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Age of Enlightenment- New Political Ideas and Challenging Monarchy

Explore the main ideas of influential Enlightenment thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Mary Wollstonecraft. Discover how their theories on social contract, natural rights, separation of powers, and gender equality have shaped history and influenced political systems.

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Age of Enlightenment- New Political Ideas and Challenging Monarchy

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  1. Age of Enlightenment- New Political Ideas and Challenging Monarchy 1600-1770

  2. Thomas Hobbes Main Ideas • Establishes the idea of a social contract- an agreement between the government and the people • Wants government to have complete control- Leviathan • Has a negative view of human nature- people are too corrupt to govern themselves Influence on History • Social contract • Continues to influence politicians that focus on maintaining order

  3. John Locke • Main Ideas - Establishes the importance of natural rights - Positive view of human nature - Universal ability to reason = people should be able to govern themselves • Influence on History - Influences all of the Founding Fathers of the United States (Jefferson, Adams, Madison) - Natural rights --> Declaration of Independence

  4. Locke’s influence on the Founding Fathers “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

  5. Political Spectrum

  6. Voltaire Main Ideas • Wants a separation between Church and State- no theocracies • Openly mocks monarchs, clergy, and politicians • Candide is one of the most famous satirical works in history. Influence on History • Influences the Bill of Rights- which preserve freedom of speech, thought and expression • Reduces the amount of censorship by European Monarchs • Encourages religious tolerance

  7. Current Examples of Political Satire

  8. Montesquieu Main Ideas • Wanted a system of checks and balance • Separation of power- no one person has too much power Influence on History • Constitutions around world use the idea of separation of power • French Revolution • 3 Branches of U.S. government- system of checks and balance

  9. Rousseau Main Ideas • Had a positive view of people • The different parts of society corrupts the individual • Wanted each individual person to participate in democracy Influence on History • Direct democracy • American and French Revolutions

  10. Common People participating in Revolutions

  11. Mary Wollstonecraft Main Ideas • Supported women’s rights • Wanted gender equality for voting rights and property rights Influence / Long term effects • Women eventually gain the right to vote and equality through laws

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