The Age of Enlightenment

1. The Age of Enlightenment APERO – Chapter 17

2. 18th Century – The Age of Enlightenment • An intellectual movement • That spread throughout Europe’s literate circles

3. Key Ideas of the Enlightenment • 1. Reason – Truth through logic • Informed thinking about social issues • Absence of superstition, intolerance • Humans should rely on reason, not miracles, to improve society

4. Key Ideas of the Enlightenment • 2. Nature, Natural Laws, Natural Rights • Natural laws can regulate both the universe and human society • Natural laws can be discovered by human reason • Liberty & Freedom a natural right

5. Key Ideas of the Enlightenment • 3. Happiness • Happiness as an inalienable human right • Humans should not accept misery in this world to find salvation in the hereafter • (social reform is possible)

6. Key Ideas of the Enlightenment • 4. Progress • The belief in social progress • Political and economic reform would improve society and allow for progress

7. “Philosophes” • Critical of everything! • Political Philosophers/Social Critics • Applied rules of reason, criticism, and common sense to their writings

8. The Spread of Enlightenment Ideas • 1. The Rise of Print Culture: • Books, journals, newspapers, magazines reached wider audiences in the 18th century • People exposed to new ideas

9. The Spread of Enlightenment Ideas • 2. Writers as Social Critics • Philosophes able to earn a living through writing • Exchanged ideas/opinions/perspectives • Allowed for the emergence of public opinion

10. The Spread of Enlightenment Ideas • 3. Coffeehouses • Allowed for public discussion of social/ Political issues • A place for intellectuals to exchange ideas

11. Voltaire (1694-1778) • Most influential of the philosophes • AKA: Francois- Marie Arouet • Prolific writer • Wrote: Candide (1759) – a satire attacking war, religious persecution, and human optimism

12. The Quotable Voltaire • 1. “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it” • 2. 2“God gave us the gift of life; It is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well” • 3. “Common sense is not so common” • 4. “ Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers” • 5. “everyman is guilty of all the good he did not do”

13. The Encyclopedia • Printed 1751-1772 • Denis Diderot chief editor of the Encyclopedia • Collective effort- 100 authors • importance: • 1. Disseminated Enlightenment thinking • 2. Freedom of expression • 3. Source of knowledge

14. Quotable Diderot • “all things must be examined, debated, investigated without exception and without regard for anyone’s feelings” – Denis Diderot

15. Shift in Political Ideology • Old idea: • “ a monarch’s rule is justified through divine right” • New Idea: • “ a government’s power comes from the consent of the governed”

16. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) • Wrote: Spirit of Laws (1748) • Concluded that the Ideal government would separate power into: • Executive, judicial, & legislative branches

17. Quotable Montesquieu

18. Jean -Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) • Committed to defending freedom and changing existing social order • 1. Novel Emile – argued for a “natural education” • Children are entitled to an education • Education should be individualized “every mind has its own form”

19. Jean -Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) • 2. Social Contract • agreement among free individuals to create a society & government • “ man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

20. Adam Smith (1723-1790) • Wrote: Wealth of Nations (1776) • Governments should not interfere with business • Laissez -faire economics (let them be) • Emergence of classical economic thought

21. Mary Wollstonecraft: • Wrote: A Vindication of the Rights of Women • Argued : • that women, like men, needed education to become “virtuous & useful” • That women, like men had the capacity of human reason • Criticized Rousseau’s view of women

22. Quotable Mary Wollstonecraft • “Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience”

23. Enlightenment Ideas… • 1. Inspired Revolutions and Independence Movements of the 1700’s and 1800’s • 2. Redefined the relationship between government and those governed

24. Enlightened Absolutism • Philosophes urged Europe’s absolute rulers to use their power for the good of the people

25. Catherine the Great (ruled 1762-1796) • German princess married off to Russian heir, Peter III (1745) • A few months after he was crowned tsar, he was murdered 

26. Catherine The Greats’ Enlightened Reforms • 1. Corresponded with Voltaire, invited Denis Diderot to her court • 2. supported Russia’s first private printing press

27. Catherine The Greats’ Enlightened Reforms • 3. Restricted the act of torture • 4. limited reform to her own authority

28. Catherine the Greats’ Not so Enlightened Policies • 1. Territorial expansion • Along with Prussia and Austria, divided (and took control of) Poland between 1772-1795

29. The French Revolution APEURO – Chapter 18

30. Causes of The French Revolution

31. 1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • Society divided into The “Three Estates” • 3 Social Classes determined a person’s status, and their rights!

32. 1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • 1st Estate: • Clergy • Make up 1% of the population • Does Not pay taxes!

33. 1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • 2nd Estate: • Nobility • 2% of the population own 25% of the land • High positions in government, military • DO NOT PAY TAXES! • (a noble privilege)

34. 1. Inequality/ Unfair Social Order • 3rd Estate: • Everyone Else! • “Bourgeoisie” – middle class professionals • Free Peasants • Serfs (un-free peasants) • HAVE TO PAY TAXES!

35. 2.France is in Debt! • From previous wars • Send $ to the American colonists • Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette’s extravagant spending

36. 2.France is in Debt! • Jacques Necker – Minister of Finance Publishes the“Necker Report” 1781 • “Everything’s Fine!” • Report discloses economic mismanagement • People are upset • By 1786 Banks refuse to lend $ to France!

37. 2.France is in Debt! • Charles Alexander Calonne’s Economic Reform Plan 1786 : • Why not tax landed nobility? • He is quickly replaced…

38. 2.France is in Debt! • Marie Antoinette’s extravagant spending sprees… • 1 dress cost 20X’s what a skilled worker earned in a year! • Spent $ on clothes, shoes, accessories, parties, re-decorating Versailles…

39. 2.France is in Debt! • Marie Antoinette is nicknamed… “Madame Deficit”

40. 3. Cost of Living Increases • Peasant situation worsened: • Price of food rose • Crop failures 1788-1789 led to • bread shortages! • Peasant’s anger rose

41. Causes of the French Revolution • 1. Inequality of Social Classes • Taxes • 2. France in debt • Extravagant spending of Marie A. & Louis XVI • 3. Cost of Living Increased • Tensions rose • No money for food or basic necessities

42. Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette • **

43. Palace of Versailles • Was Built by Louis 16th’s grandfather • “The Sun King” Louis 14th • Most extravagant palace in all of Europe

44. Marie Antoinette • Born in 1755 • Austrian Princess • Had 14 Brothers and Sisters • Marie the favorite

45. @ Age 15… • A marriage arranged • To the Crown Prince of France, Louis 16th • “an advantageous match” • She was sent to Versailles

46. The Wedding, 1770 • Marie and Louis are married • They are both 15

47. The Coronation, 1774 • Louis’ Father died • And • Louis and Marie were crowned King and Queen of France • AT AGE 19!!!

48. Louis XVI • Described as “homely, awkward & anti-social” • he’s obsessed with collecting KEYS, and CLOCKS. • Ignored Marie for the first 7 years of their marriage

49. Louis XVI ‘s Hobby • **

50. What is Marie To Do? • She spent Money! • Fashion - her passion! • Named her designer Rose Bertin as  “Minister of Fashion” • Threw lavish Banquets