The Enlightenment was a period in the 18th century where philosophers used reason to understand human problems and nature. They believed reason could solve problems and improve lives. Enlightenment ideals fueled the American and French Revolutions by promoting ideas like natural rights, consent of the governed, and limited government. Major Enlightenment philosophers included Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and later Adam Smith and Mary Wollstonecraft. Some monarchs also adopted Enlightenment ideals by becoming more tolerant and just rulers.

1. The Enlightenment

2. What exciting conclusion did
philosophers reach during the
Enlightenment?
Reason could be used to solve all
human problems.

3. Describe the driving ideology/s
behind the Enlightenment?

4. The Enlightenment
 Applied reason to the human world, as well as to the
rest of the natural world
 Stimulated religious tolerance
 Fueled democratic revolutions around the world
Influence of the Enlightenment
 Enlightenment ideals fueled Amer. & Fr. Revs.
 Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, the U.S.
Constitution and the Bill of Rights incorporated
Enlightenment ideas.

5. Thomas Hobbes
•English thinker, wrote views of government in
Leviathan
• Absolute monarchy best
• Believed people needed government to impose
order
–People selfish, greedy
–Should exchange some freedoms for peace,
safety, order
–Social contract

6. John Locke
•English philosopher, believed all people born
equal & basically good
•Government should protect people’s natural
rights - Two Treatises on Government
–Monarchs not chosen by God
–Government by consent – protect Life,
Liberty, Property
–Power limited by laws
–Ideas foundation for modern democracy

7. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French philosopher, believed people basically
good
•Believed society corrupted people
•Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all
members of society
“Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”

8. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
•Believed government should work for
common good, not wealthy few
•Individuals should give up some freedoms
for benefit of community
•Despised inequality in society
•Views inspired revolutionaries in years to
come

9. Baron de Montesquieu
• Separation of powers
• Best form of government divided power
among branches of government
• Separation of powers kept individual or
group from abusing power
• The Spirit of the Laws
-Published 1748, showed admiration of
Great Britain’s government

10. Baron de Montesquieu
•Powers divided into branches:
legislative, executive, judicial
•Parliament made laws, king carried
out laws, courts interpreted laws
•Separation of powers allowed each
branch to check against power of
others
•Concept later important structure of
democratic governments

11. Voltaire
•Francois-Marie Arouet, wrote as
Voltaire
•Outspoken philosopher, wrote
with biting wit
–Attacked injustice among
nobility, government, church
–Created enemies, imprisoned
twice

12. Voltaire
• –Exiled to England for two years
• –Defended principles, fought superstition,
ignorance
• –Lifelong struggle for justice, toleration,
liberty
• Religious toleration, sep. Church & state

13. Two “Revolutionary” Documents
• Declaration of Independence –
Thomas Jefferson, America, 1776.
• The Declaration of the Rights of
Man and Citizen – Marquis de
Lafayette, France, 1789

14. Some Enlightenment
philosophers focused on
government, others on issues in
society

15. Mary Wollstonecraft
•Enlightenment thinkers still held
traditional views about women
•Proper roles wives, mothers;
should receive limited education
•Wollstonecraft demanded equal
rights for women
•A Vindication of the Rights of
Woman, equal education for
women

16. Women’s Rights Movement
From Wollstonecraft to Seneca Falls

21. Critical Intro:
Write a clear, detailed and
persuasive argument for the
induction of Adam Smith into
the Enlightenment Thinkers
“Hall of Fame”.

22. Adam Smith
•Scottish economist, used reason to analyze
economic systems
•The Wealth of Nations advanced free
market enterprise
•Strong believer in laissez-faire economics,
no government regulation
•Believed economy would be stronger if
market forces of supply and demand
were allowed to work freely

23. Key Ideas of the
Enlightenment
• The ability to reason is what makes humans
unique
• Reason can be used to solve problems and
improve people’s lives
• Reason can free people from ignorance,
superstition, and unfair government

24. Key Ideas of the
Enlightenment
• The natural world can be governed by laws
that can be discovered through reason
• Like the natural world, human behavior is
governed by natural laws
• Governments should reflect natural laws
and encourage education and debate

25. Enlightened Monarchs
• The new political ideas also affected the
leadership of some eighteenth-century
European monarchs. The ideals of
tolerance, justice, and the improvement of
people’s lifestyle became guidelines for the
rulers known as Enlightened Monarchs,
such as Joseph II of Austria and Frederick II
of Prussia.

26. Enlightened Monarchs
• To be sure, they still ruled absolutely, but
they internalized the Enlightenment
philosophy and made attempts to tolerate
diversity, increased opportunity for serfs,
and take on the responsibilities that required
their rule.