The Enlightenment in Europe

1. The Enlightenment in Europe Thanks to www.MrDonn.org for this PowerPoint

2. What is the Enlightenment? • Application of the scientific method to social problems

3. Thomas Hobbes • All humans were naturally selfish and wicked, therefore governments must keep order. • People should hand over their rights to a strong ruler. This was what Hobbes called a social contract. • Strong ruler should have total power (an absolute monarchy). • This powerful government with awesome power is what he called a leviathan (sea monster) therefore he titled his book Leviathan (1651).

4. John Locke • People were reasonable (though still selfish) and had the natural rights to life, liberty, and property. • Purpose of government is to protect these natural rights. • Government power comes from the consent of the people.

5. Interactive • Create the following chart and list which types of governments (use prior knowledge) would be supported by each thinker

6. Voltaire • Wrote more than 70 books of political essays, philosophy, and drama. • Used satire against his enemies, especially the clergy. • Beliefs: • Tolerance • Reason • Freedom of religious belief • Freedom of speech • “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

7. Interactive • Create a tweet or facebook status discussing the quote “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

8. Montesquieu • Believed Britain was the best-governed and most politically balanced country of his own day. • Proposed the “separation of powers” between executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. • Proposed “checks and balances.”

9. Interactive • Answer the following question • How have you been affected by the thoughts and writings of Montesquieu?

10. Jean-Jacques Rousseau • Passionately committed to individual freedom. • Believed man was born free and good but easily corrupted. • Believed the only good government was the “general will” or direct democracy.

11. Mary Wollstonecraft • Women should be equally educated along with men. • Women should enter professions traditionally dominated by men like medicine and politics. • Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

12. Mary Shelley • Daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft. • Mistress and later wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. • Author of Frankenstein in the summer of 1816, Later published in 1818.

13. Interactive • Write out and complete the analogy below • Mary Wollstonecraft is to Great Britain as _______________ is to the United States • Hint: person is on money