1. 17-1: Philosophy in the Age of Reason
Thomas
Hobbes
John
Locke
Voltaire
Baron
Montesquieu
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau
Adam
Smith
Leviathan (1651) – influenced by the English Civil War; Presented concept of the social contract in which people gave up their rights for an organized society and government with absolute power.
Two Treatises on Government (1690) – inspired by Glorious Revolution; Governments are formed to protect natural rights of the people and have obligation not to abuse their powers.
Criticized powerful institutions for being arbitrary and unjust;
attacked corruption and inequality in society and government;
supported freedom of speech, press, and religion.
The Spirit of the Laws (1748) – challenged Bourbon absolutism in France; Governments needed their powers limited by laws which separate/balance their powers among three distinct branches.
The Social Contract (1762) – most radical and challenging work; Argued that society is what corrupts people and wanted to form an ideal government that only/always served the common good.
The Wealth of Nations (1776) – challenged mercantilism; Markets should be run by natural laws of supply and demand and governments should not interfere in commerce or trade

2. 17-2: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Diderot’s Encyclopedia
Novels
Spread
of the
Enlightenment
Salons
Courts of monarchs
28 volume set of books that covered topics such as government, philosophy and religion
Writers condemned slavery, celebrated freedom of expression, and stressed learning
Philosophes used the form of the novel to get around censorship and satirize society
Montesquieu’s The Persian Letters (1721) and Voltaire’s Candide (1759)
Informal social gatherings where writers and artists had discussions and exchanged ideas
Women, like Madame Geoffrin, from the middle class and nobility were often hosts
Philosophes tried to persuade rulers to use their ideas to create a more fair/just society
Rulers often made attempts at political and social reforms but held onto absolute power

3. 17-2: Major Enlightened Despots
Frederick the Great
Emperor Joseph II
Catherine the Great
Created a more efficient Prussian government and simplified laws while punishing corruption
Inspired by Voltaire’s writings to expand religious tolerance and to allow freedom of press
Respected elements to rights of due process by reducing the use of torture
Austrian and Hapsburg monarch who succeeded Maria Theresa and abolished serfdom
Wanted to modernize and unify the governments in the various Hapsburg lands
Stressed religious tolerance for Protestants and Jews
Made important reforms in Russian government and laws influenced by the philosphes
Abolished torture and established religious tolerance
Granted boyars a charter of rights and criticized the institution of serfdom (until peasants rebelled)

4. 17-3: Birth of the American Republic
1760 – George III became the King of Great Britain
1763 – The Peace of Paris ended the Seven Years’ War (French and Indian)
1764 – Parliament passed major indirect tax on its colonies (Sugar Act)
1765 – Parliament passed first direct tax on the 13 colonies (Stamp Act)
1770 – British soldiers fired on and killed colonists in the Boston Massacre
1773 – Colonists protested the Tea Act with the Boston Tea Party
1775 – War began with minor battles at Lexington and Concord
1776 – Congress declared independence from Great Britain
1777 – Victory at Saratoga convinced France to help the Continental Army
1781 – British army was defeated and surrendered at Battle of Yorktown
1783 – War ended when Britain acknowledged independent United States
1787 – Constitutional Convention held to revise government of the U.S.
1789 – Constitution was ratified and became the supreme law of the land