How did the Enlightenment lead to the rejection and reform of absolute

monarchies?

The Big Picture

Late 1600s – 1700sRoots date back to

RenaissanceDirect result of Scientific

Rev. Application of scientific

methods could explain the laws of society and human nature

Believed they could solve all problems and create a better society

Major Ideas from the Enlightenment •Social Contract-An agreement among the members of an

organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

•Natural Rights-theory that individuals have basic rights given to them by nature or God that no individual or government can deny.

•Consent of the governed-the authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people, as expressed by votes in elections.

•Rule of Law-government by law : adherence to due process of law.

•Limited Government-a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law.

•Separation of Powers-allocation of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers among the three branches of government

•Freedom of Religion-to practice one's religion or exercise one's beliefs without intervention by the government and to be free of the exercise of authority by a church through the government

•Freedom of Speech-the right to express information, ideas, and opinions free of governmentrestrictionsbasedoncontentandsubjectonlytoreasonablelimitations

Key Ideas of Enlightenmen

tReason

Nature and Natural laws

Humans should rely on reason to improve society.

Natural laws regulate both the universe and human society.

Can be discovered by human reason.

Key Ideas of Enlightenmen

t Progress

Believed in social progressDiscovery of laws of economics and government would improve society and make progress inevitable.

Key Ideas of Enlightenment

Liberty

Toleration

Wanted to remove limitations on human liberty.

Inalienable / natural rights

Advocated full religious tolerance

Enlightenment

ForerunnersIsaac Newton (1642 – 1727)

Newton discoveries prove the power of the mind

Proved mechanical and mathematical patterns in the physical world.

Avoid metaphysics (abstract) and supernaturalism

Enlightenment Forerunners

Thomas Hobbes

1588 - 1679

State of nature = man corrupt, unhappy, selfish

Solution = absolute monarchy

Social Contract – people gave up freedoms for organized society

Enlightenment Forerunners

John Locke (1632-1704)

People reasonable and moral

Natural rights: life, liberty, and property

Gov’ts duty was to protect people’s natural rights

Best gov’t was a limited one

People could overthrow gov’ts that failed to protect rights

Inspired the philosophy behind the Declaration of Independence

Enlightenment Audience

Intellectual elite

Small fraction of society, (aristocracy and wealthy middle class)

Enlightenment Hotspot France

French international language of the educated class

Wealthiest and most populous country at the time

Cultural center

Who were the philosophes?

French term used to describe the thinkers of the age.

Often literary figures, economists, historians, etc.

Held the key beliefs of the Enlightenment

Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)

Advocate for the separation of powersExecutivelegislativeJudicial

Promoted Checks and balances

Protects the rights and preserves freedoms

Ideas influenced the Constitution

Voltaire (1694-1778)

Challenged R.C.C.Argued for

religious toleranceCriticized France’s

governmentBelieved in

freedom of speech - Legacy can be seen in our First Amendment

Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

Compiled the Encyclopedia – writing / ideas of Enlightenment thinkers

Spread Enlightenment thinking

Secularized learningKnowledge organized

in systematic and scientific fashion

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

People are naturally good BUT corrupted by the evils of society

Believed that due to social inequalities people enter into a social contract and surrender their rights to the will of the majority (general will)

Promoted a limited and freely elected gov’t

Who were the physiocrats?

Economic thinkers in 18th century France

Developed first complete system of economics

Looked to natural laws to define a rational economic system

Adam Smith (1723-1790)

Scottish Advocate of laissez-

faire economics (gov’t hands-off approach)

Wrote Wealth of NationsOutlined capitalismInvisible hand of

supply, demand, and competition works in the best interest of everyone