Enlightenment

1. Enlightenment

2. Rights • List 5 rights that you think you have • Bullet point • Consolidate your list with your 3-4 people near you • Form one class list • Analyze into Rights, Civil Liberties, and Non-Rights • Why do you believe we are owed these things? Who grants us these rights? Where are these beliefs based?

3. Definitions • Civil Rights- refer to positive actions of government should take to create equal conditions for all • Actions are taken • Civil Liberties- are protections against government actions • Lack of action

4. Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment Review • Review Video • Be sure to pay attention to what we learned yesterday from the Scientific Revolution and how it relates to the Enlightenment. Listen for key ideas and people and their impact on Europe.

5. Path to Enlightenment • 18th century philosophical movement by those greatly impressed with the scientific revolution • Use systematic logic and reason to solve the problems of humankind • Believed in the powers of humankind and saw themselves as part of a revolutionary development to replace superstition, rituals and corrupt traditions with reason and productive energy • Commitment to reason • Trust in modern sciences to solve problems • Commitment to the idea of progress • Belief in the essential goodness of human nature • Emphasis upon the individual as master of his fate and fortune • Engagement with the public in discussion and action

6. Thomas Hobbes • Leviathan- 1651 • Humans naturally wicked and selfish • Without government, “war… of every man against every man” and that life would become “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” • Belief in strong ruler • Give up rights and gain law and order • Social Contract- agreement created between the people and the government. • Believed ruler needed total power to keep citizens under control

7. John Locke • Philosophe – Enlightenment thinker • People shaped by experiences in the surrounding world • Change the environment, change the people? • Human beings possess free will • Virtue can be learned and practiced • The individual must become a “rational creature” • Divine Right is ridiculous - contract with the people • Three Natural Rights • Life, Liberty and Property

8. Philosophers Advocate Reason • Philosophes • French word for Philosophers • Paris became the meeting place for discussions on politics and ideas • Five concepts that formed their core beliefs • Reason- Enlightened thinkers believed truth could be discovered through reason or logical thinking. • Nature- The philosophes believed that what was natural was also good and reasonable. • Happiness- The philosophes rejected the medieval notion that people should find joy in the hereafter and urged people to seek well-being on earth • Progress- The philosophes stressed that society and humankind could improve. • Liberty- The philosophes called for the liberties that the English people had won in their Glorious Revolution and Bill of Rights.

9. Voltaire • Criticized Christianity • Championed religious toleration (Treatise on Toleration, 1763) • Deism – religious philosophy based on natural law where a mechanic (God) created the universe • Created it, set it in motion and allowed it to run without interference and according to its own natural laws • Wrote 70 books of political essays, philosophy and drama • Used satire against his opponents

10. Montesquieu • Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu • The Spirit of the Laws (1748) • Study of governments using the scientific method • Discover natural laws of social and political relationships • Identified three basic types of government: • Republics – small states • Monarchy – moderate-sized states • Despotism – large states • Identifies separation of power, checks and balances • Limit any one part of government from growing too strong

11. Denis Diderot • Created the Encyclopedia • 28 volume collection of knowledge • Many articles attacked religious superstition and supported religious toleration • Called for social, legal and political reform • Spread many Enlightenment ideas

12. Social Contract • Jean-Jacques Rousseau • People enslaved by government in trying to preserve private property • Social Contract: entire society agrees to be governed by its general will • General will represents the best for humanity • Rogue individuals must be forced to abide by the general will • Appreciated emotion; education should foster children’s natural instincts

13. Women’s Rights • Mary Wollstonecraft • If arbitrary power of monarchs is wrong, so is the similar power of men over women • Enlightenment was based on reason – since women can reason, they should have the same rights as men • Founder of modern movement for womens’ rights

14. BioPoem Activity • Select a leader from the enlightenment period • Can include scientific thinkers, philosophical thinkers or enlightened monarchs • Follow the assignment sheet for creating your biopoem • Remember to be creative and accurate

15. Enlightened Despots • Monarchs that embraced the new ideas and made reforms that reflected the Enlightenment spirit • Despot= “absolute ruler” • Fredrick the Great • King of Prussia • Granted religious freedoms, reduced censorship, and improved education. Reformed justice system and abolished the use of torture • Joseph II • Ruler of Austria • Introduced legal reforms and freedom of the press as well as religious freedoms and land reforms. • Catherine the Great • Ruler of Russia • Wife of Peter the Great • Expanded Russia

16. Were they really enlightened? • Only Joseph II sought truly radical changes based on Enlightenment ideas • Fredrick II and Catherine focused on strengthening the state and maintaining the existing system • Philosophes condemned war as a foolish waste of life and resources • Monarchs concerned with balance of power • Used their power to enforce more taxes, create armies, wage wars and gain more power • Fredrick II- “The fundamental rule of governments is the principle of extending their territories”

17. The Seven Years War • We looked at the War between France and England in America- French and Indian War • Austrian Succession • 1740-1748 • The Austrian Emperor died without a male heir • His daughter succeeded him • Fredrick II, of Prussia, invades- he does think the empress is legitimate • Frances supports Prussia • England supports Austria • Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle • All lands returned except Silesia (part of Austria) • Austria rebuilt its army to regain Silesia

18. War in Europe • 1756- 1763 • Britain allied with Prussia • French and Russia allied with Austria • Fredrick II was a military genius but was being attacked from three directions • Stalemate led to peace • All territories were returned except Silesia, which Austria recognized as Prussia’s

19. Enlightenment Impact • Growth of Reading • French publishers rise from 300 in 1760 to 1600 in the 1780s • Daily newspapers and periodicals begin to take off • The Salon • Elegant sitting room where guests conversed about the new ideas of the philosophes

20. The Salon • King’s court • Very formal environment • Strict rules about • how to dress • when and where they could sit • when and where they could talk to specific people • Some topics were objectionable to Church authorities or high-ranking nobility • Court gossip and intrigue dominated conversation • Madame de Geoffrin • Made 2 important salon innovations • Early afternoon meal • Regular weekly schedule of themes- specific days devoted to visual arts and literature • Remembered as a generous listener and kept conversation going

21. Enlightenment Billboard • Create a billboard with your table advertising the enlightenment. You must include at least two pictures, mention at least two enlightenment leaders, include at least 5 sentences encouraging people to visit enlightenment Europe, and have a title. Be should use color and make sure the billboard is creative and accurate.

22. Think Pair Share • Which Enlightenment leader do you support and relate to. Why? • In what way were the enlightened despots less that true reformers? • Share with a partner at your table