Lesson covering the many thinkers of the Enlightenment with activity.

1. You are in a coffee house, discussing everything from
politics to religion with friends. It is 1770. Suddenly,
someone next to you questions the kings right to rule.
Other people begin to agree with that person. As you listen
to their logic- you wonder about other ways to run
government.
Would you support a government that didn’t include a king
or queen? Why or why not?
Turn to page 617
Bell Ringer 3/3/15

2. I can describe the accomplishments of the
Enlightenment thinkers and connect these
accomplishments to my own life.
• 7.62 Describe the accomplishments of major
Enlightenment thinkers, including Locke and
Charles-Louis Montesquieu.

3. Philosophers & thinkers
• They believed the use of reason could
improve society . To actually achieve this
progress they had to share their ideas with
others!

4. • In the 1600s and 1700s kings, queens, and
emperors ruled Europe. Look at the map on
page 617- Which European monarch ruled the
largest country?
• Many of these believed they ruled through
divine right. What do you think this means?

5. • King Louis XIV held the most power and he
believed he was the entire government. He
declared ‘”L’etat, c’est, moi!” or “I am the state”.
• Although he had a ton of power other groups in
society had privileges..nobles paid few taxes and
held the highest positions in the army.
• The French clergy paid no taxes at all. However,
most of the French people (the commoners) were
poor, paid high taxes and had no role in the
government.

6. • People began to question do these kings have
the right to rule??

7. • Outside of France, some monarchs began to
change their ideas about their government.
• They began to apply Enlightenment ideas to
their government. These rulers became
known as the enlightened despots.
Despot – rule with
absolute power

8. • A despot is a ruler with absolute power. The
enlightenment despots tried to make life better for
the commoners. They also believed they could
make the country stronger if the commoners were
happier. What are your thoughts on this- think
about it and create a response in your composition
book.
• Emperor Catherine the Great and Fredrick II of
Prussia felt government and education should be
reformed- they began to consider the need for
democracy
– What is democracy?

9. • Believed the church and government should
be separate.
• Remember…he said he believed everyone
had the right to say what they wanted to say.
• NO censorship

10. • English professor John Locke had a major
influence of Enlightenment political thought.
In 1690, he published Two Treatises on
Government. He argued for government as a
contract between the ruler and the people.
Remember a contract is a binding legal
agreement. A contract would bound both
sides and the rulers power would be limited.
Why do you think this is important?

11. • Locke believed the government existed only for
the good of the people. He declared that all
people had certain natural rights- which
included the rights to life, liberty, and property.
• He believed no person was born with special
privileges. According to Locke, the government
should protect the natural rights of the citizens. If
it didn’t the people should have the right to
change the rules.

12. • Frenchman, Montesquieu, was a member of
the nobility. He built on Locke's ideas in The
Spirit of the Laws’ published in 1748.
• He claimed that government should be
divided into separate branches to protect
people’s freedom.
• This ideas was known as the separation of
powers- each branch of government was
limited by the others. The branches had to
share the power.

13. • French thinker citied divine right. What was
divine right?
• He believed in popular sovereignty- the idea
that governments should express the will of
the people.
• Power was shifting from the wealthy nobles
and rulers to ALL THE PEOPLE!

14. • The Social Contract- published in 1762 he
declared “Man is born free”, but he is
everywhere else in chains”.

15. • According to Rousseau, citizens submit to the
authority of the government to protect their
own interest entering into a “social contract”.
• This contract gives the government the
power to make and enforce laws as long as it
serves the people. The government should
give up that power if it is not serving the
people.

16. Voltaire
• French philosopher
• mocked government and religion in his writings
• believed humans could improve their own
existence, instead trusting God to improve
human happiness
• spoke out against censorship- removal of
information considered harmful; got in trouble
for some of his writings

17. Voltaire
“I may disapprove of what you say, but I will
defend to the death of your right to say it.”

18. Denis Diderot
• Philosopher edited a book
called the Encyclopedia.
– included articles by more than
100 experts on science,
technology, and history
• The French king and the pope
both banned the
Encyclopedia. Why do you
think that was?

19. Let’s Go to the Salon!
• During Enlightenment times, going to a salon
meant that you were going to a place where you
could meet socially with others to discuss ideas!
• Mostly hosted by women – not viewed as equal
to men, but in hosting salons they could
influence opinions…

20. Thomas Hobbes and the nature of society (all
men are brutish). Idea that men must forfeit
some personal freedoms for the benefit of
having a strong ruler who maintains a peaceful
and orderly society.

21. British Writers
• British writer, Mary Wollstonecraft argued that
women should have the same rights as men.
• The E thinkers even applied their ideas of
freedom and progress to economics.
• Adam Smith- believed economics was governed
by natural law
– argued that government should not try to control
the economy and that economic growth came from
the people- what do you think this means?
– Many of his arguments are the foundations for
economists…

22. So the Enlightenment said…
• The ability to reason is what made humans unique
• Reasons can be used to solve problems and improve
people’s lives
• Reason can free people from ignorance, superstition,
and unfair government
• The natural world is governed by laws that can be
discovered through reason
• Like the natural world, human behavior is governed
by natural law
• Governments should reflect natural laws and
encourage education and debate.

23. • You and your partner will receive lyrics from a
popular song. You will read the lyrics individually.
• In your composition book, tell me which
Enlightenment thinker would’ve listened to your
song or would’ve written it.
–Why? What Enlightenment ideas are
represented in your song?

24. • You and your partner will re-write or expand
on the lyrics, adding the actual
Enlightenment ideas from your thinker to the
song!