Mrs. Lauterhahn

Voltaire Outspoken French philosopher Attacked injustice; wanted religious toleration & liberty Exiled to England for 2 years

Diderot: French philosopher who invented encyclopedia 35 volumes; to promote knowledge!!! Worked on it for 27 years (last volume in 1772) French leaders attacked it; criticized church, gov’t and legal system Gov’t tried to stop publication but couldn’t Was immediate success & spread ideas to Europe & N.A.

English writer She demanded equal rights for women, especially in education 1792 – her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, argued that if men and women had equal education, they would be equal in society

Scottish economist Used reason to analyze the economy Book – 1776 – The Wealth of Nations – free market Believed in Laissez-Faire economy  no gov’t regulation (really means “leave alone”)

Ideas were spreading Philosophes appealed to European monarchs for change A few monarchs listened and ruled according to these ideas These monarchs were known as “enlightened despots”

Frederick II, king of Prussia from Believed duty was to rule with absolute power But also liked Voltaire’s ideas Set up elementary education; abolished torture; reduced censorship BUT – no religious tolerance for Jews Didn’t abolish serfdom (even though didn’t agree with it) Made reforms only to build Prussia’s strength (not to achieve justice)

Catherine II (1762) Wanted order & justice and to reform Russia (contact with Voltaire & Diderot) Drafted constitution and code of laws but they were seen as too liberal Wanted to free serfs, but didn’t want to lose support of wealthy landowners She didn’t want to give up power so became a tyrant Imposed more serfdom on Russians than ever before

Joseph II – most radical enlightened despot Became emperor in 1780 Eliminated torture & death penalty; free food and medicine for poor Catholic, but granted religious tolerance for Jews and Protestants Abolished serfdom! Changes were resisted by nobility and church Forced him to revoke some reforms before his death around 1790

Writers & philosophers questioned ideas Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchy Questioned relationship between church & state Promoted ideas reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change society People started believing human reason could solve any problem  led to reforms People tried to make society more just