, Russia

• Maria Theresa, Austria

• Joseph II, Holy Roman Empire

• Gustav III, Sweden

• Napoleon I, France

Frederick the Great (ruled 1740–1786)

• Prussian ruler• Had a strong interest in

Enlightenment works• Induced Voltaire to come

to Prussia

Frederick the Great (continued)

• Wanted to make Prussia a modern state

• Reforms

Painting titled “Frederick the Great and Voltaire.”

Catherine the Great(ruled 1762–1796)

• Russian ruler• Well-versed in

Enlightenment works• “Westernizing” Russia

Catherine the Great(continued)

• Domestic reforms• Peasant revolt

Maria Theresa (ruled 1740–1780)• Austrian ruler• Government reforms• The serfs• Son—Joseph II

Joseph II (ruled 1765–1790)

• Ruled as coregent with his mother until 1780

• Joseph’s reforms• Religious

toleration• Control over the

Catholic Church• Abolition of

serfdom

Gustav III (ruled 1771–1792)

Swedish ruler Read French

Enlightenment works Reforms Absolutism

Napoleon I

• French ruler• Military career• Rise to power

Napoleon I (continued)

• Reforms• Education• Law

Chapter 5 Section 3 Reading Focus

What influences spurred Britain’s rise to global power?

How did the growth of constitutional government reflect conditions in politics and society.

How did George III reassert royal power?

Chapter 5 Section 3 Vocabulary

Constitutional Government: government whose powered is defined and limited by law.

Cabinet: parliamentary advisors to the king who originally met in a small room, cabinet.

Prime Minister: head of the cabinet in a parliamentary government; usually the leader of the largest party in the legislature.

Oligarchy: government in which ruling power belongs to a few people.

Grab a textbook before the bell rings and open to page 154

Rise to Global Power

GeographySuccess in WarA Favorable Business ClimateUnion with ScotlandIreland

Constitutional Government

Political Parties Torres-

landed aristocrats who liked tradition. Supported broad royal power Supported Anglican Church

Whigs- Favored the Glorious Revolution- controlled Monarch Business backers Tolerate of religion Favored Parliament over the Monarch

Constitutional Government

The Cabinet System George I- German Protestant- inherited the throne Established advisors for decisions Members are part of the majority party in the

House of Commons Remained intact unless the House of Commons

voted against them

Constitutional Government

Prime Minister- Leader of the majority party

The Enlightenment and the American Revolution

• Influence of Locke, Montesquieu

• The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson

Politics and Society

Land owners “Natural ruling class” Held seats in the House of Commons

Wealthy land owners and Business leaders Controlled cities and elections

Voting Right Male property owners Votes bought and sold openly

Politics and Society

Commoners Meager lives Wealthy bought up farm land Drifted to the towns

Middle Class Merchants and Manufacturers Controlled towns and city affairs

George III Reasserts Royal Power

Born in England Friends in high places Dissolve the cabinet Charge colonies for their defense Mental illness lead to restoring the cabinet Prime Minister gains leadership power during

Napoleon’s conquests.

The U.S. Constitution

• Separation of powers

• Checks and balances

Painting depicting the Constitutional Convention

The Enlightenment and the French Revolution

• The American Revolution

• The Estates General

The Marquis de Lafayette

The Declaration of theRights of Man

• Adopted by National Assembly in 1789

• “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité”

The Legacy of the Enlightenment

Government Society Education

The signing of the U.S. Constitution