1. ON THE ROAD TO DEMOCRACY
Enlightenment
ON THE ROAD TO DEMOCRACY

2. 1. Vocabulary
Enlightenment – an intellectual European movement emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition
Feudalism – powerful local lords dividing their land among the lesser lords
Parliament – British legislature
Natural rights – rights that belong to all people at birth

3. 2. Greek Philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Focused on goodness and standards of human behavior
Socrates encouraged people to think for themselves, use reason
Plato argued all people are born equal
Aristotle believed the middle class should rule

4. 3. English Influences Magna Carta Parliament created in 1200s
Lords forced the king to sign
Gave rights to barons (land owners) & church
Declared the monarch must obey the law
Parliament created in 1200s
2 bodies: House of Commons (knights & middle class) & House of Lords (nobles & clergy)
Civil War to Glorious Revolution to English Bill of Rights
William & Mary forced to sign in 1689

5. 4. Scientific Revolution
Using reason to figure out science
Would work for social and political issues as well.
Use science and reason to solve societal problems.

6. 5. Thomas Hobbes People are naturally greedy & selfish.
“Social Contract”
An agreement of people where they give up their freedom for an organized society.
Powerful gov’t. is necessary
Absolute monarchy is best.

7. 6. John Locke People are reasonable, moral & deserve natural rights
Life, liberty, & property
People form gov’t. to protect natural rights
Limited gov’t. accepted by all people is best.
Gov’t. has an obligation to it’s people
People have a right to overthrow gov’t.

8. 7. Philosophes French philosophers
Baron de Montesquieu – gov’t. should be split into 3 equal branches
System of checks & balances
Voltaire – freedom of thought & speech
Jean Jacques Rousseau – community above individual
People are good, corrupted by evils of society
Gov’t. control should be limited

9. 8. Women Women were mostly left out.
Women’s natural rights were limited to the areas of home & family.
Mary Wollstonecraft – women are excluded from the social contract
Women should be able to decide what was in her best interest without her husband’s input
Called for equal education of boys and girls

10. 9. Economics
Laissez Faire (let it be) – businesses allowed to operate with little or no gov’t. interference
Opposite of mercantilism – gov’t. involved to ensure a balance of trade.