1. Enlightenment Thinkers

2. GOALS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Use reason to understand all aspects of life including government
Reform abusive government of absolute monarchs

3. Thomas Hobbes Negative view on human nature Social contract
Absolute monarchy

4. John Locke Positive view on human nature
All people are born free and equal
Three natural rights: life, liberty, and property
Consent of the people
Legitimacy of revolution

5. Jean Jacques Rousseau Individual freedom Direct democracy
Social contract theory
Consent of the governed

6. Baron de Montesquieu Separation of powers Make laws Enforce laws
Interpret laws
Checks and balances

7. Voltaire Freedom of speech Freedom of religion
“I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to death your right to say it.”

8. Key ideas of the Enlightenment
Society could be improved by using reason/logic and natural law (universal rules that are always true)
Governments receive their authority/power from the people (NOT from god)
Democracy: a government where people have a say

9. Reflection
How did the Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional authority (absolute monarchies)?
How did the Enlightenment Thinkers change the relationship between people and their government?

10. Regents Questions
Writers of the Enlightenment were primarily interested in
changing the relationship between people and their government
supporting the divine right theory
debating the role of the church in society
promoting increased power for European monarchs

11. Regents Questions
John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau would be most likely to support
a return to feudalism in Europe
a government ruled by a divine right monarchy
a society ruled by the Catholic Church
a society in which the people chose the ruler