1. Scientific Revolution Sparks the Enlightenment 1500s-1600s: advances in science alter how Europeans see the world 1700s: Scientists expand their knowledge Scientific Successes: convince many of the power of REASON Natural Law = rules discoverable by reason People began to use science to study behavior and solve society’s problems Advances in Science Natural Law becomes widely accepted Enlightenment: Natural Law could help explain humanity

2. Hobbes & Locke: Conflicting Views Thomas Hobbes Powerful government Wrote Leviathan: – People were naturally cruel, greedy and selfish – Need strict control to prevent fighting and oppression Social Contract = people give up their freedom to have an organized society Absolute Monarchy was ideal government to control the people John Locke Optimistic: People were generally good and moral Natural Rights: all people, right to life, liberty & property Two Treatises of Government: people form government to protect rights – Limited power – Accepted by all citizens If government violates natural rights, people have the right to overthrow the government

3. The Philosophes (Philosophers) Montesquieu: a critic of absolute Monarchy. – Spirit of the Laws – Divide government power into 3 branches – System of checks & balances – Sought to protect liberty Voltaire: heavy use of wit and sarcasm – Targeted corrupt officials & aristocracy – Spoke against slave trade and religious prejudice – Imprisoned by French government – Defended Freedom of Speech Diderot: compiles several volumes – The Encyclopedia – Denounced slavery, encouraged freedom of expression, promoted education – Attacked traditional religion- Pope threatened excommunication Rousseau: emphasis on education – People possessed natural innocence, were corrupted by society – The Social Contract: felt people had too many limits on their behavior – Only freely elected governments could impose controls – Good of community

4. MERCANTILISM Definition: – Policy by which a nation worked to export more than it imported in order to build its supply of gold and silver – Economy was controlled strictly by the government – Employed by many absolute monarchs in Europe to build their economies

5. LAISSEZ-FAIRE Definition: – Allow business to operate with little or no government interference – First proposed by physiocrats in France during the Enlightenment opposed trade tariffs Supported free trade Physiocrats- believing that the inherent natural order governing society was based on land and its natural products as the only true form of wealth

6. Adam Smith: “The Wealth of Nations” Free market should regulate business activities Theory: manufacturing, trade, wages and profit were linked to market forces of supply and demand Role of Government: protect society, administer justice and provide public works. Hands off wealth of the people. His ideas have shaped our economic system of today!