Scientific Revolution sparks Enlightenment Convinced educated Europeans of human reason Natural law- rules discovered by reason govern scientific forces Using methods of science, reformers studied human behavior Immanuel Kant first described era as “Enlightenment”

Thomas Hobbes People natural cruel, greedy, and selfish Social contract- agreement to give up freedom for organized society Only powerful gov’t could ensure orderly society

John Locke People were reasonable and moral Natural rights- rights belonged to all humans from birth Life, liberty, and property People form gov’t to protect natural rights

Baron de Montesquieu Best way to protect liberty was by dividing functions and powers of gov’t 3 branches: legislative, executive, judicial

Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet) Targeted corrupt officials and idle aristocrats Detested slave trade Freedom of speech Offended French gov’t and Catholic church Forced into exile

Denis Diderot Created 28-volume set of books called Encyclopedia Included articles by leading thinkers Helped spread Enlightenment ideas throughout Europe and to Americas

Jean-Jacques Rousseau People in natural state were basically good Natural innocence corrupted by evils of society and unequal distribution of property Some controls necessary, should be minimal Faith in “general will” or best conscience of people

Mary Wollstonecraft Enlightenment slogan “free and equal” did not apply to women Growing number of women protested Called for equal education for girls and boys

New Economic Thinking Rejected mercantilism Laissez faire- business operate with little or no government interference Adam Smith argued free market should be allowed to regulate business activity