1. The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment is a time period in Europe that starts in the 18th century.
Also known as the Age of Reason
To enlighten- the idea of shedding light on something, illuminating it, making it clear.
Ideas from past movements are now applied to the political aspects of society.

2. Key Concepts of the Enlightenment
Rationalism
The idea that people can use reason, or logical thought, to understand and improve the world.
Rationalists believed they could analyze and understand patterns in the behaviors of people and governments.
Individualism
Idea that individuals and their rights are important.
Enlightenment thinkers believed that individuals did not always need to sacrifice what they wanted or believed for the good of society or for the good of the government.

3. Beginnings of Revolution???
Enlightenment thinkers apply both rationalism and individualism to government.
These concepts eventually led to conflict because it threatened important social traditions, including religious beliefs.

4. John Locke British Philosopher during the Enlightenment
1690-wrote Two Treatises of Government
People are born with natural rights given to them by God and cannot be taken away
Life, liberty and property
Believed there was a social contract between people and their rulers.
Government protects natural rights while people obey laws of government.
If government breaks that contract then people have the right to overthrow said government.

5. Thomas Hobbes British political scientist during Enlightenment
Believed people were driven by their own self interests
People are greedy, cruel and selfish
Too much freedom was not necessarily a good thing
1651-publishes Leviathan
Discusses the need for a social contract.
People give up their natural rights in exchange for law and order
Law and order enforced by strong monarchs

6. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Prominent French Philosopher during the Enlightenment.
helps form the Philosophes
Believed that humans were good by nature, but society corrupts them
Writes The Social Contract
Proposes that people are born free and government and society restricts them too much
Writes that the only form of government that should be allow to restrict people is one elected by the people

7. Baron de Montesquieu
French political philosopher during the Enlightenment
1748-writes The Spirit of the Laws
Tried to identify factors of a good and uncorrupt government
Three branches of government(executive, legislative and judicial)
Believed this separation of powers would keep any one person or group from gaining too much power
Believed this separation was only way to protect people’s right
Each branch should have a check on the other

8. Voltaire Philosopher and writer during the Enlightenment
Believed that humans needed freedom from government control in order to succeed and progress
Believed in freedom of speech, religion and press.
“I do not agree with a word that you said but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

9. Mary Wollstonecraft First to advocate for Women’s Equality
Education leads to virtue and usefulness
Women have right to participate in society

10. Beccaria Helped form the “Academy of Fists”
Devoted to economic, political and administrative reform
Stressed the main beliefs of the Enlightenment
1764- published On Crimes and Punishment
He focused on the rights of the accused as well as the rights of victims
In fear of government backlash Beccaria publishes anonymously until it was received positively
Beccaria’s ideas where quoted by American Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

11. Immanuel Kant German philosopher
Considered to be one of the greatest philosophers of all time
Tries to combine the two main schools of thought in philosophy: rationalism and empiricism
Believed that true knowledge was a combination of senses, experiences and reason
At that time, Kant’s beliefs were completely new

12. Homework
Finish AOW
Complete Crossword Activity Sheet – due tomorrow!