Enlightenment & American Revolution

1. Enlightenment & American Revolution Ch 17

2. Philosophy in the Age of Reason Sec 1

3. Natural Law • Who: Europeans • What: rules that are discoverable by reasoning that governed scientific forces such as gravity & magnetism • Where: Europe • When: 1500s-1600s • Why: scientific success convinced educated Europeans of the power of human reason; used to better understand social, economic, & political probs; used this to study human behavior & solve probs = led to the Enlightenment

4. Thomas Hobbes • Who: 17th century English thinker • What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the Enlightenment ; wrote “Leviathan” • Where: England • When: 1700s • Why: he lived through upheavals in the English Civil War; outlined his ideas in “Leviathan”= argued that ppl were naturally cruel, greedy & selfish; he said that ppl entered into “Social Contract” to avoid brutal life; best gov’t= Absolute Monarchy

5. John Locke • Who: 17th century English thinker • What: set forth ideas that were to become key to the Enlightenment • Where: England • When: 1700s • Why: he thought ppl were reasonable & moral; ppl had certain natural rights: life, liberty, & property; came to very diff ideas about the human nature & role of govt= govt has obligation to its ppl, if it fails, it fails the ppl = if govt violates natural rights = ppl have a right to overthrow= American & French Revolutions

6. Social Contract • Who: European ppl; Thomas Hobbes • What: an agreement where ppl gave up their freedom for an organized society • Where: Europe • When: 1500s-1600s • Why: Hobbes said that ppl entered into this agreement to escape the brutish lifestyle; believed a powerful govt = orderly society; promoted Absolutism

7. Natural Right • Who: John Locke • What: rights that belonged to all humans on earth such as life, liberty, & property • Where: England • When: 1700-1800s • Why: Locke believed ppl are reasonable & moral= they have rights from birth; ppl had a right to overthrow a govt if these rights were violated = American & French Revolutions

8. Philosophe • Who: French Enlightenment thinkers/philosophers • What: they believed the use of reason could lead to reforms of gov’t, law, & society • Where: France, Europe • When: 1700s • Why: this group of thinkers started Enlightenment thought = spread throughout Europe & beyond; applied methods of science to improve society

9. Montesquieu • Who: an early influential thinker; a philisophe • What: studied the gov’ts of Europe & learned about Chinese & Native Am. Cultures; wrote “Sprit of Laws” • Where: France, Europe • When: 1689-1748 • Why: his sharp criticism of Absolutism = debate; in order to protect liberty the gov’t should be divided into 3 branches; idea taken by framers of US Constitution; wrote “Persian Letters”= ridiculed French Gov’t

10. Voltaire • Who: a Philosophe, poet & historian • What: an imprisoned poet, historian, essayist & philosopher • Where: Paris, France • When: 1694-1778 • Why: he detested the slave trade; deplored religious prejudice; defended principle of freedom of speech; his new ideas= imprisoned & forced into exile

11. Diderot • Who: a Philosophe, editor of the Encyclopedia • What: he produced a 28-volume set of books called the Encyclopedia • Where: Europe, the Americas • When: 1751-1789 • Why: he wanted to change the general way of thinking by explaining ideas on topics such as gov’t, philosophy, religion = urged education for all ; included articles from Montesquieu & Voltaire; denounced slavery & praised freedom of expression

12. Rousseau • Who: Jean-Jacques Rousseau; a Philosophe • What: created the Social Contract (book) society placed too many limitations on ppl’s behavior; believed that ppl were basically good • Where: France • When: 1762 • Why: believed in good will & best conscience of the ppl; he showed great hate for oppression; his ideas= American & French Revolutions

13. Laissez-Faire • Who: French thinkers; Adam Smith • What: a policy allowing business to operate w/ little or no gov’t interference • Where: France, • When: 1700-1800 • Why: this rejected Mercantilism= gov’t controls the economy to reach a favorable balance of trade; this supported free trade & opposed tarriffs

14. Adam Smith • Who: Scottish Economist • What: In his influential work “Wealth of Nations” he advocated for the free market should be allowed to regulate business activity • Where: Scotland, Europe, Americas • When: 1800-1900s • Why: he was a strong supporter of Laissez-Faire; felt gov’t should only administer justice & provide public work; his ideas= shape productive economies in 1800-1900s

15. Rococo • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

16. Enlightenment Ideas SpreadSec 2

17. Censorship • Who: European writers • What: restricting access to ideas & info • Where: France, Europe, Americas, Middle East • When: 1700s • Why: Authorities had to defend the “Old order” that God had set up agnst the writers’ new ideas= banned all books & burn books & imprison the writers= writers disguise their ideas in fiction

18. Salons • Who: writers, artists ,& philosophers; French women • What: an informal social gathering for women in their homes • Where: Paris, France • When: 1600-1700s • Why: it started in 1600s- noblewomen began inviting friends to their homes for poetry readings; by 1700s it flourished- middle class women are now invited= equal footing = discuss & spread enlightenment ideas

19. Baroque • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

20. Enlightenment Despot • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

21. Frederick the Great • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

22. Catherine the Great • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why:

23. Joseph II • Who: • What: • Where: • When: • Why: