Madame Geoffrin’s Salon

The woman in blue, toward the right, is Madame Geoffrin, the host of this salon, or informal gathering of thinkers. People attending salons shared their thoughts on such topics as government, society, art and religion, which helped spread their ideas.

The Enlightenment

Key Terms Monarchy – rule by a king or queen. Absolute Monarchy – when a king or queen has

unlimited power. Divine right of kings – the belief that a king/queen’s power

comes from God. Constitutional Monarchy – a form of government in

which the king/queen is limited by a basic set of laws or a constitution.

The History of the Enlightenment

Enlightenment thinkers were inspired by classic cultures (Ancient Greece & Rome). What types of government did they have?

This is when people first started questioning accepted beliefs. (Humanists)

Protestants rebelled against the Catholic Church.

Explorers questioned accepted ideas. Example?

Like scientists, Enlightenment thinkers placed their trust in reason & observation as the best way to understanding the natural world

Enlightenment thinkers also questioned accepted ideas about government like the divine right of kings

Introduction to the Enlightenment Enlightenment – refers to a change in the outlook

among many educated Europeans. Began in the 1600’s and grew out of the Scientific

Revolution This movement put a great emphasis on reason.

Reason – the ability to think logically about something.

These thinkers (or philosophers) of the enlightenment wanted to examine human life by using reason.

The Impact of the Enlightenment on Government The enlightenment thinkers were inspired by the

example of scientists such as Galileo & Newton. These scientists used observation and logic to

understand the physical world The thinkers of the enlightenment wanted to use

observation and reason to approach problems in human life especially problems dealing with government

Salons Thinkers/Philosophers gathered in informal

meetings called salons where they debated and exchanged ideas.

Many salons were organized by women.

Women of the Enlightenment During the 1700’s women didn’t enjoy the same rights or status as men. Madame Geoffrin

Promoted salons The brightest talents of Europe during the 1700’s came to her home Sponsored a group of men who wrote the 1st Encyclopedia

Abigail Adams Wife of John Adams She reminded her husband to ‘remember the ladies’ when writing the laws of government

for the U.S. Olympe de Gouges

French woman during the French Revolution Writer & social reformer Argued women’s equality with men.

Mary Wollstonecraft English Believed women deserved the same rights as men Believed education was the key Called for reforms to give women the same education as men

American Revolution (1775) The leaders of the American Revolution were

avid readers of Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Beccaria

They applied their ideas when writing the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.