1. U2C5 Enlightenment and Revolution: 1550-1800
World History

2. Main Idea
Beginning in the late 1500s, new discoveries and the use of reason in Europe during the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment led to changing ideas about government and society. Influenced by Enlightenment ideas, British colonists in North America established a new nation-the United States

3. Essential Question
What were the effects of the Scientific Revolution?

5. 5.1 The Scientific Revolution
Dawn of Modern Science
Geocentric theory: sun, moon, and planets revolve around the earth; viewpoint of Greek philosopher Aristotle in 300s BC and astronomer Ptolemy in AD 200s
Scientific Revolution: mid-1500s new way of thinking that challenged traditional authorities, posing theories about the natural world and developing procedures to test those ideas

7. Discoveries in Astronomy, Physics, and Math
Copernicus: 1500s Polish astronomer discovered heliocentric theory-the sun, not the earth was center of solar system and earth revolves around the sun
Brahe (brah) and Kepler: Brahe discovered and named a supernova; Kepler-first astronomer to prove planets orbited in an ellipse (oval pattern) not a circle
Galileo: Italian scientist, built first telescope in 1610, first to observe moons of Jupiter, craters on moon
Sir Isaac Newton: combined astronomy, physics and mathematics to state law of gravity-that it effects objects in the universe as well as earth.

8. Discoveries in Biology and Chemistry
Biology: 1539-Andreas Vesalius dissected human bodies; early 1600s William Harvey- heart, blood, circulatory system; 1600s Antony van Leeuwenhoek invented microscope, first to discover bacteria, red blood cells, yeast and other microorganisms; Robert Hooke created the term “cell”
Chemistry: Robert Boyle: father of modern chemistry, first to define an element

11. Science and Society
The Roman Catholic Church opposed the views of scientists like Galileo although they benefitted from new scientific discoveries that made Renaissance art and architecture possible
Galileo placed under house arrest by Pope for following Copernican theory

14. 5.2 The Enlightenment The Age of Reason
The Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason, was an exciting time of optimism and possibility in the 1600s, when philosophers began to view reason as the best way to understand truth, and that reason could be used to solve all human problems.
Peaked in Paris, 1700s
Social gatherings with philosophers, artists, scientists, writers were called salons

15. Key Enlightenment Ideas
The ability to reason is what makes humans unique
Reason can be used to solve problems and improve people’s lives
Reason can free people from ignorance, superstition, and unfair government
The natural world is governed by laws that can be discovered through reason
Like the natural world, human behavior is governed by natural laws
Governments should reflect natural laws and encourage education and debate

16. New Views on Government
Thomas Hobbes: English author of Leviathan, 1651, believed in monarchy, “people are naturally nasty,” people should agree to give up some freedoms to a leader, for safety, order, known as social contract
John Locke: English philosopher “people were naturally reasonable,” wrote Two Treatises on Government, believed that government should be overthrown if it fails to protect natural rights
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (roo-SOH): French philosopher, wrote The Social Contract, “Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains,” despised inequality in society, would inspire revolutionaries
Baron de Montesquieu: French philosopher, wrote The Spirit of the Laws, 1748, admired separation of powers in government, first to concieve the system of checks and balances

17. New Views on Society
Voltaire: French philosopher or philosophe with biting wit, attacked injustice in government, nobility, was imprisoned twice for it
Diderot and the Encyclopedia: mid-1700s created to spread Enlightenment ideas
Mary Wollstonecraft: demanded the equal rights for women, especially in education
Adam Smith: Scottish economist believed business activities should take place in a free market, laissez-faire

18. Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Enlightened despots: monarchs that ruled according to Enlightenment ideas
Prussia: Fredrick II, influenced by Voltaire, introduced reforms (education)
Russia: Catherine II, corresponded with Voltaire, Diderot, intended on reform but became a tyrant
Austria: Joseph II, abolished serfdom
Britain’s American colonies: influenced by Locke and Rousseau

21. 5.3 The American Revolution
Forming a New Identity
from 1600s to 1170, English North American colonies grew to over 2.1 million people
colonies offered cheap land, class system was absent, allowing individuals to advance quickly
after 150 years as colonies, people identified with their colony more than Britain

22. Opposing British Policies
Britain imposed new taxes on the colonies as a result of the French and Indian War in 1763
1765: Stamp Act-tax on official documents that were stamped, repealed in 1766
1767: new taxed on glass, paper, tea. Merchants threatened to boycott, Britain sent in troops
1770: Boston Massacre
1773: Sons of Liberty caused Boston Tea Party, British closed port, passed Intolerable Acts
1774: First Continental Congress called in Philadelphia to list grievances

23. Revolution Begins Sons of Liberty prepared for war
April 19,1775: British troops confronted militiamen at Lexington
Jan. 1776: Thomas Paine’s Common Sense helped the patriot cause

24. Declaring Independence
1776: during Second Continental Congress, committee formed to write Declaration of independence
John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin were familiar with Enlightenment concepts
Jefferson wrote the draft, adopted by Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

26. The Revolutionary War
June 1775: George Washington assigned commanding general of the army
June 1775: British evacuated Boston
Battle of Long Island: Wash defeated
Trenton: British defeated
1777: Philadelphia fell to British, Wash in Valley Forge
1777: British defeated at Saratoga
next 2 years American forces strengthen
British attempt to divide colonies in two
Sept 1781 Cornwallis surrounded at Yorktown, Virginia
October 19, 1781: Britain surrenders
Sept 1783: Treaty of Paris recognizes U.S. independence

27. Articles of Confederation
1781: first U.S. government before the constitution
no power to tax, or to negotiate with other governments
national government too weak to govern effectively

28. The Constitution
1787: delegates met in Philadelphia at a Constitutional Convention to revise Articles
George Washington presided, but James Madison played leading role
Constitution created a federal system of government, dividing power
Enlightenment influenced

29. The Bill of Rights Constitution failed to protect rights of citizens
first 10 amendments did this
Rights advocated by Voltaire, Locke, Rousseau
freedom of speech, religion, due process