1. The Enlightenment Europe1750-1814 (a.k.a. the Age of Reason)

2. OBJECTIVE(S): What was the Scientific Revolution and what was its impact? What was the Scientific Revolution and what was its impact? What was the Enlightenment and what was its impact? What was the Enlightenment and what was its impact? What were the key idea and concepts of the Enlightenment? What were the key idea and concepts of the Enlightenment?

3. The Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason, is the period in the 1700-1800’s in which European political philosophers developed ideas about how government should work. The ideas were inspired by the discoveries of the Scientific Revolution.

4. The Scientific Revolution began in the mid- 1500’s when scientists began discovering natural laws about the universe. Before the Revolution, people’s understading of the way the universe worked was told to them by the Church.

5. They taught that the Earth was the center of the universe, which is called the geocentric theory. In 1543, Polish astronomer Copernicus published a book that challenged the Church’s teaching.

6. He said that the Sun was the center of the universe, which is called the heliocentric theory. In 1609, Italian scientist Galileo built a telescope and confirmed Copernicus’ theory.

7. He also published his finding and got in trouble with the Catholic Church. As a result, he was put on trial in front of the Church, which is called an Inquisition. Under the pressure, Galileo recanted and publically said that the Church was right, though he didn’t believe it.

9. During this time, the scientific method was developed, where scientists used observations to test hypotheses and learn more about the natural world. Other noteworthy thinkers of the Scientific Revolution included Sir Isaac Newton (father of physics) and Renee Descartes.

11. The philosophes were observing history and trying to discover natural laws that governed society. In particularly, they were trying to explain the English Civil War and how England moved away from absolute monarchy to representative democracy.

12. Natural Rights Enlightenment philosophers believed that everyone was entitled to three basic rights, no matter what. The natural rights are: Life Liberty Property

13. Social Contract Theory of Government This concept, developed by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau, stated that government was an agreement between the people in power and the people who lived under their rule. In this deal, the individuals give up a portion of their freedom in exchange for the security and safety provided by the government. If either side doesn’t meet the agreement, the contract is void.

14. Popular Sovereignty Another key belief of the Enlightenment was popular sovereignty, which is the belief that the people are the true and only source of government's power. So power comes from the people, not from God as believed in the period before (as in the era of absolutism and the Divine Right of Kings)

15. Secularism The Enlightenment was also a secular movement. Secular means “worldly rather than spiritual.” In other words, non-religious. Enlightenment thinkers rejected the idea of Divine Right, which absolute monarchs used to justify their abuses of power.

16. Separation of Powers Another key idea designed to stop the abuse of power of absolute monarchs was separation of powers. Dividing the government into different parts makes it so one part doesn’t get too powerful and abuse its power. This also leads to checks and balances, the idea that these different parts “check” the power of the others.

17. Enlightened Despot Some absolute monarchs heard the ideas of the Enlightenment and changed the way they rule (well… a little at least). They are called Enlightened despots. The best example is Catherine the Great of Russia. Most weren’t smart enough to makes changes and the people would eventually revolt and overthrow them. Usually they executed the ruler too.

18. Enlightenment Thinkers Here are some of the key Enlightenment thinkers you need to know. Most of them are from England and France.

19. Thomas Hobbes England Author of Leviathan (1651), an allegory about the overthrow and beheading of the English King Charles I  Unlike other Enlightenment Thinkers, he advocated a strong government like absolute monarchy. However, his ideas started the discussion of how government should work, leading to different ideas.  Hobbes believed that men were “simple and brutish” and needed a strong government to keep order in society

20. John Locke England Probably the most important thinker of the Enlightenment Wrote Two Treatises of Government, which stressed Natural Rights and introduced the idea of the Social Contract Theory of Government. This ideas said that government should protect the natural rights of people or be overthrown, thus justifying revolution. This ideas said that government should protect the natural rights of people or be overthrown, thus justifying revolution.

21. Voltaire France He believed an enlightened monarchy (enlightened despot)—a ruler familiar with the philosophy of the Enlightenment—was the best form of government. He also expanded the ideas of Locke’s Social Contract and Natural Rights.

22. Jean Jacques Rousseau France wrote The Social Contract Said that "Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains... " Stressed that power came from the people, not from God Stressed that power came from the people, not from God

23. Montesquieu France French baron and landed aristocrat who wrote The Spirit of Laws. He proposed governmental powers be separated among three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial, to prevent abuse of power. Each branch would check on the other.

24. Effects of the Enlightenment The Enlightenment and its ideas helped cause the American and French Revolutions. In fact, it has been a cause of every revolution ever since. Modern democracies are based on the ideas the Enlightenment thinkers talked about.