Enlightenment  Ideas of Enlightenment Thought: - The universe can be understood through reason - Human experience is the basis for understanding the truth - Religion has no place in the understanding of the physical universe

John Locke (1630s-1700s)  Locke believed people could learn and improve themselves through their experiences  Believed in the idea that all people are born with 3 basic natural rights:  life, liberty, and property and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights  A government’s power comes from the people

John Locke  P. 485  Locke's Two Treatises of Civil Government were published after the Glorious Revolution of  In this work Locke gives us a theory of natural law and natural rights which he uses to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate civil governments, and to argue for the legitimacy of revolt against tyrannical governments.

John Locke  Locke wrote on a variety of other topics Among the most important of these is toleration.  Henry VIII had created a Church of England when he broke with Rome. This Church was the official religion of England. Catholics and dissenting Protestants were subject to legal prosecution.  In a "Letter Concerning Toleration" and several defenses of that letter Locke argues for a separation between church and state.

John Locke  His Ideas:  Natural rights—life, liberty, and property  Right to rebel  For the individual  use reason to search after truth rather than simply accept the opinion of authorities.

John Locke  Impact:  Fundamental to U. S. Declaration of Independence

Voltaire  Used satire to attack the French government and clergy  Fought for tolerance, reason, and the freedoms of religion and speech  Used his writings to defend his beliefs “I may disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire

 In his book Philosophical Letters, he was impressed with the British political system of 3 branches of government  He became famous as a champion of religious freedom and freedom of thought

Voltaire  His Ideas:  Freedom of thought and expression  Religious freedom

Voltaire  Impact:  Guaranteed in U.S. Bill of Rights, & French Declaration or Rights of Man, European monarchs reduce or eliminate censorship  European monarchs reduce persecution

Rousseau  Wrote “The Social Contract” in which he discussed the role of the people and government, and that all people were equal  Called for the end of nobility which helped to spark the French Revolution

Rousseau  People are naturally good, but that environment, education, and laws corrupt them  Good government must be based on popular sovereignty  Did not trust reason  Opposed a strong government which set him apart from others

Rousseau  Most philosophies disliked absolute monarchy.  They favored enlightened despotism  The absolute monarch would rule but according to the principles of the Enlightenment  His ideas on government and individual freedom became most influential during the later years of the Enlightenment

Rousseau  His Ideas:  Legitimate power comes from the people

Rousseau  Impact:  Fundamental to U.S. Declaration of Independence  U.S. Constitution  American Revolution