The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment During the 1600s and 1700s, Western intellectuals tried to use reason to make society better. Most European governments were controlled by absolute monarchies during this time. New political philosophies of the Enlightenment challenged the idea that absolutism was the best form of government.

How did the Enlightenment differ from previous ages? People used reason to draw conclusions about society. People saw reason as a way to expose errors, and help make life better.

The Enlightenment

What did Thomas Hobbes say about government? He believed that absolute monarchy was the best form of government.

Why did Hobbes believe that people could not be trusted to run government? He thought that people were naturally selfish and violent. He believed people needed to obey a government. This meant the rule of a strong king was necessary.

Why is John Locke important? Locke believed that the government should answer to the people. He said that all people should have the right to life, liberty, and property. He also believed that it was the responsibility of the government to protect natural rights.

John Locke Locke believed that effective governments were based on a social contract. A social contract is an agreement between the people and the government. The government was responsible for protecting the rights of the people. If the government took away natural rights, then the people had the right to overthrow the government. This was a challenge to absolutism.

John Locke Locke was influenced by the Glorious Revolution. How? Locke saw the social contract as a voluntary agreement to enhance life.

John Locke Locke’s ideas developed into the belief that a government needs the consent of the people in order to govern. Locke’s writings influenced Thomas Jefferson and his writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Why did Montesquieu like England’s government better than France’s? He said that England’s government was better because it had separation of powers. Separation of powers means that power should be equally divided among different branches of government.

Why should government divide power equally between branches? Dividing power equally will ensure that the government does not become too powerful, and threaten the rights of the people.

Baron de Montesquieu Montesquieu popularized the ideas of separation of powers and checks and balances. How did these ideas affect the development of the government of the United States? These ideas were used in the United States Constitution.

Who was Voltaire? (Francois-Marie Arouet) He became known for his strong dislike of the Roman Catholic Church. He believed the Church withheld knowledge from people in order to maintain power. Voltaire also believed that people should be free to choose their own beliefs, as opposed to having a government force people to support one religion.

Voltaire Voltaire focused on the rights of citizens. He believed in the separation of church and state. Why would he think that was important? He also believed in free speech and was against slavery. He shared his beliefs by writing books and plays.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau He believed that people should pay more attention to their feelings. According to Rousseau, humans are naturally good, but corrupted by civilized life. To improve themselves, people should live closer to nature. In his book, The Social Contract, Rousseau stated that government should rule by the consent of the people.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Rousseau believed that the consent of the people meant that governments should base decisions on majority rule. Rousseau and Locke’s political philosophies were the building blocks of the idea of popular sovereignty (the people decide).

Why should government rule by the consent of the people?

Philosophers