1. Overall… Emergence of a secular world view of the universe
Monarchs ruling with Enlightenment ideas in mind
Massive popular revolutions in France and AMERICA due to Enlightenment ideas
Educational reform
Growth of laissez-faire capitalism

2. Pre-Enlightenment Economy
Mercantilism (pre-Enlightenment)
GOAL – country becomes economically self-sufficient
Every country for itself
Government controls all economic functions
Government wishes > individual needs

3. The Physiocrats Francois Quesnay
Criticizes Colbert’s mercantilist system in France
Wanted to institute freedom of market in agriculture
Agricultural production was stifled because the gov’t had too much control over the land
Wealth = land

4. Adam Smith Scottish university professor
1776  The Wealth of Nations was published.
A vehement attack of the mercantilist system
He was against the belief that trade was a zero-sum game
It was a positive-sum game.
Both nations gained.

5. Smith’s Capitalism Law of Competition
Producers compete to create the best kind of product for consume
Greed – a good thing?
The “invisible hand” guides market to produce right amount & variety of goods
Supply and demand

6. Smith’s Capitalism
Government should interfere minimally with the free and efficient workings of the market
Laissez faire [“Leave things alone.”]
No government monopolies
Few, if any, government regulations

7. MERCANTILISM GOV’T > INDIVIDUAL CAPITALISM INDIVIDUAL > GOV’T
THE BIG PICTURE
MERCANTILISM
GOV’T > INDIVIDUAL
CAPITALISM
INDIVIDUAL > GOV’T

8. Enlightenment Impact on Women

9. Salons
Hosted by women
Madame de Geoffren

10. More Rights for Women?
SOME philosophes favored increased political rights and education for women
Mary Wollstonecraft
A major voice for women’s rights in England
Women are not NATURALLY inferior…they look inferior cause they’ve been denied for so long

11. Enlightenment Impact on Religion
Deism

12. Deism The Religious Arm of the Enlightenment
God was a cosmic clockmaker – created the Universe and then stepped back to let it work
Universe is governed by natural law
Supernatural NOT involved in human life

13. Methodism FOUNDED BY JOHN WESLEY
Reemphasized an emotional relationship with God…spiritual conversion was a marker of faith
Emphasized living by sound moral principles
Grew out of the German Pietism movement, which rebelled against a rational relationship with God