The Enlightenment 18th century (1700s)

The American Revolution (1765 to 1783)

The French Revolution (1789 to 1804)

What sparked these revolutions? The new ideas of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment Important scientific advancements in the 1700s. Scientists discovered natural laws (like gravity). Philosophers were inspired; they thought of fundamental rights.

British Parliament

British Parliament The parliament was an assembly that represented the population and adopted new laws. The monarchs of England shared power with the parliament.

Philosophers These people were thinkers who composed many works that proposed new ideas.

John Locke An English philosopher who proposed that people had fundamental rights. right to life, freedom, and to own property.

Montesquieu A French philosopher who believed in the separation of powers. A king should have the power to apply laws, not to make them.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau A Genevan philosopher who believed that the power belonged to the people, not the king. People agree to share power with political institutions = Social contract

Voltaire A French philosopher who believed that no Church or State should impose a religion on people. An individual should have the right to choose his beliefs.

The Encyclopedia Denis Diderot, Jean d’Alembert. Published between 1751 and 1772. Composed of several thousand articles.