John Locke, Adam Smith, and Thomas Hobbes were influential Enlightenment thinkers. Locke believed in natural rights and that people consent to governments through a social contract. Smith developed the idea of laissez-faire economics and that governments should not intervene in the economy. Hobbes argued that absolute monarchy was the best form of rule to keep humans in line given their natural selfishness and violence. Voltaire advocated for religious tolerance, justice, free speech, and ending slavery. Montesquieu's book influenced the American founders by proposing separation of a government's executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Diderot spread Enlightenment ideas through his Encyclopedia, which was translated globally.

1. ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS

2. John locke
• BOOK: «Two treatises of
Government»
• NATURAL RIGHTS: life, liberty, and
property or belongings.
• SOCIAL CONTRACT exists between
people and their government.
• «If a government does not govern
justly, the people have the right to
overthrow that government»

3. Adam Smith
• Book: «Wealth of the nations»
• He developed the idea laissez-
faire economics.
• He believed that in terms of
economy the government
should do nothing.
• The government shoul protect
citizens from invasions by an
enemy but not from poverty

4. Thomas Hobbes
• Book: «Leviathan»
• He stated that the Absolute
Monarchy was the best form of
government.
• He thought humans were
naturally selfish and violent.
• Therefore, Humans needed to
obey a government.
• The rule of a king must be strong
and give people directions.

5. Voltaire
• He was a poet, novelist,
playwright and a philosopher
• Government should tolerate
religious ideas
• He claimed for:
• Justice for all
• Free speech
• End of Slave Trade

6. Montesquieu
• Book: «The spirit of Laws»
• Three branches of government:
1. Executive: Enforce the laws
2. Legislative: Make the laws
3. Judicial: Interpret the laws and
judge when they were broken
• This ideas influenced the
American Independence Leaders

7. Dennis Diderot
• Book: Encyclopedia or
«Classified Dictionary of the
Sciences, Arts and Trades»
• He found costumers among
the French middle class
including doctors, lawyers and
teachers.
• It was translated into other
languages and spread the
ideas of the Enlightenment to
the Americas

8. John locke
• BOOK: «Two treatises of
Government»
• NATURAL RIGHTS: life, liberty, and
property or belongings.
• SOCIAL CONTRACT exists between
people and their government.
• «If a government does not govern
justly, the people have the right to
overthrow that government»

9. Adam Smith
• Book: «Wealth of the nations»
• He developed the idea laissez-
faire economics.
• He believed that in terms of
economy the government
should do nothing.
• The government shoul protect
citizens from invasions by an
enemy but not from poverty

10. Thomas Hobbes
• Book: «Leviathan»
• He stated that the Absolute
Monarchy was the best form of
government.
• He thought humans were
naturally selfish and violent.
• Therefore, Humans needed to
obey a government.
• The rule of a king must be strong
and give people directions.

11. Voltaire
• He was a poet, novelist,
playwright and a philosopher
• Government should tolerate
religious ideas
• He claimed for:
• Justice for all
• Free speech
• End of Slave Trade

12. Montesquieu
• Book: «The spirit of Laws»
• Three branches of government:
1. Executive: Enforce the laws
2. Legislative: Make the laws
3. Judicial: Interpret the laws and
judge when they were broken
• This ideas influenced the
American Independence Leaders

13. Dennis Diderot
• Book: Encyclopedia or
«Classified Dictionary of the
Sciences, Arts and Trades»
• He found costumers among
the French middle class
including doctors, lawyers and
teachers.
• It was translated into other
languages and spread the
ideas of the Enlightenment to
the Americas