Mrs. Macdonald World History Enlightenment Mrs. Macdonald World History

Background In Europe, gov’t, laws & understanding of the world was based on the Catholic church before 1600s Period called the “Dark Ages” or “Middle Ages” b/c not much learning going on, not many new ideas Then, the Black Death hit Europe & ppl began questioning the church

Background Questions led to movement called Renaissance which was a rebirth of art & learning Subject of Renaissance art was not purely religious After the Renaissance, ppl began to apply the same questions to government & society

Enlightenment Movement that arose from that questioning was the Enlightenment Intellectual movement that stressed power of ppl to think & solve problems Used logic, rather than religion, to explain the world & ppl Applied that logic to government

Definition 17th & 18th century movement in which thinkers applied reason & logic to all aspects of life (rather than religion)

Thomas Hobbes Ppl are evil &wicked w/o gov’t to keep order, would be war of every man against another To escape war, ppl needed to hand over freedom to gov’t for order (Social Contract)

John Locke All ppl born w/ 3 natural rights – life, liberty, property Purpose of gov’t to protect rights If a gov’t doesn’t protect rights, ppl have duty to overthrow it Gov’t comes from consent of ppl Basis for most revolutions

Plato & Aristotle World works in organized ways; use logic to understand Best gov’t not run by rich, but by wisest Called wisest “philosopher kings”

Voltaire Used satire to attack stupidity Argued for freedom of religion & freedom of speech

Montesquieu Humans naturally will want to increase power To limit dangers, called for separation of power to keep one group from gaining all power Also called checks & balances

Rousseau Only good gov’t was one in which people agreed to “general will” of society must agree Must be a direct democracy

Beccaria Thought laws existed to keep order Against torturing witnesses, long trials, etc. Said punishment should fit crime

Wollstonecraft Argued that women needed education to become useful No gov’t should take away rights of any person – including women