Introduction to Introduction to Enlightenment PeriodEnlightenment Period

Renaissance, Reformation, and Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution

RenaissanceRenaissance

Cultural movement of intellectual inquiryCultural movement of intellectual inquiry Literature, philosophy, art, politics, Literature, philosophy, art, politics,

science, and religion science, and religion Printing PressPrinting Press

ReformationReformation

Attempts to reform the Catholic Church Attempts to reform the Catholic Church and corruption and corruption Led to formation of several Protestant Led to formation of several Protestant

denominationsdenominations

Martin LutherMartin Luther

Identified sale of indulgences and clerical Identified sale of indulgences and clerical offices as corruptionoffices as corruption

Considered many sacred doctrines to be Considered many sacred doctrines to be false or superstitiousfalse or superstitious

Shocked by the licensing of brothels and Shocked by the licensing of brothels and tax on priests who kept a mistresstax on priests who kept a mistress

Lutheran DenominationLutheran Denomination

John CalvinJohn Calvin

Helped spread Protestantism throughout Helped spread Protestantism throughout EuropeEurope

Later to spread into the AmericasLater to spread into the Americas Calvinism and Presbyterian denominationsCalvinism and Presbyterian denominations

Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution

New ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, New ideas in physics, astronomy, biology, anatomy, chemistry anatomy, chemistry

Rejected old doctrines in scienceRejected old doctrines in science

Used reason and investigation to explain Used reason and investigation to explain things rather than superstition and things rather than superstition and

fearfear Heliocentric, Scientific Method, and the Heliocentric, Scientific Method, and the

application of mathematicsapplication of mathematics

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Using reason and inquiry to investigate, Using reason and inquiry to investigate, acquire new knowledge, and to modify acquire new knowledge, and to modify former knowledgeformer knowledge

Collecting data and evidence to test a Collecting data and evidence to test a hypothesishypothesis

Used to document knowledge so that Used to document knowledge so that others can build onothers can build on

Reduces bias and strengthens objectivity, Reduces bias and strengthens objectivity, thus credibilitythus credibility

Heliocentric Theory Heliocentric Theory

Sun is center of universe and planets Sun is center of universe and planets revolve around itrevolve around it Replaced the geocentric theoryReplaced the geocentric theory

Copernicus - circle orbitsCopernicus - circle orbits Kepler - elliptical orbitsKepler - elliptical orbits Galileo - used telescope and math to Galileo - used telescope and math to

observe and back the hypothesis observe and back the hypothesis

Reason and InquiryReason and Inquiry

The Enlightenment Period will apply these The Enlightenment Period will apply these same methods of thinking to: same methods of thinking to:

GovernmentGovernment Absolute PowerAbsolute Power Individual RightsIndividual Rights

Enlightenment PeriodEnlightenment Period1717thth and 18 and 18thth Centuries Centuries

Characteristics of EnlightenmentCharacteristics of Enlightenment

Everything had a cause and effectEverything had a cause and effect RationalismRationalism – truth can be arrived at solely – truth can be arrived at solely

by reason, or rational, logical thinkingby reason, or rational, logical thinking Reasoning to Solve Social ProblemsReasoning to Solve Social Problems

Questioning of established ideasQuestioning of established ideas Did not attack religion, but superstitionDid not attack religion, but superstition Disliked Absolute MonarchyDisliked Absolute Monarchy aka – Age of Reasonaka – Age of Reason

PhilosophersPhilosophers

Published work in books, plays, pamphlets, Published work in books, plays, pamphlets, newspapers, and “encyclopedias”newspapers, and “encyclopedias”

At this time (1700s), the educated wrote in At this time (1700s), the educated wrote in FrenchFrench

Writings criticized the church, government, Writings criticized the church, government, slave trade, torture, taxes, and warslave trade, torture, taxes, and war

Wrote in a questioning styleWrote in a questioning style

PhilosophersPhilosophers

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes - England - England People enter into a social contract in which People enter into a social contract in which

they exchange freedom and rights for they exchange freedom and rights for security and ordersecurity and order

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

Published the Published the LeviathanLeviathan In the beginning, people lived in anarchyIn the beginning, people lived in anarchy Life is violent and dangerousLife is violent and dangerous People choose a leader to rule themPeople choose a leader to rule them

People give Monarch absolute powerPeople give Monarch absolute power A social contract creates stabilityA social contract creates stability

People only have the right to protect themselvesPeople only have the right to protect themselves

PhilosophersPhilosophers

John LockeJohn Locke - England - England All people have natural rights All people have natural rights

Life, liberty, and propertyLife, liberty, and property Government should protect those rightsGovernment should protect those rights Government power comes from the Government power comes from the

consent of the peopleconsent of the people

John LockeJohn Locke Published Published Two Treatises of GovernmentTwo Treatises of Government People have made a social contractPeople have made a social contract But have kept:But have kept:

The right to live The right to live The right to enjoy libertyThe right to enjoy liberty The right to own propertyThe right to own property

Rulers must preserve these rightsRulers must preserve these rights If not, people have the right to overthrow such If not, people have the right to overthrow such

ruler and replace him for breaking the social ruler and replace him for breaking the social contractcontract

PhilosophersPhilosophers Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu – France – France

Separation of powers among branches of Separation of powers among branches of government – Checks and Balancesgovernment – Checks and Balances

VoltaireVoltaire – France – France Supported natural rights but felt that few Supported natural rights but felt that few

people people really had the ability to rule – freedom really had the ability to rule – freedom of religion of religion and freedom of speechand freedom of speech

Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau – France – France Direct Democracy – but people should give up Direct Democracy – but people should give up

some of their freedom for the common good some of their freedom for the common good – all – all people are born equalpeople are born equal

Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu

Published Published The Spirit of the LawsThe Spirit of the Laws Promoted separation of powersPromoted separation of powers

Legislative – makes the lawsLegislative – makes the laws Executive – administers the lawsExecutive – administers the laws Judicial – interprets and applies the lawsJudicial – interprets and applies the laws

These powers should check each otherThese powers should check each other Will later influence the U.S. ConstitutionWill later influence the U.S. Constitution

MontesquieuMontesquieu

VoltaireVoltaire

French PhilosopherFrench Philosopher Spent time in prisonSpent time in prison Published novel Published novel CandideCandide Ridicules oppressive government, Ridicules oppressive government,

prejudice, and bigotryprejudice, and bigotry Later fought in cases of injustice, Later fought in cases of injustice,

particularly against religious prejudiceparticularly against religious prejudice

VoltaireVoltaire

Jean-Jacques RousseauJean-Jacques Rousseau

““History repeats itself”History repeats itself” Published The Social ContractPublished The Social Contract ““People are born good, but environment, People are born good, but environment,

education, and laws corrupt themeducation, and laws corrupt them Free and good people will only remain if Free and good people will only remain if

governed by popular sovereigntygoverned by popular sovereignty Choose government to live underChoose government to live under

RousseauRousseau

Political CriticismPolitical Criticism

Political and Social Institutions should be Political and Social Institutions should be changed to benefit everyone instead of changed to benefit everyone instead of just just certain groups certain groups

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty – laws and government – laws and government created by and subject to the will of the created by and subject to the will of the peoplepeople

Enlightened DespotsEnlightened Despots – some Monarchs – some Monarchs began to adopt Enlightenment began to adopt Enlightenment philosophies and ruled with the respect of philosophies and ruled with the respect of subject’s rightssubject’s rights

Impacts on FutureImpacts on Future

Philosophers promoted nationalism and Philosophers promoted nationalism and individual rightsindividual rights

Revolutions inspired by nationalistic ideas Revolutions inspired by nationalistic ideas growing out of the Enlightenmentgrowing out of the Enlightenment

British Colonial AmericaBritish Colonial America Spanish Colonial AmericaSpanish Colonial America FranceFrance HaitiHaiti