Chapter 18: Enlightenment & the American Revolution Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century Section 4: Birth of the American Republic

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason During the Scientific Revolution, scientists used reason to explain why things happened in the universe During the Scientific Revolution, scientists used reason to explain why things happened in the universe By the early 1700s, Europeans used reason to discover the natural laws of human behavior that explain why people act as they do By the early 1700s, Europeans used reason to discover the natural laws of human behavior that explain why people act as they do With these laws, they hoped to solve the problems of society With these laws, they hoped to solve the problems of society This was the Age of Reason, or the Enlightenment This was the Age of Reason, or the Enlightenment

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Some Enlightenment thinkers wanted to reform government Some Enlightenment thinkers wanted to reform government John Locke believed that the government must protect the natural rights of the people John Locke believed that the government must protect the natural rights of the people Natural rights are rights that belong to all humans from birth Natural rights are rights that belong to all humans from birth If the government did not protect those rights, the people had the right to overthrow it If the government did not protect those rights, the people had the right to overthrow it

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Thomas Hobbes based his theories on government on his belief that man was basically greedy, selfish, and cruel Thomas Hobbes based his theories on government on his belief that man was basically greedy, selfish, and cruel Hobbes states that life would be a state of constant warfare without a strong government to control man's natural impulses Hobbes states that life would be a state of constant warfare without a strong government to control man's natural impulses He believed people would enter into a Social Contract to escape from this He believed people would enter into a Social Contract to escape from this In the Social Contract, people would exchange most of their freedoms for the safety of organized society In the Social Contract, people would exchange most of their freedoms for the safety of organized society

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason The Baron de Montesquieu wanted to create a separation of powers The Baron de Montesquieu wanted to create a separation of powers Each branch would make sure the other two branches did not become two powerful Each branch would make sure the other two branches did not become two powerful This system is called checks & balances This system is called checks & balances

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason In France, thinkers said that the Enlightenment could improve society In France, thinkers said that the Enlightenment could improve society Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that in a perfect society, people made and obeyed the laws Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that in a perfect society, people made and obeyed the laws

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Voltaire argued for Freedom of Speech and thought Voltaire argued for Freedom of Speech and thought

Section 1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Other thinkers used reason to reform the economy of Europe Other thinkers used reason to reform the economy of Europe They believed that the government should let business run itself They believed that the government should let business run itself This belief is called laissez faire This belief is called laissez faire The economist Adam Smith argued that a free market works through supply and demand The economist Adam Smith argued that a free market works through supply and demand

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread As Enlightenment ideas spread across Europe, people began to question the old ways and demand reform As Enlightenment ideas spread across Europe, people began to question the old ways and demand reform A fair society, they thought, should provide material well-being, justice, and happiness A fair society, they thought, should provide material well-being, justice, and happiness However government and the church believed that God had set up society as it was However government and the church believed that God had set up society as it was To stop the new ideas, they burned Enlightenment books and put the writers in prison To stop the new ideas, they burned Enlightenment books and put the writers in prison

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Philosophers asked rulers to adopt reforms Philosophers asked rulers to adopt reforms Enlightened Despots were absolute rulers who used their power to reform society Enlightened Despots were absolute rulers who used their power to reform society

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Enlightened Despots Enlightened Despots Frederick II of Prussia improved the government and tolerated different religions Frederick II of Prussia improved the government and tolerated different religions He gave tools and seeds to peasants He gave tools and seeds to peasants Catherine the Great of Russia reformed Russian law and government Catherine the Great of Russia reformed Russian law and government

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread During the 1600s and 1700s, the arts also changed to reflect Enlightenment ideas During the 1600s and 1700s, the arts also changed to reflect Enlightenment ideas

Baroque paintings were huge and full of excitement Baroque paintings were huge and full of excitement

-Rococo art tended to be personal and charming

Rococo Cont.

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Ballet and opera also became popular Ballet and opera also became popular

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Brilliant musicians such as Mozart and Handel wrote beautiful symphonies and operas Brilliant musicians such as Mozart and Handel wrote beautiful symphonies and operas

Section 2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread During this period, most Europeans were peasants living in small villages During this period, most Europeans were peasants living in small villages They knew little of the Enlightenment They knew little of the Enlightenment In Western Europe serfdom had disappeared In Western Europe serfdom had disappeared In Eastern Europe, however, most peasants were still tied to the land In Eastern Europe, however, most peasants were still tied to the land

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century During the 1600s and 1700s, Britain built an empire that reached around the world During the 1600s and 1700s, Britain built an empire that reached around the world Its island location allowed Britain to control trade during the Renaissance Its island location allowed Britain to control trade during the Renaissance Unrestricted trade helped merchants build settlements in the West Indies, North America, and India Unrestricted trade helped merchants build settlements in the West Indies, North America, and India

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century Britain also gained control of the slave trade in Spanish America, which brought riches to England Britain also gained control of the slave trade in Spanish America, which brought riches to England Finally, Britain built a powerful Navy and was on the winning side of most conflicts during the period Finally, Britain built a powerful Navy and was on the winning side of most conflicts during the period

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century During the 1700s, the British built a constitutional government where government power was defined and limited by law During the 1700s, the British built a constitutional government where government power was defined and limited by law The new government included three important new institutions The new government included three important new institutions These were political parties, the cabinet, and the office of the prime minister These were political parties, the cabinet, and the office of the prime minister

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century The first political parties were made up of rich powerful men who shared beliefs The first political parties were made up of rich powerful men who shared beliefs The Tories were conservative The Tories were conservative The Whigs were liberal The Whigs were liberal

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century The Cabinet was a group of members of Parliament who advised the king and helped make policy The Cabinet was a group of members of Parliament who advised the king and helped make policy The Prime Minster was the leader of the Cabinet The Prime Minster was the leader of the Cabinet

Prime Minister

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century Even with these changes, the British Government remained a Oligarchy Even with these changes, the British Government remained a Oligarchy Oligarchy – a government where a few powerful nobles & rich landowners controlled the Parliament Oligarchy – a government where a few powerful nobles & rich landowners controlled the Parliament

Section 3: Britain at Mid-Century Voting Rights in England Voting Rights in England Only male property owners could vote Only male property owners could vote A small middle class controlled the towns and cities A small middle class controlled the towns and cities Most people were poor farmers who struggled to survive Most people were poor farmers who struggled to survive They had no power in the British Government They had no power in the British Government

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic By 1750, the British Empire included 13 colonies along the eastern coast of North America By 1750, the British Empire included 13 colonies along the eastern coast of North America People from many religions and backgrounds made their home there People from many religions and backgrounds made their home there

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic The colonies were part of a trade network linking North America, the West Indies, Africa, and Europe The colonies were part of a trade network linking North America, the West Indies, Africa, and Europe

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic After 1763, serious problems developed between Britain and the colonies After 1763, serious problems developed between Britain and the colonies The British wanted to control colonial trade and manufacturing as well as raise taxes The British wanted to control colonial trade and manufacturing as well as raise taxes This made the colonists angry This made the colonists angry

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic The colonists felt that the king was taking away their rights as British citizens The colonists felt that the king was taking away their rights as British citizens

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic In 1775, war broke out between the colonists and the British Government In 1775, war broke out between the colonists and the British Government The following year, the colonists declared independence from Britain The following year, the colonists declared independence from Britain

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic Using Enlightenment Ideas, the writers of the Declaration of Independence stated that the colonists had the right to revolt against an unfair government Using Enlightenment Ideas, the writers of the Declaration of Independence stated that the colonists had the right to revolt against an unfair government They called their new nation the United States of America They called their new nation the United States of America

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic In 1781, the colonists defeated the British In 1781, the colonists defeated the British The leaders of the United States of America set up a federal republic and adopted a Constitution in 1787 The leaders of the United States of America set up a federal republic and adopted a Constitution in 1787

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic The Constitution included many Enlightenment ideas The Constitution included many Enlightenment ideas Among these were: Among these were: Separation of Powers Separation of Powers Checks & Balances Checks & Balances

Section 4: Birth of the American Republic The Constitution also stated that the duty of the government was to protect the rights of the people The Constitution also stated that the duty of the government was to protect the rights of the people